Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-16

| he asserts that no other officer is required
TO SIT at nights and that there are not 30
| workingmcn in the city of Wilmington
who pay their, taxes at night--their wives
| pay them in the daytime, he explains. As
to the elimination Of the penalty (pre.
scribed in the existing law for non-attend-
ahce by the receiver without reasonable
excuse, for receipt of taxes during the ad-
| yertised hours Mr.. Dickey says that about
the only effect of that provision
was to make it possible for some one
| whose watch was five or ten minutes slow
to have him cited before a magistrate and
| lined without just reason. As to the 81, 800
extra allowance provided for, he explains
that 1t is for clerk hire and to facilitate the
collection of taxes more expeditiously;
that with such assistance he would proba-
| bly, collect S50,00O more within a given
| time. On the other hand he calls atten-
ton to the extension of the time during
which rebates are allowed, as a good fea.
| ture and one calculated to bring in some
revenue in December that does not now
come in for months after. In this CON
nection he said that he had collected
S2l2,OOO last year and yet the pres
ent Levy Court is compelled, through
the extravaganza of its predecessor, to come
| TO this Legislature to borrow money. The
Republican Levy Court, he continued, re-
sorted to entirely unnecessary expGndi-
/ h't'S' ~ WV dHlI1ltill tlldtuNOT u HGL Tlu
OF county funds as quickly as possible,
ana he instanced, among other things, the
laying in of LIS tons of coal and issuing u
| warrant for the cost of the same forthwith,
| when plenty of coal dealers would have
been willing to put in that coal and wait
until April or May for payment. In sum-
ming up. Mr.. Dickey said that every word
in this bill was, his own and he was pre-
pared to come before the legislative COM
mittee and justify everything in 1T.
And Mr.. Dickey did this very thing at
the close os the afternoon session.
THE SPECIAL coNsTABLEs AGAIN.
Just as the afternoon session of the
House was drawing to close Mr.. Spru-
ance stirred things up, Unexpectedly to
some, by firing off the much-talked-o of
special constnbles appropriation resolution,
which, as previously reported, was to have
been introduced last Thursday had the
CAUCUS of that day been more harmonious.
Having sent the resolution up to the
clerks desk, Mr.. Sprnance leaned back
with confident air and awaited the re-
coil, with Il smile on his face.
Mr. salisbury, who has led the opposi-
ton TO this appropriation, was instantly
on his feet, also smiling, though not with
confidence, to move the reference of the
resolution 10th appropriations committee.
ANY remarks ?" asked Speaker White
man.
There were none Just then. Mr.. Spru.
ancc still looked confident and as though
words were supertluous.
The motion was put and the "noes"
came with at least double the volume of
the ayes"
Before the Speakers decision was an
nounced Mr.. salisbury asked for roll
call, saying Ut seems to me tnat reso-
luton which calls for the expenditure of
10 "a ,ntt q,
to be referred TO a committee, no matter
how we may feel in regard to the payment
OF these officers, ourselves. This COM
mlttee was appointed TO consider all ques-
tons involving appropriations, while now.
1t is attempted to adopt without reference
a resolution that will carry with it an APP
preparation of not less than $4,000.
would have supposed the gentleman from
New Castle MIR. Spruance) would himself
have moved its reference, and | must
understand his vote against reference to
mean that the appropriations committee
is not the proper committee to refer it to-
OF course | am bound, in respect to the
intelligence of the House, to consider that
it is not desired to rush such L appropria-
ton through without consideration by a
committee and would ask the gentleman
from New Castle to indicate which is, in
his judgment, the proper committee to
have charge of it, Mr.. Salisbury was
still smiling,
MIR. Spruance replied: "rhis subject has
been under consideration for some time in
what | may call a committee of the whole
House, and | think they are capable of
passing upon it, My only object in OPP
posing a reference is simply that the mat
ter shall not be delayed any longer If the
committee will promise TO take some
action shortly, | have no objection to
having it referred"
Mr.. Salisbury responded, that of course
he was unprenared to promise when the
committees would act on ii. 1t would de-
pend somewhat upon when the chairman
(Mr. Hall) called the committee together.
Mr.. Spruance did not think that any
member would be better prepared to vote
after the committee should report than he
is now. The members know all about it
now; they wouldn't know any more il
they considered the resolution for week
longer.
Both the disputants still smiled.
Mr.. Hall was very clearly of opinion
that the resolution should be referred to
some committee.
Mr.. Salisbury smilingly suggested that
the committee on ways and means might
be more acceptable to the gentleman from
New Castle.
The gentleman from New Castle merely
smiled incrcdulously.
Mr.. CooCh took Il hand in the discussion.
I'm in favor OF the passage of this reso
luton" he said; u think it is fair and
right; but, if there is any desire on the
part of the General Assembly to refer it,
am ready; still, | don't see any good to be
accomplished by its reference"
Messrs. Spruance and salisbury were
still smiling at each other across the
chamber
Then came the roll call. 1t started off
Nit ~ 4tsNt .
looked us though it was to be o test vote.
Then came Mr.. Brians expected AYE"
MIR. CoOchs name was the third. When
he voted aye il was plain that the fight
was OF for the present. All the other
members, including Mr.. Spruance, fell in
line and voted aye with the exception
OF MeSsrs. Gam and Seyil. When Speaker
Whiteman's name was called, he said
Before voting desire to make state
ment. | vote to refer the resolution to the
committee on appropriations, but | do it
favoring the resolution. do 1t in further
anCe of keeping up the regular machinery
OF the House and in accordance with the
rule that provides for the consideration
of legislative business in committee.
When the resolution comes out Of COM
mttee shall vote for it aud then | shall
have something more to say about it.
Friends Of the resolution say that it will
come out Of the committee in good time
and with a favorable report. and that this
report will strengthen the resolution before
the House.
THE CONVENTION BILL.
Speaker Whiteman's Constitutional Con-
yention bill provides that at the general
eection of November, 1894, the voters may
cast ballots for or against convention,
such ballots to be kept separate from the
regular ballots, and to be of such uniform
and suitable size as to be readily distin-
guishable from the ballots cast for candi-
dates, such ballots shall have "for con-