The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-02

The bill to require the State TO pay
the sixteen thousand dollars due the !,
twelve hundred special constables en-
ployed at the last election to preserve
the peace in Wilmington, but more
ostensibly to elect the Democratic
ticket, was defeated in the House yes
terday afternoon by tie vote. We
thought the time would come when
this special constable business would
prove white elephant on the hands
OF the Democratic party. The pay
ment Of twelve hundred constables
FOR three days at five dollars day, Is
no small matter to whoever pays 1t.
It was just simply enough to swamp
New Castle County that was required
by law to pay the bill. But the money
was not in the treasury to pay it
md could not be there without some
special act OF the Legislature to put 1t
there.
Under these circumstances the mat
ter was shifted down to Dover and
laid before the Legislature. with re-
quest that the State pay the bill Tn Q
legislators from Kent 9hd Sussex do
not take kindly to tie movement.
They believe and say that New Castle
County should pay the bill. as the law
provided. To Offset this, the New
Castle County me6lbers argue that but
for these speelA constables, Delaware
would hayAgiven her vote for Har-
ris2p s6stead OF Cleveland. and al
though Cleveland would have been
elected without Delaware's vote, the
Democrats OF Delaware in the great
inauguration parade on Saturday,
could not have held such high heads
nor crowed half 80 loudly had the
Republicans carried the State.
This kind Of an argument seems
only to have made an impression upon
two Kent county members and ono
Sussex member, which with the seven
votes from New Castle, made ten votes
in favor Of the State paying the bill,
while the other ten all from Kent aud
Sussex voted against it. Who Is ultl.
mately to pay this bill is hard to tell.
II New Castle county Is to pay it, she
will have to increase her tax rate con-
slderably, and this the tax payers OF
that county, already heavily taxed,
will not accept very kindly. Our
Democratic friends know by this time
how easily men can be employed for n
certain purpose, but how hard it Is to
pay them. AS stroke OF Democrat.
lie policy to carry the State election,
The scheme was an excellent one.
Twelve hundred men appearing upon
the scene where a peaceful election
was progressing, badged with ribbons
! and armed with pistols, were enough
TO produce sensation, and was in it.
self an invitation for timld men who
valued their lives, to remain indoors
OF at least not to go to the election
Nobody denies that the appointment
Of this small army, more than regi
ment Of men. was a grand success
Two regiments or even six hundred
men would have been still grandei
success, and we doubt not the Demo
cratic majority OF New Castle Count,
would havebeen very much larger. ant
the glorious Dem ocratic victory in tn,
State been much greater II thirty-si,
hundred had been appointed.
There were nothing to hinder Gov
frnor Reynolds from appointing that
number, II he had seen proper to do so
Hew fortunate it was that tho kindll
ness of his nature inclined him ant
Mr.. Dickey to stop when he had the
twelve hundred appointed. We m,
rather gratliled to find little troublt
!. growing out of this special constaLl
business. 1t will, we think, open tn
eyes of the people to tie recl5lessness
with which laws are passed. requiring
county to pcy enormous bills fol
something it never contracted to do
and FOR which it never raised tn
money.