Smyrna times., 1889-04-17
Proceedings of the Legislature.
THE SESSION NEARING AN END.

Fr0ceeu1ngS OF Gne Legislature
THE SESSION NEARING AN END.
The General Assembly has passed
Joint resolution to adjourn sine die on
April 26th, but there will have to be
some tall legislative hustling to get
through with the work on band by
that date. 1t is possible that the pres
ent session will go down to pOsterty as
the longest session on record.
The past weeks session was unusual
ly interesting and was well marked by
the consideration of some important
measures. The House, after coquet-
ting for "a week with the High License
aud Local Option bill, suddenly turn
| ed about face and adopted high Ii
| cense measure, with out any local
/ option frills. This bill leaves the gem
| eral provisions of the liquor law as they
! are, with the exception of an addition
! that will knock the drug store dram
shop business sky high, and make the
| prices of licenses for the sale of liquor
as follows: In cities of 10000 inhabi
tants and over (which of cOurce in
cludes only Wilmington $500 in cities
or towns of between 5000 and 10000
population comprising New Castle,
Dovor, Milford and possibly Smyrna),
$1,000; in other places, $500; whole
sale licenses, $500.
After a spirited debate this bill pass
ed the House and is now in the Senate
Its prospects in this body are uncertain
but the chances for its passage exceed
those for its defeat.
A. as uartu avDpdipOpV UOpS. the
feeling is prevalent that the Democrat
ic party cannot afford to go on record
as opposed to high license There
is a possibility that the bill may be de-
feated. but there is a stronger pOsslblll-
that the bill will pass the Senate. In
this event il NAV be amended so as to
r make the cost of licenses S3OO, SZOO ana
, ! 500 instead of $500, $500 and S2OO.
5 But that some move will be made IL
the direction OF high license there IS
little doubt. The local option measure
is still being pressed, but its passage Is
t not considered probable II the hlgh il
. Gems bill becomes law.
! Another feature of the past week
b was the action Of the Senate with re
}. gard to a constitutional Convention
y The House passed a bill ordering al
election of delegates to convention
but the Senate held that the vote at tn
. sDeciaI election of 1887 was not sutil
y cient to warrant the calling of con
vention and defeated the bill. 1t IS e3
> nected that the Senate will pass o..
= ordering another special election o.
the third Tuesday in May, but the ne
publican members of the House WI
# not accent such an unsatisfactory con
of nromise. 1t is probable that nOthln
% will he done and that the session WI
=. end leaving constitutional reform q
i'm far off as ever.
"a This weeks session is also likely
~ nrove interesting, and possibly exciting
The local option bill was considere
in the House Yesterday and passed /
is. vote of fourteen to SIX. III
v. bill dispensing with the city election
en- WILMINGTON in 1890 and reducing Cl
ne Councils membership to twelve men
in hers and the President, which has pas
RS ed the Senate, will be considered
he the House. 1t will be opposed, b
ne the chances are in favor of the passag
De- The quart" bill, authorizing the sa
of of LIQUOR by the quart, when was
considered a second time, in the Houi
under a questioned decision by Spea
oc- er Hofecker, will be vigorously push
OF bv It's sponsor, Captain Eckles. 1t h
snt but little show of passing, however,
he the Republicans have made party
nd sue OF it, and all will probably va
the against it excepting Mr.. Lingo. Mr..
to ~ Davis has two or three bills ID so
md designed to enforce the collection
,dd county capitation taxes, which ne , "
He cali up for passage this week In
nor are intended to keep so many kep,!
Ucan voters from being returned del
ouents. and thus losing their votes;
ger marty measures, therefore, they VIII
ga passed by the House and solemly
Ter, terred in the Senatorial graveyard.
ana From now until the day OF adJou
the ment the legislators will have to X
me their eys open for various PRIV
IN schemes. under the guiEe OF pu'
der measures. There are several be
dies concocted in the city of Wilmingt
sent and the election bill, it is said, VIII
ran made a vehicle for carrying tnroug
verv considerate extension OF the te
Tho of two or three city officers -,
tajo The underground wire hight VIII WI.
Saa, Sa,u he resumed says the Sunday Star
m NJ niobt. Both sides will be heard
ave D some lively verbal passages are e&l
the ted.