Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-29
RAILROADED IT THROUGH
The Five Commissioners Bill
Passes the House.
CAUCUS POWER TRIUMPHANT
Eisenbrey the Only Man Who
Withstands 1t.
A Spirited Afternoon in the House--what
Was Said and Done--,rhe Cedar Creek
Division Bill Also Goes Through--what
VIII the Senate Do?


/
DOVER, Jan. 27.-The s'roosters" are
on top. They have demonstrated their
power to run the Democrats of the
House, and they are Boosting that they
can handle the Senate with the same
ease.
/ ventured the declaration in recent
letter'that there were men in the House
who, uncoerced by caucus dictation,
would not agree to railroad through, be-
fore one man out of dozen In New
Castle county had been given an oppor-
tunity to even read the bill, measure
so important as the Five Commissioners
bill. expressed doubt of the power
of the party lash to whip in some of the
Democratic members. 1 spoke of Mr..
Hutson as a fair and square man who
would insist upon time for proper con-
sideration of this legislation.
take it all back. The party whip
has been cracked and the only man who
dared to stand up and say he would not
| do violence to his convictions of right
and justice was John M. Eisenbrey Of
Mispillion.
Poor Mr.. Attix. He wanted to do the
right thing by New Castle county, but
Frank Temple hung on to him like a
leech and finally landed his game. He
was warned by townsman last Sunday
not. to allow himself to be used as u
tool, but he could not stand the pressure.
And Mr.. Richards, who had made the
last motion for the enlargement of the
committee and was, by every rule of
parliamentary courtesy, entitled to be
named the additional member from
Kent. After taking three days to deliber-
ate, Speaker Sirman, without consulting
him, stepped right over his head and
named Mr.. Ridgeley instead. Here was
a fair implication that the speaker was
unwilling to trust him. Yet Mr. Rick
ards came in with the rest when his
name was called.
Mr.. Hutson, it looks as though the
position of leadership on the floor had
charms.for him. He took that position
to-day and his rival, Mr.. Ridgeley, was
only heard from when the roll was
called.
And there were others who look as
though they had backbone of their own,
but they said nothing and voted for the
bill when their names were called.
"You can hardly form a conception of
the pressure that was brought to bear on
us" said one of the members. That
pressure, whether inconceiyable or not,
brought them around
The House ordered 1000 copies of this
bill TO be printed. These copies did not
reach the members till yesterday. Some
that they thereupon sent out have prob
ably not yet reached their constituents.
II is safe to say that not hundred men
In all New Castle county have mastered
the contents of this bill. Yet it has
been railroaded through all the same.
WILL 1T PASS THE SENATE?
William Fl. Lee says it will. He says
SO confidently and exultingly. John 7.
Dickey says Seantor Williams has told
him he will not vote against it. He has
not, however, said he will vote for it.
Suppose he should fail to vote or fail TO
get back to Dover before Tuesday. He
is, or has been, i'll with rheumatic
affection. 1t was reported, but on no
definite authority, that his condition to-
day is worse instead of better. On the
other hand, some say they expect him to
be here tomorrow, Ex-Governor Hall,
who did not go in person, but sent a
deputy to North Carolina at an expense
of $40 per day, is here. But without
Mr. Williams the Senate would stand
four to four Would Speaker Donahoe
have'a casting vote on a tie, after hav-
ing voted as member to make the tie +?
John r. Nicholson, Esq, when put
this question to him, said that the same
question had been propounded to him
regularly every legislative session for
dozen years past. He had thoroughly
examined the authorities on parliament
tary law long ago on this very point and
naa Always nhheslatlngly maintained
that the speaker couiu Iot cast Two
Voles, even ,liousn one OF thenl were
cast 10 decide ue. 20 that, without
Mr' Wiiilains, the piii cannon get
through the senate. Ahd even men VINO
cllitl that ne VIII Vote lor u, aainlt that
ne Is avefse 10 rIshlng II through
Delore the people OF new Oastle county
know what there Is In H.
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
The bill was considered in committee
this morning. The committee sat for
an hour or 50 and agreed to report the
measure to the House with someamend-
ments. These amendments gave the
clerk of the peace the same functions he
now exercises This is where Mr. BiCps
made his influence respected nv fhe
''roostcrs.n The work of The comfy
controller being thus somewhat cur
tailed. the committee decided to reduce
that functionary's salary Ia 81 b0O
Witness and Juror fees and interest on
county bonds are 10 be excepted from
the controller's warrant In onneaI
cases. if The CONTROLLERS veto il ovcr.
ruled Nv the snnerior corrt the county
il to nay The costs The date If organi-
zation Of the hoard il changed From