Middletown transcript., 1891-02-12
rEorsLATIvE DoINos.

LEGISLATIVE DoINGs.
Correspondence of TIE TRANSCRIPT.
DOVER, DEL. Feb. IL.
The favor of the oyster peryades the
State House at present, and mixed
With it slightly are the odor Of the
food fishes Of the Delaware bay and
the slime of the festive eel that sports
In the rippling waters of Indian river.
The oyster power is paramount just
now. MI. Hutson started in on the
toothsome biYalve last week by pre-
senting bills to repeal about all the
tinkering legislation that had been
enacted during the last two sessions in
the interest of the tongers. All that
beautiful little oyster garden racket
that was laid out so scientifically at
the last session, where farmers and
others could 60 and lay out little oyster
beds, Just as they would lay out onion
beds in their home gardens, is to te
wiped out. The tongers' paradise
where no dredger can now trespass
under heavy penalty is to be upset,
and taking all the bills now in, collec-
lively and individually, 1t would take
the most expert of oyster wiseacres to
tell where in the mischief the thing
will stop.
There's one bill to be introduced to-
day or tomorrow in which the entire
State will be interested. It proposes
that the legislature appropriate $40, 900
to purchase oyster shells. These
shells are to be spread over what is
known as the Rock !, or Ridge {"
an islet In the bay opposite Kelly's
Island. It is claimed that If this is
done an oyster bed can be here erected
such as Delaware bay never knew.
The oyster shells are to catch the
spawn that float SO thickly round the
bay, and here this spawn is to propo-
gate for four years, no trespassers
being allowed, and then these oysters
are to be marketed. The oystermen
claim that SIC, 900 thus invested will
not only come back to the State with
compound interest, but it will also
save the oyster industry in Delaware.
Another bill in which everybody
will be interested is the $ The Farm
ers' Equalization of Taxation /" bill.
This act which was introduced yester-
day by Mr.. Eisinbrey. proposes to tax
all investments and securities of all
kinds and sorts, such as bonds, stocks,
mortgages, bank deposits, etc. It will
enact that where q farmer or nominal
land owner, whose place is mortgaged
or against which there are judgements.
shall make affidavit to these facts,
then from his assessment these debts
are to be deducted and the holders of
the mortgage or judgment notes are to
pay tax on the amounts for which
these papers call. Further, all de-
posits In banks are to be inspected,
assessed and taxes charged against
them. The current, daily or weekly
deposits of merchants or tradesmen
are to be excepted. Again, all tele-
graph, telephone, express, railroad,
canal and other corporations are to
pay taxes on all business done in the
State and a proviso makes it impossi-
BILE for any Of these companies to put
up their rates, as penalty Is set down
for any OF them which attempt to
charge q greater rate than was charged
by them on January l, 1891. And
the bill also provides that ifany holder
Of q mortgage or Judgment note or
other evidence Of debt. shall attempt
by increasing the rate of interest or
otherwise to make the debtor pay the
amount or any part of the amount of
tax, the debt shall be entirely forfeited
and the creditor punished. There are
to be 1000 copies Of the bill printed,
and there is no doubt but that the
citizens will be heard from on this par
ticular bill.
Another bill to be introduced one
day this week is the act to provide free
text books for use In the public schools
Of the State. This bill provides that
the State treasurer shall buy all the
books to be used in the public schools.
These are to be distributed by the
clerks OF the respective school districts,
these clerks to give bond for the faith
full performance Of their duties. For
the colored schools the county treas
urer of each county is made the dis
tributor. Special provision is made
for the replacement of books destroyed
or defaced, and the bill ID very minute
in its details. A section practically
makes Delaware College State Nor
NAL school as Its diploma shall be a
passport to teachers certificate.
The militia bills have had rest this
week they both lie quietly in commit
tee awaiting the sguard's bill " which
Col. Marshall is to present.
Senator Williams is still confined to
his home by illness, and the white flag
of truce was again raised in the Senate
yesterday. No partisan or political
Ilegislation viii " tsken up until Sena-
,tor Williams returns
The seqsk9 yesterday appointed b
iIYoxce oo116Ii1I % set with The
oaze s16alni <ea divorce legisla-