Smyrna times., 1893-03-29
Proceedings of the Delaware Legis-
lature.
IMPORTANT BILLS BEFORE THE BOZ
FOR CONSIDERATION.

| Er0ceeulngS OF Cne UelaWafe GoSls-
lature.
IMPORTANT BILLS BEFORE THE BODY
FOR CONSIDERATION.
The Legislature is busy considering
the many bills presented week before
last. Among them are the following !:
THE TWO TAX REPORTS.
The tax commission has finally got
down to business and reported to the
| Legislature. There were two reports
the commissioners dividing three to
three-COlOnel E. i. Martin heading
one report and John B. Pennington
the other. The Martin report was
also signed by William M. Candy and
concurred in by Nathaniel Williams,
who has been ill for several weeks;
the Pennington report was endorsed
| by E. III. Bancroft and Daniel J. Lay
| ton. The Pennington report endorses
the taxation of investments, incomes
and vessel property, upon a uniform
system of assessment, for county pur-
poses. Though something on the
| order of the bills for the equalization
of taxation, with which J. Alexander
Fulton has been bOmbarding this and
foregoing Legislatures, it is much more
moderate and reasonable.
The Martin report finds our existing
system of taxation to compare favor
ably with the most recent revisions of
the systems of other states, and recon-
mended that it be continued with
| some very slight notifications, as best
| adapted to the conditions existing in
our state. and yielding larger amount
of revenue at less expenditure and
annoyance to the people, while it is
more equally distributed than that of
any other states.
The House has ordered 900 copies
of each report to be printed for distri-
button.
KENT AND SUSSEX GO BACK TO THE
DELINQUENT SYSTEM.
The laws of 1873, known as the
OdiOus delinquent tax laws, so far as
they apply to Kent and Sussex cOun-
ties, are again in force. There are q
few amendments, of course, but the
delinquent sections are there as of
yOre. 1t is calculated that these laws
will be worth at least 500 votes to the
Democrats at the next election.
The law was passed by the Senate
Thursday afternoon, and as the bill
was House bill, the whole ia now
law. 1t goes into effect at once, and
the Levy Courts of Kent and Sussex
counties and their assessors now have
the machinery of elections again in
their hands.
Senator Pilling protested against
the passage of the bill, and held it was
an effort to hinder, not to help, the
collection of taxes.
Senator Records on the other hand
held that the measure was one TO
raise money. After considerable de.
bate it was passed.
The bill was originally presented in
the House by Mr.. Armstrong, and il
was supported by the Levy Court of
Kent county. They claim that the
new law passed in 1891 repeating the
act of 1873, kept the county out of
about $4,000 each year. The men who
paid taxes for the privilege of voting,
PAID their taxes only once in four years
ana the members of the Levy Court
wanted each man to pay his tax each
year
Nothing as said in reference to the
fact that a number of persons would be
dlstranchised. A number of persons
had failed to pay their taxes, not know
ing that the law making a general
assessment would be repealed, and
now they cannot get upon the assess
ment for two years.
There was no secret made of the bill |
and no opposition was shown to it.
TWENTY-ONE PRIVATE INCORPORATION |
BILLS.
Chairman Watkins of the House
private corporation committee, reported |
twenty-one bills for passage Thurs
day.
These were passed by the House To |
incorporate the New Castle Market |
House Company; Wright's Marsh |
Ditch Company; Atlantic Construction
Company; Peach Kaolin Company:
Lombard Construction COMPANY:
Amending the charter of the American |
Leather Company; incorporating the
Evelyn real estate company; Riverside
Terra Gotta Company; Grand Castle.
knights of the Golden Eagle; CLAW
mOut Hall Company, Asketum Tribe
Red Men, and Riverside Real Estate
Company.
The House passed the bills incorpo.
rating the Real Estate and Investment
Co., WenOnah Lodge, Shield of Honor
Calmar Construction Company, Corin-
THAN Lodge, Shield of Honor, divorc.
ing Lucy Z. and Willard S. Fox. VIM.
and Lydia G. Wright; incorporating
Sheridan Post. G. A. R., layinp ont q
new road in Duck Greek hundred.
renewing the charter of Washington
Camp, p. o. S. of A., amending the
charter of the Fame Hose Co.. creating
new school district in St. Georges
hundred, Incorporating Unity Lodge
)f Odd Fellows.
BORROWING $4,000.
The Legislature by joint resolution.
authorized the State Treasurer to bor.
'ow not exceeding $4,000 from the
school fund to meet urgent demands
which the depleted condition of the
general fund has permitted to accumu.
ate. The money so borrowed is to be
eplaced in the school fund by August.
About half this sum is needed for
he payment of the special constables
Who protected Wilmington from den.
lty marshal domination, intimidation
md fraud last November. state
Treasurer Burnite will go up to the
Delaware metropolis this week to pav
# the boys.
HE SENATE PLAYED SHARP TRICK
ON THE HOUSE.
The Senate asserted its prerOgativa ,
'rlday and refused to return a bill to !
he House which that body wished to
econsider. The bill repeals the tax of
per cent on collateral inheritapces ,
passed the Senate the first of the !
'eek and went through the House on I
Wednesday. Friday morning the ,
iouse repented of its action. aud il i
'as urged that the house needs all the !
evenue obtainable, and could not I
tord to surrender any it now re. Q
ewes. The Senate was therefore 1
equested to return the repeating bill. .
D that the house might reconsider aud G
Ill the measure. The Senate refused i
nd the bill is now a law. d
DELAWARE COLLEGE WANTS. '
President A. N. Raub, of Delaware :,
ollege, S. M. Curtis, James Hossinger =
NJ L