Evening journal., 1889-04-20
LOTS OF eUNcoMBE.
Weak Document That VIII be ON
Hand for '90-Passago of the Biennial
Election Bill.

Weak Document That VIII be on
Hand for '9o-Passago OF the Biennial
Election BIN.
stan Correspondence OF EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, April 20.-Well, the constitu-
tional election bill has been set upon by
the House committee and the many vir-
tues Of the bill acknowledged by making
a long winded excuse for their action.
The general question is who drew it2 II
by the steerer Of the Republicans Ed
ward 4. Bradford, then the Democratic
position is considerably improved for the
reason that this excellent gentleman
rarely draws such weak paper as the
one presented. If by Downham the best
that can be said is, it is all that could be
respected and Mr. Bradford gave up the
job. The report starts off with an un-
qualified disproval of the Senate bill,
then runs in lot Of old chestnuts about
holding the election in May and the only
time to hold one being on general elec
tion day. II attacks Governor Biggs and
contains an impertinent suggestion that
the.goyernor has changed his miud in re-
lation to calling constitutional conven.
tion. Assumes that If an election is held
in May this time that It will establish a
precedent for future elections to ascer-
tainthe sense of the people to be held
then. The remainder Of the report is
made up of long quotations from Judge
Hall, James A. Bayard, Martin w.
Bates and Governor Biggs, all OF
which have been published
twenty times before. The end Of
the report is on bill presented This
bill provides for an election TO be held on
the day Of The next general election and
provides for the calling of convention
by the next General Assembly. assuming
that that body will do this If it thinks Il
expedient. The bill as presented is not
an unfair one, was It robbed of the parti.
san effect it would have if passed. Should
the Democratic Senate pass the bill the
Republicans would claim credit from one
end of the state TO the other They have
defeated bill that called an election al
a very early date, in fact much earlier
than their own bill The Senates action
however cannot be forctold as yet. They
may pass the measure but it is not prob
able, and it looks now very dismal fol
the cause of constitutional reform. Mr.
Lodge Of the committee would not sign
the report mainly on the ground of rs
rank partisanship. He is a true friend
Of constitutional reform but refused &
give his endorsement TO either the bill OF
the report.
CITY LEGISLATION.
The Bi ennial Election bill has becom,
law. 1t passed the House this after
noon without dissenting voice For
measure that is so important in its bear
ings there has been as little consideration
as has been given anything this session
The bill is a compromise between the
Citizens Committee bill and Council,
bill and is the product Of Senator Dona
hoe. He is the sole author Of it. ant
whatever good results may ensue from il
the credit win belong to him, and per s,
| the opposite. The public IS now thor
oughly familiar with the provisions o
the bill 1t will be the saving of mucl
money to the city. The Street and Sewe
Department viii hereafter receive $120, 90
year from the city under the bill whic
passed the Senate yesterday. There j
very little city business now left, and 70
once a session Of the General Assembl
passes without an exhibition being pre-
sented of a reckless waste of the city
money by Councils committee.
THE ASSESSMENT LAW.
The House passed the ridiculous assess
ment bill of W. E. Davis to-day and /
any one can tell just the reason why the
| did, that person is entitled to a prize 70
penetIativeness The bill is one tina
has but one purpose, and that Is to en-
deavor to make political capital for tn
Republicans. The condition of the Re
publicans this session has been pitiful il
chs s-.SssSs. TSzy 81 S1s1S7.4es sS0
far this season in capital, and about tn
only thin gthey have done is to obstrue
the legitimate business of the session
until now at this late day they propos
to adjourn with half the business unfn
ished
NOTES.
General Armstrong come out on top oi
the George G. Morton bill. The House hal
qnite breeze over the matter yesterda,
and some lively passages passed between
General Armstrong and his friend Mr.
Whiteman.
The school bill was passed this morn
ing and many good things can be said Il
its favor. II will 60 through the Senat
will out difficulty. Mr.. Whiteman dc
serves much credit for having Delawar
College diplomas made equivalent to
life certificate for teaching.
The opposition to the Spalding Tele
graph Company is one Of the queer thing
of this session. Here is a measure tina
went through the Senate without oppo
sition. but runs.up against snag in th
House. Why7 Simply because tn
Western Union Telegraph Company see
in 1t passible competitor.
The House made decided step yestel
day in passing the Levy Court contraC
bill Of Mr.. Eckles. This bill as has beef
explained requests all work done owe
$50 to be given out by contract.
The Australian ballot bill has been n
ported favorably and there is very littl
hope however of its passage. The men
bers have not been able to grasp all il
provisions yet.