Evening journal., 1889-04-10
DEAD AND BURIED.
The Constitutional Convention
Finds a Quiet Resting Place.
SENATOR DONAHOE HAS A ELL

the course predicted in.these columns two
months ago in relation to the question of
calling constitutional convention. At the
morning session the Senate Committee
on Constitutional Convention presented
an elaborate report setting forth the
reasons why convention should not be
called upon the vote Of November, 1887.
The document is very ably and carefully
drawn and recites with irresistible force
many Of the arguments already presented
against convention. The report attack,
the so-called inherent right of the people
to call convention. In the first places
no well-informed and well balanced man
can reasonably feel that our grievances
under the existing constitution are so IN
tolerable as to warrant an immediate re
sort to revolution for their redress.
Secondly. no rational citizen can justly
believe that such resort is necessary
when, by another special election, which
can be provided for by the present Legis-
lature, the people have an immediate op
portunity to cast the needed vote in
favor of a convention If they really desire
to have one. 1t sets forth as chief among
the achievements of convention the re.
organization of our legislative depart.
ment and the adoption of a satisfactory
city of Wilmington in the future. In
addition to this, charges are called for in
the qualification of votes in the organi-
zation of the Judiciary; in the mode Of
appointing county and state officers; in
regard to the prohibition of the manufac-
ture and sale Of intoxicating liquors.
In the afternoon Senator Donahoe
called the bill up for consideration. He
maintained the Democratic position and
said that there was no reason or excuse
for adopting a revolutionary method, to
accomplish a result that nearly every
body is in favor of. The vote of 1887 is
manifestly insufficient. l believe that
the people want a convention and they
should be given an opportunity to vote
at another election. Senator Donahoe
then moved that the bill be Indefinitely
postponed and no one. not even the Re
publican members said may Imme
diately when this action was taken, Sen
ator DOnahOe said, In accordance with
previous notice I now introduce An act
to provide an unexceptionable mode of
ascertaining the sense of the people upon
the question Of calling a constitutional
convention The bill was then read
The preamble says: Whereas, the Gen.
eral Assembly deems it right and proper
to afford an opportunity to the people to
make their sense known respecting the
calling of a convention to change, alter
and amend the constitution of the state,
and to this end to provide by law for the
holding Of special election for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the sense of the
majority of the citizens of the state, en-
titled to vote for representatives.
Section provides, that on the third
Tuesday of May next an election shall be
held for the purpose Of ascertaining the
sense of the people for the calling OF a
convention Section provides that the
same inspectors who held the last gen
eral election shall hold this election.
Section provides that the election
shall be held in the same places as the
general election is held. The board o.
canvass Of each county is to meet anc
canvass the vote cast at such election
This vote under section 4 is to be trans
mitted to the General Assembly anC
under section 5, General Assembly is Il
canvass this vote at its next session. Th'
sixth section provides "if it shall appear
that a majority OF all the citizens in the
state having right to vote for Repre-
sentatives have voted at said special elec
tion for a convention, the General As.
sembly shall accordingly make provision,
by appropriate legislation for the calling
and election of a convention, to consist o.
at least as many members as there are il
both Houses of the Legislature.
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.
If there is 10 change in the liquor law
this session it will not be because therl
have not been enough attempts in thi
direction. The latest bill launched il
this direction is one that was presente'
TO day by. Representative w. E. Davis
II in many respects resembles a measur
introduced two years ago. Under it
provisions the clerks of the peace are I
hand all applications for liquor license
to the foreman of grand juries TIL
grand jury are to consider the applics
tions and mark upon them recommends
by the grand jury or 1.-THE grand jur
declines to recommend. The applics
tions are then to be handed to the courts
Those endorsed 1.-THE grand jury decline
to recommend" must be rejected by tn
J courts and endorsed by the judges mo
: approved. The other applications shall
I notwithstanding the grand jurys recon
1 mendation, be subject to the discretio
of the court and may be approved or Il
5 jected.
The second section applies to druggist
2 and restricts them to the sale Of liquo
4 for medicinal purposes and by physicians
prescription only; each prescription
be good for only one sale. penalty Q
4 500 is imposed for violation of thi
Q section.
The third section regulates the lcens
r fees at $500 in cities over 10000 inhab
7 tants; between 2, 600 and 10000 inhab
y tants, $500; all other places, $200 drug
I gists' licenses, 5000; retailers of good
. wares and merchandise, $500. One -ha
Of the signers of an application must
a freeholders.
d The fifth section is aimed at the hidin
I of bars, ETC., and provides that liqu,
4 dealers shall keep his place of busine
J. so as to be seen fully and easily
passers by, and forbids him to obstru
) the view by screens, blinds, insi,
shutters, frosted glass, or any other d
) vice whatsoever, under penalty of a fiji
from $50 to 800. This evening, Lew
Sasse, Anton Hauber, James b. HassC
and Colonel S. M. Wood appeared befol
e the Joint committee on temperance {
j night in advocacy of Representati'
IS gray's bill to punish any minor who a
h tempts to buy drink, to allow them I
z, sell liquor TO be taken from the premis
r and to guard against the imposition
Is minors. The committee made a favo
ably impression upon the committee al
h there is considerable hope Of the passal
n of the measure.
~ PURITY OF ELECTIONS.
/. Senator Dorman is after them and
" introduced a bill to day that will secu