Evening journal., 1890-02-06
10 ABOLISH The LEVY COURT.

Senator Donahos Tells some of the In
side History of scheme which Failed.
The effort Of certain Republicans and
quasi Republicans to revive the Three
Commissioners Bill and abolish the Levy
Court induced reporter of the EVENING
JOURNAL 10 call on Senator John Z.
Donahoe for information.
Reporter Senator Donahoe you are
accused Of the sin Of voting against the
bill to abolish the Levy Court.
Senator DonAhoe. "Yes, / WAS chair
man of the Senate Conference Committee
and with Messrs. Ferguson and Crossan.
both grangers believe, voted not to re-
cede from the Senate substitute. They
both admitted that they were (after the
conference in the Housed satisfied that
the Three, Commissioners Bill WAS entirely
q political measure OF the Republicans
and nothing else. II had no merit what
ever; 1t was a party balloon. believe
George Medill steered some sort OF kite
like 1t in the session Of 1887 1 offered a
good bill as substitute but the Republi-
can leader told me 1t was ''too tight.
Reporter. What were your objections
TO the Three Commissioners Billf'
Senator Donahoe. my objections were
First. They tried to press the same bill
IN 1887, when both Houses were Demo
cratic, and failed. Second. They held
the bill back until near the close of tho
session, intending to force IL through be-
| fore itIcould be discussed between the
members and their constituents Third.
The bill did not provide any check, what
ever, upon the three commissioners, on
their actions or expenditures. Fourth.
The bill did not provide that one commits
sioner always should belong In viii
mlngton as mine does, but on the con-
trary all three might be taken from Ap.
poquinimink hundred and this city be
without any representation. Fifth. My
bill creates a comptroller under a bond OF
| $40 600, who must examine every item
Of the bills and mark them approved
before they can be paid.
"When, continued the Senator, ''my
bill passed In the Senate a Republican
picket was in the lobby who jumped up
with an oath and said That bill shall
never get through the House. He at
once rushed to the telegraph Office and
wired for the Republican bosses from
Wilmington to come lat once to Dover
which they did that same evening, and
ordered the Republicans not TO concur IL
the Senate substitute.
Reporter. WAS the substitute
passed.
Senator Donahoe. "No. IL was killed II
the House by the order Of the Republican
bosses, though both members and som,
of the more candid bosses admitted thaf
the Senate bill was the better bill ans
that there were defects In the Thre
Commissioners Bill which they expectes
to amend at the next Legislature.
II suggested, said the Senator smil
ingly, that they had better amend th
bin before offering 1t to the Legisla
ture."
Reporter. Had you any other objec
ton to the Three Commissioners Billf"
Senator Donahoe. II had a serious oh
lection Of course to any measure whicl
would deprive Wilmington of control owe
assessment and taxation laws. ! had /
ser loss objection to legislating away tn
powers of taxation and representation
from Wilmington. Wilmington pay
more than one half OF the county taxes
but still under that bill she might no
} have had a representative to assist Il
} making the assessments or in govern
ing the expenditure Of the money. hat
serious objections to the men who wer
backing the bill, and to the manner
which they tried to rush q rejected bi
} from the Legislature Of 1887 throuq
I the last Legislature at the end Of Oh
session, as II it was some new discover
s Just invented
a Reporter. You were pretty busy
: that time.
Senator Donahoe Eyes The mausgei
! came with that bill during the last dal
of the session, and we were very bus
! with many bills long pending in the con
3 mittees, amongst which were the Aim.
q house bill, the Street and Sewer "ridel
r and the b. q o. &25. 900 steal, the Hiq
, License and Prohibition bills. All of thel
. had been pending in the differel
s committees, in addition TO the Cons titl
= tional Convention Bill. Now this bill
e have no doubt, was all ready since Il
a session of 1887, and il it was intended I
L give the members fair time to discu
}, It with their constituents, why had It n,
n been entered early In the session, Il
- same as any other fair bill2 Here is u
Is history Of this great bill from the tim
the House Committee reported on It
said the Senator Offering q paper contai
ing the following data
E On Tuesday, April 20, Mr. Clark
q Judiciary Committee reported favorab
$ on H. b. No. $50 with amendment.
d The amendment was lost and the b
Z then'passed by a vote Of 10 to 7. Reports
/ from the House same day to the Senat,
Mr.. Crossan took charge Of the bi
IS April "A, had Il read twice and referrI
3 to Committee on Revised Statutes. It W
reported back from Revised Statut
a Committee on the same day and pass
AS amended. So the Senate just had Il
Y bill one day altogether.