Evening journal., 1889-03-09
BIG WEEKS WORK.
Prospects and Speculation ON Oemvemtion
The Age Of Consent.

closed shortly after 4 o'clock this after
noon and although the members were
only together three days they did more
work than in any previous week so far
The trip TO Washington combined with
the work of the week made everybody
| ready to 60 home tonight. Some big
( work may be expected the coming week.
Convention will certainly be discussed
! and some action will be taken for a time
at least by the House. What kind OF a
| bill, OF what the bill will be when passed.
| is a thing that not member of the
House would dare prophesy. The Brad
| ford bill has been stripped of so many Of
its features that it bears scarcely any re-
semblance Of its former self. The bill
that is now receiving the most considera-
ton in many of its features resembles
the Eckles bill. 1t may be
still further amended at Mr.. Lodges sug-
gestion. He is said TO be willing to
agree to report favorably bill that will
suit his ideas. This would secure a unani-
nous report in favor of the bill, but Mr..
Lodge will give no guarantee that he will
vote for the bill. In explanation Of this
peculiar position, he says that he feels
confident that bill will pass the House,
and he is DESTROYS that the measure
shall be of the very best. MI Lodge is
giving the subject the hardest study and
when the subject comes up for consider
alton an extended speech may be expected
from him Just what his position is, is
hard to determine. There is consider
able reason to believe that he will kick
the traces and vote for convention bill
along with Eckles Even with this
strength for convention there is con
siderable doubt If the bill will pass the
House Some of the Kent and SUSSEX
Republicans are very much dissatis.
fied at the amended bill and
IT will take considerable urging
to bring them into line. The Com
mittee on Temperance will grapple with
the monstrosity known as the Prickett
bill and before they get through with it
that precocious young man who drew it
will not recognize his child Mr.. Down
ham, the chairman Of the committee is
not IN favor Of the bill in its present
shape.
AN IMPORTANT CHANGE.
The Senate this afternoon passed an
act which II it goes through the House
and there is every reason to believe that
10 will, will make change in a law as
old as the state itself. Under the old
English common law man was not al
lowed to testify in his own behalf in
criminal cases. This act, which was in
troduced by Senator Collins gives an
accused person the right to testify in his
own behalf either at preliminary hear
ing or at the final trial A number Of
states have changed The law and this IS
about the last state to make the change
The OBJ ction TO the adoption of the law
in the past has been that in case a man
would refuse to testify when he had the
privilege It would prejudice his case.
THE AGE or CONSENT.
A delegation Of ladies accompanied by
Aaron M. Powell, editor of the New
York Philanthropist and Washington
Hastings appeared before the Legislature
to. day. Shortly after o'clock a
meeting was held in the House chamber
with Mr.. Hynson in the chair. Mr..
Powell made an earnest address in favor
Of the bill He commented at some
length upon the age Of consent in Della
ware being but seven years. He told
where he had startled an Inter National
Convention by stating the small limit in
Delaware Senator Ferguson INTERRUPTED
the speaker and called attention to the
fact that the Legislature had
passed an act in 1887 which prac-
tically raised the age to twelve years.
The members have taken considerable
interest in the matter and something will
evolve itself out of the measure Intro
duced. The age will by no means be
brought up to the ridiculous age named
In the bill. The City Council bill intro
duced will cover a great deal of the sub
ject and will in ell probability be passed
NEW BUSINESS.
The warm sunshine of the past few
days had the same effect it ALWAYS has
upon the country members. II MAIDS
them commence to think Of their farms
and filed them with an itching for the
pillow handles. Accordingly Represen.
tative Clark introduced into the House
a joint resolution to receive no new bust
ness after March 25 The resolution was
taken into the Senate and ii is not likely
that it will be concurred in by that body.
Two years ago the limit for new business
was fixed at April IL, after several inef-
fectual attempts to make it earlier.
There is no possible chance of adjourn
ment until the middle of April and it
will be a useless thing to undertake to
fix the limit of business nearly one
month ahead of the time of adjournment.
There was feeling among some of the
members that they should receive bust
ness up to the very day Of adjournment.
NOTES
There was some fun In the House over
this afternoon. Some Of
the members wanted to commence work
at II o'clock. The o'clock men won
however. after a sharp contest. The
Sussex members object TO meet at an early
hour because they have to get up very
early in the morning in order to reach
Dover.
In the list Of Farmers Bank directors
sent in there is two changes, Enoch
Moore being removed to give away to
William Bowe, and Robert Clifton gives
away to Peter X. Meredith. 1t Is not
unlikely that the list may be still further
amended in Kent or Sussex counties.
Representative Masten came up on the
train last evening and viii spend to-day
in the city.
Senator Ferguson acted speaker with
dignity for short time yesterday.
The bill given notice of by Representa-
tive Biggs this morning gives Homeo-
paths the right to be members Of the
State Board Of Health.
Representative Downham has given
notice Of an excellent act carving ont
one of the recommendations Of Presi
dens Raub's report, namely the Hundred
System.
Sergeant Simpler of the House Is the
earliest riser of the whole Legislature
Sometimes he is over to the House at
o'clock.