Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-05
THE GRUBB BILL PASSED
Text of the RidgeIy Bond In
veStment Bill.
LEVY COURT BILLS ABANDONED
A County Commission Bill to
Take Their Place.

Take Their Place.
Mr.. PiIling on Where Man is a Man
and Again Where He is Not--More
Trouble Over Divorce Bills in the
Senate.
DOVER, Feb. 25.-This has been a
field day in the Senate. That usually
sommolent body has for once eclipsed
the more stirring and noisy House. To
pass convention bill, kick out road
bill, have two distinct divorce quarrels,
appoint divorce clerk of its own, and
resolve to give all printing jobs of over
800 to the lowest bidder-these things
made up the record of stupendous
senatorial day.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
It was Immediately on reassembling
for the afternoon session that Senator
Williams called up his Constitutional
Convention bill for the final reading.
This bill was prepared by Judge Grubb.
1t provides for the resubmission to the
qualified voters, at special election to
be held on the third Tuesday Of May,
1892, of the question of calling CON
vention, to be held at the same places,
in the same manner and by the same
persons as are general elections, &c,
and the result to be ascertained accord
ing TO the ipsissima verba of the much
debated article TX.
When the bill had been read and the
usual question, "Shall this bill pass
the Senator" had been put, Mr.. Pilling
arose.
HE STATES HIS ATTITUDE.
~ WISH" said Mr.. Pilling. "to state
my attitude. | shall vote for this meas
ure in its present shape, if am not able
to convince my colleague to change it.
am one of those who believe honestly
that we all desire constitutional con-
vention.I am also well aware that on both
sides of this chamber there is differ
ence of opinion as to what is the proper
method to pursue. The constitution, we
all agree, wants modifying or changing
| am no lawyer and am not qualified to
say whether there are other methods by
which this can be accomplished, but, if
my memory serves me right, both par
ties are committed to other modes than
this. Four years ago, when this senate
was unanimously Democratic, they pur-
4
all who differ with me if they only
differ with me sincerely but we all know
that if we start out on this .unexcep-
tionable mode we all 10 certain ex-
tent contine ourselves to that mode
My constituents in New Castle, if we
call convention under this bill, not
withstandiRg the number of voters, the
amount of taxes, everything, will only
ha IN no 60 Hayr yNf
bers in that convention as their sister
counties. could not allow such u
measure to pass this body without rails
ing my protest l am one of those who
believe that man is a man and ought
TO be counted. will never admit that
1t takes two men in New Castle county
to equal one in Kent or Sussex. There
fore, trust that we will not tie our
hands and place ourselves in that CON
dition. should like to hear from the
worthy member from KENT (Mr.
Williams).
MUST STICK TO THE TENT.
Mr.. Williams-"Thereis no other way
to remedy this but by constitutional
convention. You cannot change consti-
tutional law without changing the con
stitution. Therefore, while we have a
constitution, | am in favor of going by
that constitution. You cannot consti-
tutionally give additional representation
to New Castle county in that conven-
ton, but | am with the gentleman (Mr.
Pillingl in favor of a change. l want to
see New Castle have additional repre-
sentation; think it unfair as it is"
No DISCRETION ALLOWED.
Mr. Pilling-"It gives ME great plea
sure to listen to my friend, and be-
lieve every word of it; and, if our hands
are tied and there is no way out but
this, ! am perfectly satisfied to get out
this way; but | was of the impression
that the legislature which conveneS
first after that election, if we proceed by
some other method, might possibly use
It's Judgment i'll regard thereto.n
MIR. Williams-"That legislature il
bound by the constitution as well al
this legislature, it can no more 30 ont
slde the constitution than this Legislature
can. 1t is bonE3 to 60 by the constitu-
ton"
WILMINGTON MEN DON'T COUNT.
Mr.. Puling-"Then, if the convention
Us to cesisist of ten from each county,
only hhst they will be as generous Al
lohi CtlicAF1uG IlAul hBnl. ~ GEtU
many people are in favor of and speal
of representation according to popula
ton. take this opportunity 10 MAKE
my position plainly understood. an
not in favor of representation aceordinl
10 population, strictly
Mr.. Williams Neither am |. =
Mr., Pilling-"I contend that the ex
perience of all statesmen, of all wisdom
] ever read of, has been against it to
certain extent, but in this case it want
to be increased great deal but not Il
the extent Of the rural districts. wisl
% make plain just where stand. vii
mington has more than one-third of tn
inhabitants Of the State, but when yol
60 there | don't suppose there are a
many people who take an interest il
the welfare % the State, the credit o
the State, the honor Of the Stute-ther
is not one-tenth as many-as in Kent q
Sussex or III the rural porlihs Of NeN
Castle. They are floating inhabitants
consequently they have not that in
terest But when man settles dow
and buys land and expects to live fher
and to raise his family there.
is very different; he has an interest j
the State. (Alr. Pilling did not spea
of the several thousand Wilmingtu
mon who have settled down, bourl
houses and expect 10 live and req
families therelm. These tloatinl
people, many of them intelligent peopl
don't take that interest. Therefore
would be dangerous to give them AZ
cording to their number the sam
amount Of political power that 20
would give the rural districts. VI
Pilling had hoped this discussion woul
be more general, He would like to Sc
the election held on the third Tuesda
Of Maw 1901 instnad IL isn2 -rL