Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-29

urged against it. They listened and
voted; nothing more.
Mr.. Hutson, as chairman of the COM
mittee, reported the bill to the House,
with the committee amendments, and
moved the adoption of the amendments.
They were adopted. There was no mi
nority report. The ROSTERS" had
made their big hit last night by putting
the opposition to the measure into Re-
publican hands. Thus they gave it the
seeming of party fight. This gave
them q great tactical advantage. The
Democratic opposition-not SO much to
the bill per sc as to the methods of its
production, the selfish interests behind
it and the "railroadingn feature-was
not voiced at all. But Henry G. Tur-
ner as has been reported, got in a blow
that fell with almost paralyzing effect
when he inveighed against any one be-
coming a beneficiary of the measure
who had sustained any connection
whatever with the levy court for six
years past 1t was an unexpected
thrust and was meant to pay off some
old scores.
The committee amendments having
been adopted, the reading of the bill by
paragraphs was ordered. The effect of
this was TO cut out all other, save imma-
terial amendments. This caught the
Republicans mapping, but was in line
with one of the rules of the House. So
that, when Mr.. Higgins, who came to
the front as the leader ON their side, rose
TO offer an amendment to section 1, he
was ruled out of order. The amend
ment, which Mr.. Higgins stated, was to
continue the levy court to January 31st,
1893, was declared material, and, there
fore, in contravention of the rule. Later
on, Mr.. Higgins pleaded for suspen-
sion of the rule, in order to get in other
amendments, but the plea was refused.
He, however, got in number of short
speeches upon the oppression of the
farmer caused by the extravaganza Of
the levy court, and in praise of the com
mission systems of Chester, Cecil, Della
ware, Lancaster and Somerset counties.
He spoke as the master of the State
Grange, disavowing partisanship. He
appealed in the name of the overtaxed
farmers for fair consideration and treat
ment. He said that "our honest men in
New Castle county have for years been
Siamese twins to a corpse" "If you place
this additional burden on us, he said
in another place, Il assure you that
some of these days we will get from
under it," He advocated the appoint
ment of q commission to consist of one
lawyer of each party, and one layman
of each party, and one man so promi-
nent in public estimation, say member
of the judiciary, as to be above party,
to study the systems of neighboring
tTii nd Il q Hill IS
reform, based upon what Is best in all of
them. Eo charged the rushers Of this
measure with a willingness to cover up
charges of dishonesty which should be
looked into. He objected to the bill, as
read, section by section, several times
demanding the yeas and nays. When
it came to section IL, regulating the
duties of collectors, &C., he was aided
by Mr.. Walton, who made the only
other speech, except that of Mr.. Eisen-
brey, of the debate. Mr.. Walton said
he himself was a taxpayer in Cecil
county and knew that, under their three
commissioner system, county taxes were
collected at a cost of less than per
cent. This testimony seemed to have
some effect, for the vote on this section
showed the only break in the caucus
line. Mr., Eisenbrey voted for the sec
ton, but Messrs. Tindal and West
Joined the Republicans in voting against
it, making the score stand 10 to 0.
NIL. EIsENBREY's SPEECH.
This was the feature of the day. Mr..
Eisenbrey rose to speak when the bill
was taken up for final reading. The
first sentence he uttered showed where
he stood. II was no small thing to take
such stand; it was the act Of a man
who dared to stand by his convictions,
no matter what the consequence. He
said:
Mr.. Speaker: Before we proceed to take
the final vote on this question | wish to
state my position in relation to this bill,
and feel also that this is duty which 1
owe to my party associates, as well as to
myself To begin, then, must say that
! cannot conscientiously and consistently
support this bill in its present shape; for,
while there is no man in this House that
would be more willing to give New Castle
county commission than ], provided
that commission were Just and in the
interest of the people of New Castle
county, contend that the great
majority of the better class of the citizens
of that county prefer commission to
tllelr anu GAlldNdBdllb levy
court-but while | may and would have
been found supporting a proper measure
of this kind, cannot endorse or support
one which to my mind is so radically
wrong, unjust and unreasonable as the
one now under consideration. If there is
one thing that do detest, one thing that
is deserving of the condemnation of all
good and honorable men, it is the unjust,
unChristian, tin-American unrepublican
and undemocratic course pursued by
Speaker Reed and other high officials of
the government, of which | regret to say
this measure to my mind, is such dli-
plicate. do not propose to occupy your
time longer in discussing this question, for
we have already heard what has been said
for and against this bill, but let me say
that, so far as the Democratic party of the
State of Delaware is concerned, it may es-
tablish a precedent which may rebound
with redoubled force upon its own head;
and, while | am not prophet, yet it
strikes me very forcibly that the good
name, as well as the continuance in power,
of the Democratic party of Delaware, de
ponds upon the manner in which we deal
with measures of such vital importance to
the people whom we represent
To this scathlng arraignment from
one of their own party, not word in
reply of extenuation or justification
was offered by any one of the caucus
captives. They sat dumb and voted
nothing more.