Middletown transcript., 1891-04-02
LEalsLArIvE NoTas.
THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS BILL
ABOUT TO BECOME A LAw.-soME
IMPORTANT RAILROAD
LEGISLATION.

the militia men took up most of the
time and attracted the most atten-
tion. Representative Higgins made
some statements last week in regard
to certain acts of the Board of On
GERS which were distasteful to those
gentlemen and they were busy trying
to induce Mr.. Higgins to retract and
let the bill 60 through. The proba-
1 bility is that the Legislature will al
low them enough money to keep
themselves together, but not enough
to meet the expenses of the annual
encampments. 1t now looks as If en-
campments will soon be thing OF
the past.
Mr.. Case has been convinced that q
cure of peach yellows has been effect
ed in one instance and has had his
yellows' bill amended SO that the
commissioners may allow trees Wnlcn
show signs of improvement, under
treatment, to stand until it is known
whether or not they will recover.
This law is now getting into such
shape that much good may be ex-
pected from its enforcement.
The divorce cases are still coming
in and give the committee plenty OF
work to do. The registration Dill is
almost ready and will go through
without any trouble. The bill pro-
viding for the use of the Meyers Bal
lot Machine was killed in the House
yesterday by vote of thirteen to
seven. It was voted for by all the
Republicans except one and all the
Democrats except one voted against
it. The other ballot bill will prob
ably follow the Meyers bill as none
of them are regarded as complete. II
such is the case there will be another
bill framed combining the better
parts of the old ones. The members
of the Legislature know that such
law is needed and if it is possible they
will enact it.
The county commissioners bills for
the lower counties will probably go
through in good time. The New
Castle FIVE commissioners bill was
ready for final action yesterday and
it was understood that it would pass
to-day. We hope to be able to state
before we go to press that it is a
law. If such is not the case we be-,
lieve that it will be passed this week.
1t provides for districts as originally
laid out and is a reform measure in
which the people are greatly interest
ed.
The bill which empowers the Levy
Court of this county to appropriate
$500 each year for the purpose of
keeping up the banks of the st.
Georges Marsh Company has passed
both Houses. The bill to empower the
Levy Court to help keep up the
banks of the Long Island and Strum-
kiln Marsh Company is not meeting
with favor and is probably dead.
The bill which provides for the
payment Of part of the mortgage
held by the State against the D. M.
& v. railroad in cash and the accep-
tance of bonds at three per cent.
guaranteed by the P. w. & B. rail-
road company for the balance is
meeting with a great deal of opposi-
tion just now and it will have hard
time to get through if it is not hur-
ried along. The people Of the State
are beginning to realize the impor-
tance and the injustice of the tran
saction and are posting the members.
Levi c. Bird, ESQ.,, counsel for the
B. & o. railroad company was down
yesterday, but was rather uncom-
municative. The farmers have a
lawyer employed to watch their in
terests and he is keeping them up to
the scratch. II an opportunity
should arise some railroad legislation
which would be of vast Importance
to the people of Delaware will be
undertaken. The foreclosure of the
mortgages held by the State would
apparently be the best thing that
could happen to the people of the
Peninsula. The B. & o. wants an
outlet to the seaboard and the route
from Singerley on the Main line, to
Massey's, Md. on the road running
from Bombay Hook to Chestertown,
Md. is already chartered by Mary
land.
Behind this charter is a subsidy
granted by the state OF Maryland OF
$500, 900. To build to Massey's would
be an easy matter under the existing
circumstances. From Massey's to
Smyrna over the road already built
and controlled by the New jersey
Central would be another big jump
through good section of country.
From Smyrna to Harrington, a dis
tance of something over twenty
miles, would bring the new line to
the northern terminus of the d. M.
&V. system. Now with a guarantee
from the b. g. o. that the foreclosure
Of the mortgages would result in Sc
curing to the State the full amount
of the mortgages ($600,0OO the plan
would be complete so far as the State
is concerned.
The B. & o. could in this way Sc
cure an outlet upon the coast for the
great quantities of coal brought over
that road from Western Maryland
and West Virginia. The harbor at
Lewes is a good one. The right to
use the government pier at that
place could be obtained and a coal
shipping point would be obtained
which is as good as any in the world.
The people of Delaware would profit
by freight rates fixed by a strong
competition. The local freight busi-