Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-02
HOW THE SESSION ENDED,
TEE LEGIsLATU go ar 1850 HOR A
RACK hUMBkR.
SECRET SESSION OF The HOUSE
THE IoBBF LINaERRD r0 TINE
TEkR LAST.
Fai'uro OF the ConniY Commissioners
itiii and Various Other Important
measnres-AccOunts of Members
and Officers -tsi,is PaId-Eud of
Notable Session,


Down. April 24.-The House amended
bill taxing express companies passed this
afternoon, imposes tag OF per cent on
the gross earnings OF receipts within the
State, payable July lst On June lat,
annually, the companies shall make out
for the State treasurer nm annual state.
ment Of such receipts. Failure to pay the
tax required, after due proclamation, shaIl
bepuniahable as prescribed in the original
bill The clause prohibiting an advance
lin rates Is also retained.
ANOTHER CONVENTION TILT.
When the senate substitute (which
came in ~ an amendment) for the House
substitute Convention bill came mp for
adoption in the House this afternoon, Mr..
Downham said
am for o constitutional convention,
and II / could see that this bill as
amended would bring about snoh result
] should most certainly vote for il; but
believe II is O bill intended to prevent
calling convention; that it is o step Of
fered by those opposed TO convention.
1t re-ensots Article TX, with all It's objeo.
tionahle features, and undertakes 10 say
that this is the only mode by which this
General Assembly can call convention.
We cannot secure the attention OF the
people on the third Tuesday in May, l
care not what tho question may be. II
II were @ political question--it offiees
were ct stake--and that il anything
would bring ont full voie-I don't be-
lieve that full vote could be secured nt
that time; because we are su agricultural
community; the people are then busiiy
engaged on their farms and will not leave
their farms to go to the pollsand cast their
votes. ALI that the friends Of oonven,
tion ask ia the opportunity to cast full
and fair vote on this question. But that
bill does more; il poslpones the day of
convention and IL is SO intended. Under
that bill, II every voter in the State
wanted convention, tbey could not get
II until four years from now. Again, we
oil vaut delegates elected by districts.
This bill provides for thei- election by
counties, and 1t is not improbable that
convention called under 1t might be made
up Of delegates all belonging to one
political party; which every reasonable
man will agree would be q public mis-
fortune. He would move TO lay the
Senate amendment on the table and ask
for a committee OF conference.
Mr.. Whitenan replied that Mr.. Down.
ham had brought out one thing--that this
has resolved itself into political question.
Whether We opn reach conclusion by
oommittee OF conference can only be de.
termined by trial. II seems as though
thu House has determined on one thing
and the SENATE on another, and there
can no circumstances arise whereby they
can DO iDduced TO agree. It seems to me
that, with both houses, 1t Ia more i'm.
portant who takes the initiatory step than
as to the matter itself. / have no Rrgu-
ment to make, but believe the bill as
reported from the Senate will not bear
the abuses heaped upon it; as to its being
bill how not to cAll conventions; be-
cause there il one thing evident-this
bill is backed 10y the constitution Of the
State. It is not backed by the pet
theory OF any man, but has that sub
stantial ground upon which to stand.
There is no small element in
this State who believe that this bill is the
only way ia which we eau call conven-
tion. | believs the Senate has acted
wisely. While this bill does not entirely
meet my approval, and while am con-
yinced that there are other methods by
which convention can be called, we
may here, by taking rash step, bring
ourselves and the people of the State into
consternation and trouble. There 10 dan
ger that we may have a repetition OF what
took place in 1852 because there Is o
strong element who believe, as the oppo-
nents did at that time, and would not
ratify the work of convention called in
another way. That Sussex county gave
greater majority against ratification thad
New CASTLE county is not compatible with
the claim that the work of.that convention
was defeated because of the failure of in-
creased representation for New Castle
county. move that this bill be laid on
the table.
Agreed to. Mr.. Downham then offered
Joint resolution appointing joint com
mlttee of conference OF three members
from each House. Agreed 10. Tue
speaker appointed, as House conterrees,
Messrs. Downham, W, Z. DAVIS ana
Lodge.
NEW BANK DIRECTORS,
Following are the new Farmers Bank
directors as finally agreed on to-day; one
for each bank being a Republican
WimiDgton-Henry q. Conrad, James
Bradford, William Bowe.
New Castle james L. Eliaspn, DAVID
Boulden, David W. Eikinton.
Doyer-Peter X. Meredith George Ii.
Gildersleeye, John W. CaEson,
Georgetown-Sanuel Il, MeHsick, EDO
W. Tunnel, Charles d. Houston.
THE HIGH LICENSE BILL. ..5
Following is an abstract OF the high
license bill as amended and passed BY the
Senate:
Section 1. Druggists shall not cell
liquor without license, and shall tnere-
after sell liquor only on the written
order or prescription OF a regular pEae-
tising physician, such prescription 70 oe
good for only one sale; the prescriptloh
10 be preserved for free public Inspeo-
tion; violations Of this section to be pun
ilaable by ine Of 500 for each on suce.
Sac Q In cities and towns of over
a i0tl Inhabitants the license fee for an
Inn or tavern shpll be $500; all other
places. $500. Druggists' licenses, SEo.
Idcenses TO retailers of goods, wares aud
merohandise, 800. The population OF
any town for the purposes of this act 10
bs based on the last preceding census
Sac. 8. AT least ons-half of the signers
NJ an application for license shall be sub
stantial freeholders.
Sec. Every person licensed under
this act shall keep his principal place OF
bnsiness 80 as TO be seen fully and easily
he passers- by and shall not obstruct such
view by screens, blinds, inside shutters:
frosted glass, or any other device OF
wbatsosyer kind or character, undsr
penalty Of forfeiture Of license and Soo
to 300 tine.
Sec. 8. Repesis all Inconsistent pro-
visions of existing laws.
Sec. 6. This act shall not go into effect
until July lst, 1852