Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-21

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DOVER. May 16,-lt was just 4.34 by
correct time. though barely noon by the
clock in Representatives Hall, when
Speaker Sirman, after a graceful and well
worded speech of leave taking, brought
down his gavel and declared the House
adjourned without day. Simultaneously
similar proceeding was enacted in the
Senate chamber.
In his farewell address Speaker Sirman
spoke feelingly of the associations now
about TO be sundered; of the friendship
that had grown up and daily strengthened
with the Intercourse of over four months
until now in the hour of parting it was
like the breaking up of large family. AT
the opening Of the session he had looked
forward with misgiyings and apprehen-
the acerbities Of political dissension had
been so carefully held in check that there
was nothing in the retrospect to mar the
memory of the months they had spent
together. The tribute of thanks which
had come to him tby resolution pre-
sented by Mr.. Higgins was very crate
full and would always be cherished in
memory. He had endeavored to fill
the chair as well as he could, and
the members on both sides had been very
kindly in forbearance towards his short
comings as presiding officer, They had
been together longer than any preceding
Legislature, but they had accomplished
merely mention, i'll passing, such meas
ures as the constitutional convention act,
ballot reform, the registration bills, the
repeal of the delinquent features of the
assessment law, the free text books act, the
New Castle commission bill, the Kent and
Sussex county bills, as among the fore
ir ost Some things had probably been left
undone that should have been DONE but
on the whole the members now about to
part could well return TO their constituents
in consciousness that they had reformed
their duty. 1t was sad to feel that they
might never meet again; that to some Of
them this farewell may be the last on
earth. But he hoped that good fortune
would attend each and all and that so long
as life should last nothing might happen
to mar any Of the friendships that had
grown up in the constant daily intercourse
of the months spent in this legislative
chamber.
THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY.
As usual the closing hours were spent
mainly in waiting upon the enrolment
and signature of belated bills. The most
important public business transacted in
the House during the day was the final
adoption, in amended shape, of the Pilling
bill proposing an amendment to Article
IN of the state constitution, As it came
from the Senate, which body it had passed
by unanimous vote, this bill provided that
a convention might be called hereafter by
majority Of the votes cast Oh any general
election day that might be designated by
the General Assembly. That is to say,
surprising the number of votes to be cast
for convention next Tuesday should fall
short; in that event, if the Pilling bill had
been passed by a two-thirds vote of this
Legislature and, after receiving the APP
proval of Governor Reynolds, shouI0
be ratified by three-fourths vote of the
next Legislature it would then become a
part of the constitution, sllperseding the
present Article I%. And, when this had
been done, the next Legislature might
designate the general election of 1893 as the
day on which the question Of calling
should be resubmitred To the
on that day should be equal to
a majority of the votes east for the legs-
latve ticket on that day. the General As
sembly of 1894 would be empowered to
provide for the election of delegates to hold
a convention, which delegates should be
chosen at the general election of 1895. So
that the earliest possible convention under
the bill could not be convened until the
winter of 1896.
This bill has heen in the House for some
weeks, having been reported without rec
from the committee on re-
vised statutes, by unanimous vote of the
Chairman Hutson stated 1t
had been in measure lost sight Of and tD
senator Pilling and John Il. salisbury is
lue in large degree the credit for its resiIr-
rection. Both these gentlemen assisted
BY A. p. Robinson, Esq, ana Others w.
bored zealcusly with Mr. Hutson cnrsr
his afternoon to get him to call it III los
passage and TO convert him to its support.
But Mr.. Hutson, while agreeing to pa t
On its passage and let it take its Uil,s...,,
maintained his objection that it would