Daily Republican., 1889-03-11

Special Correspondents Of the REPUBLICAN,.
Down, March e.-Ths week closed
tn afternoon was one Of the best weeks
work Of the season. When the members
quit tonight they were ready 10 20 home
| to take q well-earned rest. Next week
there will be big fish In the net. The
most important thing TO be considered
will be constitutional reform. The CON-
mittee would have reported bill this
week had It not been for the absence OF
Mr.. Eckels and the singular position
taken by Mr.. Lodge. This gentleman Is
unquestiopably upon the fence, and there
Is hopes that he will come down on the
right side. The Republican members OF
tie Committee on constitutional Reform
are willing 10 make most any concessions
to him n he will say that he will vote for
bill calling convention.
Mr.. Lodge will not do this. He Gays II
the committee are willing to frame bill
after his ideas he will agree TO report the
bill fsyoratly, but will 90 no further than
that. Mr.. Lodge has given considerably
study to the subject and he has desire
10 act conscientiously In the matter.
There Is no doubt but that he will do so
Notwithstanding any party ties or per-
sonal affiliations There Is more hope for
a convention now than at any other time
this session. There iB an impression
growing that among the Democrats of
the Senate there 10 a plan OF campaign
laid out. 1t being first to defeat the
House bill which calls convention upon
the recent vote aud then after that to pass
bill Of their own.
Another subject that will receive con-
sideratlon next week will be the temper
ance question. The Prickett bill was
referred to the Committee on Temperance
to-day, and they will have big time re-
ducing II to common senee plane. None
OF the members of the committee are In
favor OF II In its present shape. The bill
is too long to be properly grasped at first
sight, and this fact alone may do much
to defeat 1t. The Republican members
desire to do smethlng in the way OF
temperance reform and will, before the
session is over, pass bill with this end
In view. A number of the Democratic
members are in favor Of temperance leg
islAtlon, and there is considerable hope
that bill OF some kind will become q
law before the session ends.
One OF the most important pieces Of
legislation that has been proposed went
quiz tly through the Senate this alter
Loon. II was an act TO allow defendants
In criminal cases TO testify In their own
behalf. Delaware law Is the old English
common law, and under that all accused
has no right TO defend himself except by
counsel. A number Of s ates have given
this privilege for years past, and II has
been found that the ends OF justice have
been much benefited thereby The OBJ
jee,ioa 10 tue change has been that there
was fear II the defendant refused to tes-
tify II would prejudice his case.
Aaron NJ. Powell, editor OF the New
York Phiianthropist, addressed the men,
hers to-day upon the w. Z. 7. U. bill
in regard to raising the age OF consent in
females TO eighteen years. Mr.. Powell
made quite an interesting address upon
the subject but unJustly criticised the
State for having the age OF consent rs
low rs seven years, when on the contrary
1t is practically twelve years. While It
is recognized that some leg islatlon is
necessary, the members do not feel dis
posed TO pass tbs law desired as the age
limit is entirely too high.
The bill TO open Eleventh and Monroe
streets will be passed on Monday or Tues
day next. II would have been rushed
through to day had It not been out OF
respect to He tender feelings OF the gen
tlemen who opposed the bill. \ he Oh
Jectors give up the ghost and feel that
tbs bill will go through.
The Tenth street bill is dead and there
is every reason to believe that II VIII
never be heard from again. MAX.