Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-11

WhAi hENAVN
On Friday morning the House commit
tee on municipal corporations reported
without recommendation proposed
amendment to the charter of Ksnton,
prohibiting the sale of Intoxicating
liquors in that town. It turns out that
this was more properly rider to the
original amendment, introduced some
weeks ago, authorizing the inhabitants Of
that municipality to raise by taxation an
additional 800 per year for town pur-
poses. The difference between the two is
that the original amendment Is favored
by an overwhelming majority, while the
rider Inns, on the contrary, the endorse
ment OF a very small minority of the
people, and, it is charged by the Ken
tonites in general, was tackled on by
DIR. Cooper and John w. Graham
with intent to overload and de.
feat the aforesaid amendment. Ex-
Representative Frank Temple says
There are go voters in the town. Of
these 46 are petitioning for the passage
Of the amendment, Ito raise 300 more
annually and are demonstrating
against it. Two years ago, in our town
charter, we used the' word regulate In
reference to our streets; we are now ask
ing to add the words widen and
'slraighten' and TO raiss $500 per year
instead of $100. Each taxable is as
sessed poll tax of S1 for town purposes.
This makes the $l0c amount to only
about 8 cents on the 800 of real estate
assessment. To raise 5000 will increase
this tax to about az cents on the 300,
the poll remaining the came. DR..
Cooper and John W. Graham are push
ing this prohibition amendment to kill
the other amendment"
epresentstive,C CLARK, who looks after
Kenton in the House, says the bill will
be recummitted and the people OF the
towa given hearing by the COMMITTEES
next Wednesday. He adds that he has
no Intention of insisting upon the pro-
hibition rider.
THE SENATE ON CONVENTION.
The Senate committee on constitutional
reform has prepared its adverse report on
the House Convention bill and will prob
ably deliver the same tomorrow. The re-
port is quite lengthy, covering six printed
pages. II opens with review OF the
passage by the last General Assembly of
the act under which the election Of 1887
was held. The result OF that election
was reported to this General Assembly.
"It is n matter of record, as shown by
the journals of both the Senate and the
House, that the vote for a convention at
said special election was actually dis
closed in said joint session to be in fact less
than that prescribed and required by the
act of 1887 under which said election wal
authorized and held. But, nevertheless,
regardless of this undenlable fact md
despite the votes and the protest Of an
overwhelming majority of the Senate ia
said joint session, the majority OF the
joint meeting, caused by the numerical pre-
ponderance over the Senate OF the other CO.
ordinate branch OF the General Assembly,
pretended to adopt a resolution declaring
that the vote cast for convention at said
election was sufficient to authorize and
require this Legislature to pass an act to
provide for the election Of convention
for this State. In conformity with this
unwarrsnted assumption of fact and law,
bill has Biuce passed the House OF Rep
resentstives to provide for constitu-
tional convention, and has been pre-.
sented to the Senate for its concurrence
therein and by it referred to this COM
mittee.n ...
The report then goes on to say that
though sincerely anxious to serve the de-
sire OF the people for needed constitu-
tional reforms. There are vital reasons
against the enactment Of this bill, and