Evening journal., 1892-12-29

Amehuhcht VIII uouhtless fass.
Interest in the organization Of the
General Assembly Is still growing Slate.
makers and slate-breakers are nc work
all over the State. The refusal Of Sena-
tor Ross 60 enter the fight for the speak
ership of the Senate has only served TO
render the matter more complex
III the factional hatchet is buried in
Sussex and the three Sussex members
unite on Mr. Houston Il Is likely that
they can get Kent county man who is
friend of W. A. G. Hardcastle, and
control the caucus. II Kent county
man will not come TO them they may be
able TO make deal with Senator Pyle.
Of this city, who viii give Sussex county
the speakership If they will help him
TO give the cerkship and Office
Of sergeant alarms TO New Castle
men. The same combination can be
made by Senator Watson for the
speakership. In that event Il
is likely that w. A. C. Hardcastle will
be shelved for the clerSship and that
E. r. Cochran. Jr., of this city, will be
the caucus nominee. The prevailing
opinion is that Senator Houston will be
made speaker, and Mr. Hardcastle, clerk.
All sorts of combinations are possible,
and IL will be two or three days before
anything definite will be decided upon.
The House Organization.
Political prophets say that J. Harvey
Whiteman, of this city, will be elected
speaker of the House, and that John r.
Layton, of Sussex county, will be the
clerk. THERE'S no fight for the speakership.
but it is understood that both Whiteman
and William Cooch are reading up on
parliamentary tactics. It is said that
Mr.. Whiteman has the advantage of
having four Of the seven New Castle
members. The other counties will
scarcely elect a man over him who has
minority Of the county representation.
If the speakership is given TO this
county John r. Layton, Of Sussex county.
will be elected clerk. II IL goes TO vii
liam f. Hall, of Kent county, Peter l..
Cooper, Jr, Of New Castle county. will
stand a good show for the clerkship.
The sergeants alarms and pages are,
for the present. out Of the question.
The work of the Session.
The work Of this session will be less
important than that Of the session Of twa
years ago Senator Gray will be re-
elected United States Senator: provided |
he is not given a Cabinet position The |
convention amendment
a vote next fall will be |
adopted the registration and ballot laws
will be slightly amended there will be |
an effort made to extend the Jurisdiction
Of the Municipal Court, and, some say,
to increase the membership of the Board |
Of Street and Sewer Commissioners from |
three TO FIVE.
There is much idle talk going the /
rounds Of the Republican papers concern.
ing a Democratic project TO secure con /
troll of City Council by Legislation. The
plan mapped out by the Republicans is a /
division of the Tenth ward aud the for. /
nation Of new ward out Of portions Of /
the Eighth and Ninth wards This
would give the Democrats a majority of /
one over the Republican members, the
president of Council included.
Question of Divorce.
There is one matter that is giving the |
lawyers much concern. That is the atti
tude Of the General Assembly towards /
divorce bills There was mnch opposi- |
tion to them in the Senate two years
ago, and it was with difficulty that the /
House bills Of this character. The prin.
cipal opponents were Senators Williams, |
Pilling and Hall. Senator Hall Is dead, |
but Senators Williams and Pilling are /
very much alive, particularly upon this /
subject. They doubtless hope TO secure /
Senators Ross aud Houston of the last /
legislature and one of the new members /
in the interest Of anti divorce attitude /
10 q 4 4
men who have reaped rich harvest from |
this branch Of the legislation in bygone
years.
An INDECENT divorce act was passed by /
the last General Assembly. 10 provided |
for divorces at low figures In the county |
courts. IL the Senate does take mega. |
tive stand in divorce matters it viii |
doubtless point with PRIDE to the law,
and tell the lobbyists that the remedy |
for conjugal infelicity lies in the |
Superior Court and commission of in
quiry
Where Is Addieks?
VIII J. Edward Addicks, the Goa. gas
magnate, try to get any measure through |
the General Assembly by the grace of the !
men whom he attempted TO defeat at the
last election2 That is the question.
There is one thing he won't ask for, and
that is the United States senatorship
The Street and Sewer Department and
the Wilmington Coal Gas Company have
a trump card in hand It was dealt to
them by Addicks himself at the last
election and will take every trick for
which the gas king or his agents may
hope
After the Judges.
II is said that a bill is being formulated
in this city the provisions Of which will
retire Chief Justice Comegys and Asso-
ciate Judge Houston on full pay. The
Chief Justice is now on his death bed, so
to speak, and Judge Houston is almost
Senator Williams voted
against such a measure two years ago
and his opposition and consideration for
the long and honorable services Of the
two jurists may kill the measure. Even
If it be passed, acceptance of its pro-
visionsis optional with the two Judges
as the constitution gives them life
tenures.
Road and Ditch Bills
The biennial influx Of road, ditch and
school bills will be a feature Of the ses-
sion. Bills for "The Protection Of Musk.
rats in Indian river ITO Foster the