Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-16
OUR LEGISLATIVE LETTER.

Once More the Members Fail to Turn up
on Monday--The Sussex Railroad Mort
rages--The Delaware Terminal Bill
Morton Gets the Farm.
STAFF Correspondence of Gazette and journal
DOVER, April Owe had the Seven
Wise Men with us yesterday; we are to
have the insane men to-day" said SEN
stor Williams, laughingly, this morning.
The "wise men" referred TO were the
Heptasophs who wanted charter; the
other reference was, of course, to the
trustees Of the State insane asylum who
want the Legislature to do several things
enlarge their annual appropriation to
$4,000 and authorize change in the
name Of the institution to delaware
State Hospital" without the insane"
They think this modification would en-
nance their chances for obtaining paying
patients from outside the State.
Both their requests received favorable
consideration in the House this after
noon. Mr.. Higgins launched bill EN-
bodying the latter and submitted joint
resolution providing for the farmer. The
House had voted originally to allow
&25, 900 per year for current expenses,
but the Senate had cut it down to $780,
900. Mr.. Higgins supported his reso-
luton with few earnest words. He
reminded the members that this institu-
ton is under the management of some
of the best men in the State: such men
as DR. Black, DIR. Burton, Mr.. Hopkinson
and others; men whom everybody
knows and relies on; and when these
men say they cannot run this institu-
ton on less than $4,000 they are to be
believed. Common human demands
that we shall properly care of the unfor-
tunate wards Of the State who have been
placed in this institution. 1t is a con-
sideration that appeals to all. This
hospital is in the hands of men who
really make it religion to look after
these insane people, The State cannot
suffer at their hands. Mr.. Higgins read
letter from DR.. Black in support Of his
plea.
Somebody calling for the yeas and
nays, Mr.. Z. j. Morris said 'We voted
for this S25,000 once; we all ought to
vote for ii again"
And they all did with the sole excep-
ton of Mr.. jackson, who voted mo"
MAKE THE BONDS VALID.
Speaking Of the insane. asylum is a
reminder that nothing has yetbeen done
towards rolling away the cloud that
rests over the validity of the $4,000
bonds which the State paid New Castle
county for that institution. The trouble
was that the act authorizing the issue of
these bonds originated in the Senate (of
1880 instead Of the House. Because Of
this irregularity the bonds failed of
negotiation. City Solicitor Lyman has
been authorized by the trustees to pre-
pare bill or resolution correcting this
informality, but, although he has been
talking of doing this for some weeks,
the bill or resolution has not yet APP
peared here. The money which these
bonds, when Strengthened ont, would
bring into the county treasury could be,
as Joseph i. Carpenter, Jr., has sug-
gested, used to very good advantage just
now in paying off the floating debt
which the levy court has rolled up
within the past four years. The county
is paying six per cent interest on this
So, 1000 or more of Indebtedness,
THE SUSSEX RAILROAD MORTGAGES.
The fact that so uncommonly strong
pressure is being brought on the House
to put through the bill for the sale of
the Junction & Breakwater railroad
mortgage is surface indication of the
strength of the opposition to this pro-
posed transfer. There is one big ques-
ton that has been asked from the very
beginning of this business and has re-
ceived no answer-Who represents the
State in this transaction? Attorney
general Biggs, the States accredited
representative, is the attorney on record
who has instituted the suit for the fore
closure of the $3.50, 900 second mortgage
held by the New York Trust Company
in the fight. He cannot serve two mas
tiers. James L. Wolcott, Esq, who acted
as counsel for the House committee, is
also classed as associate counsel for the
Delaware railroad. An effort was made
day before yesterday, by a House reso-
luton, to engage Edward Ridgely and
A, z. Robinson, Esqs., to look after the
States interests in the proposed deal,
but that resolution was reconsidered
yesterday and is now constructively
lying on the table. But Mr.. Robinson
is attorney for Delaware, Maryland &
Virginia Railroad Company and could
not have accepted the engagement. And
Mr.. Ridgely substantially declined to
serve.
The bill will require IA votes to pass
the House. II is questionable if it can
get them. The count in the remon-
STRANGE of Sussex Pomona Grange-that
the acquisition Of tits mortgage by the
Delaware Railroad Company would cut
out all hope Of a competing line for 40
years-is having weight with some
members. Others have not vet been
able to understand wherein it shall
profit the State TO exchange a A per cent
for a 3 per cent bond, especially when
the legal sutficieney of the guaranty Of
that bond is challenged by men who
ought TO know whereof they speak
THE DELAWARE TERMINAL BILL.
"lf the Senate passes the Delaware
Terminal Railroad bill, said a member
OF the House tonight, "and the junction
d Breakwater is pushed to sale, YOU
can rest assured there will be another
bidder at that sale
This Delaware Terminal bill has been
put through the House with celebrity
that looks significant at this particular
time. The bill was introduced on Tues
day and passed to-day, Mr.. Richards
alone voting against it. That gentleman
said, in explanations "If there had
been an amendment inserted against
eelllllS out inc lTdHCHlSeS, 4 W0ulQ nave
voted for it," The bill is almost as
broad as a general railroad act. Ttsimply
provides for a road to start at or near
Lewes and run to the New Castle
county and Maryland line. Under
this provision the road could
run all over the State. -Four
members Of the House, Speaker Sirman,
Messrs. Ridgely, Higgins and Eisenbrev
(the latter being added this morning)
appear among the incorporates. Mr..
Fisenbrey says that he gave them dis
Nnctly to understand when he allowed