Evening journal., 1889-04-27
THF AGONY OVER.
Amid Confusion, Hurry and
Lobbying Galore.
eooD WORK HAS BEEN DONE,

stat correspondence Of EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, April e9-The first Repubu
can Legislature Of Delaware has gone in
20 history aud there are very few per
sons, even be they Republican leaders,
that viii not admit that it has been
disappointment. The closing scenes IN
the House yesterday were without par
allel In the history of the state. The
9obby COMPLETELY ovorrid everything.
Early in the day they took possession oI |
the ioor Of the House and took up posi- |
tions alongside members at the clerk
desk. An was excitement, Bnis We're
rushed throught without regard as TO
what they were. Many bills that had
hung fire for months were dragged
out and passed in the confusion Old
1ohbvisfs and those who had been about
the legislature for years did not remem.
Der when there ever was such a disgrace
ful scene. Two bills passed that were
far worse than the Addicks bill. and
there is no doubt that crooked work was
rampant all day. long In the Senate the
door leading to the floor was kept locked
and MANY Of the scenes enacted in the
House were avoided. Bills were killed
almost as soon as some would come from
the House At one time the Senate
killed sixteen bills by indefinite post
ponement. The Legislature Of 1891 was
formerly said to have been the worst ses-
sion for lobbying, but the lobbys at
that session were legitimate, and for
legitimate purposes, while this lobby was
VIGOROUSLY corrupt. Merit never once
entered into their mind, It was simply
how much is there in it. During the en-
tire session charges We're made right or
left that this or that member had re-
ceived money Both houses met at 3
O'Clock and work was at once commenced.
For an hour before that time the Legisla-
tive halls and lobbies were crowded. A
large force Of engrossing clerks were at
work the greater part OF the night and
early in the morning and kept pretty
we'll up with their work The adjourn
ments did not take place until about 2 40
actual time the clocks having been set
back to l2 o'clock by the sergea nts.
LOCAL OPTION.
The Senate killed local option on a
motion to strike out the title Those
voting in favor Of thus killing the bill
were: Crossan, Dorman, Donahoe.
Moore and the Speaker. Against 10:
Bacon, Collins. Moore and Ferguson.
This narrow escape was one of the sur
prises OF the session It was not ex-
pected that the vote would be so close.
On the other hand il was generally ex-
pected that Moore. the Republican mem
Der from Sussex, would vote for the bill.
Had he done this there would have been
no doubt of the bills passage Here
again. the work of the lobby is shown
and Republican politicians are RESPONSE
bic for the defeat Of local option. for il
was their influence that defeated IL.
Senator Collins took strong position in
favor Of the bill.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The act providing county commission
ers was another evidence Of Republican
insincerity The bill was introduced by
Representative Whiteman in the Hous
and received. an almost unanimous vote il
that body. It went TO the Senate an,
held fire there for several weeks. Tn,
Senate was willing TO pass bill for com
missioners but were unwilling to pass
the bin sent in from the House as IL wa
imperfect In a number Of particulars tina
have already been alluded TO- Accord
ingly a conference was held with thl
friends Of the measure and Henry
Turner. ESQ. directed to draw bill EN-
bodying these ideas. The act a
amended dividing the county
into five districts is as follows
First district, Brandywine an,
Christiana hundreds: second. Whining
ton; third, Mill Creek and New Castl,
hundreds fourth, White Clay Greek
Pencader and Red Lion hundreds; fifth
st. Georges, Appoquinimink and Black
bird hundreds The Levy Court Com
missioners elected ia 1888 were TO serv,
until January /, 1893 At the genera
election Of 1890, and every fourth yea
thereafter, one commissioner was to b.
o. 81. IA la.
above. Whenever vacancies occur the
We're to be filed by the governor fron
the same political party as the persol
whose place was to be filed came. Tn
concluding section of the Senate amend
ment provided that there should be
county comptroller to be appointed b.
the governor, to hold office until Januar
4. 1891. AT the general election in 1890
the people were to vote for a comptrolle
to hold office for four years This comT
troller was to audit all accounts presente
TO him and If he found any incorrect h
was to refuse to pay them, the only appei
from his decision was to the Superio
Court Of New Castle county At frs
sight the Republicans were disposed I
accept this. But they did not desire I
move without one Of their steerers we
present. Accordingly, Edward G. Bra
AoA0 NtAc ctAA 4ols A-tN EcutlthuA %
at once that it would never do for Il
House to agree to this bill, as it won
give the Democrats all the glory. So
at once objected to the bill, seeing in
al. the terrible things that are in 1
deep. The comptrollers clause W
TO him the greatest bugab
Of the lot. A conference co
mittee consisting Of Senators Don
hoe, Crossan and Ferguson and Repr
sentatives Wallace, Hynson and Eckl,
were appointed. This committee tussel,
over the matter for several hours. II
Senate in its desire for the reform pr
sented several bills to the House n
urged them to accept and finally as a Ia
resort were even willing to give the
the House bill with the comptrollers Sc
tion attached. The House conferes ]
fused this and declared finally that th
would take their own bill or nothin
This was the final thing that broke
the conference. The comptroller clau
was the best feature about the bi
His duties were purely ministerial
had nothing whatever to do with the
hnquent list (as is stated in an incorrt
report in a morning paper, but as tn
report shows that the writer was not
formed about the bill his whole stat
ment is valueless. He only held off
Tor one year by appointment and t
whole county voted for him at the ne
general election. Edward G. Bra9fc
was present and steered the two Hor
cOnferes and Lewis q Vaudac-r;ft q