Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-04-20

The House. held its first meeting to-day to
consider the question of taxing invest
ments. The members. Chairman Sauls-
bury REPORTS, were very diverse in their
opinions. The committee had the Fulton
bill before il, and the revised bill OF 1891,
as the basis on which to work. Chairman
Salisbury thinks the committee will prob
ably hatch out some kind of an invest
ment taxing bill, but | have no idea how
far it will go" he added.
w 5. llilles Special Constable at Farm
hurst bill has passed both houses and is
now a tinality
The House bill for the appointment of a
notary public for smyrna real estate
office was reported from committee this
morning without recommendation.
The House to-day passed the bill taking
the Wilson or English snipe out of the list
Of birds protected by the act which Mr..
John Higgins got through the Legislature
Of 1889.
Mr. Cooch's bill to employ convict labor
in the improvement of the public roads
went tTiumphantly through the House to-
day and is received with favor by the
Senate.
The House passed this morning a bill to
vacate that portion Of Bnttonwood street,
Wilmington, lying between Taylor aud
Ninth streets. Judge Ball, who brought
the bill down. says the Malleablc Iron
t'lutiuN NhlllS W pNllll All tNltilSlbIl 10
its factory. The company owns the land
on both sides of this halt square of street
and the portion on the east side Of the
street is not large enough for the proposed
extension, which is to double the capacity
Of the factory and to facilitate the increase
of the working force from 800 to 900.
The Worlds Fair managers were before
the House committee this afternoon urg-
| ing an additional appropriation of So 800,
as set forth in the recent special message
from Governor Reynolds to be absolutely
necessary.
The Senate cut down Mr.. Spruance's
Pharmacy bill SO as to make it applicable
TO the city Of Wilmington only and passed
il in that shape. This is the bill requiring
| physicians running drug stores and en-
gagged III outside practice TO employ legally
qualified assistants.
DOVER, April l3.--The House ut its
afternoon session treated both the friends
and the opponents of the street and Sewer
Department bill to u surprise. What it
all means is perhaps best expressed by the
comment OF one Of the members "rhs
House is becoming sick of Wilmington
legislation"
The bill had been made the special order
OF the special afternoon session. There was
considerable hesitancy, however, about
calling It up, and half an hour was first
consumed in the passage of two other
measures, both important enough TO have
attracted attention at another time, but
they were NOT what the lobby was waiting
for. Both sides were well represented.
Street Commissioner Moore and cx-Com-
missioner Carpenter were both present and
| both uncomfortable. Peter j. Ford was
here in condition of volatile cumbatiye.
ness. Andrew a. Wilson was moving
about more deliberatiyely but equally in
earnest. John I. Dickey. Patric Neary,
I a IL.
| Conspicu0usly alert. But nobody was con-
| tident. Nobody knew where we are at.
All were considerably at sea. 1t was
| known that about dozen members were
| on the fence and it was uncertain which
side they would jump down. \ two-thirds
| Vote was necessary to pass the bill, The
| friends of the measure were uncomfort-
| ably apprehcnsiyc about the III votes to
| pass il; its opponents were similarly un-
comfortable regarding the eight votes to
| defeat II.
Some in the crowd were aware that
Peter j. Ford had been sounded in regard
| To withdrawing his opposition and be-
coming fifth member OF the board.
| Others were in the dark regarding this
/ tender Mr. Ford was diSinclned to TIC
| cept the tender. lie said to the writer
This is not what the people of Whining
| ton want they do not want five COM
| missiuncrs or four commissioners; they
want the board left as it is" This was
| Mr.. Fords opinion.
| Warned by Mr.. Sausbury's attempted
| application Of tho cloture blouse rule No.
| 10 to the Wilmington City Railway bill
| this morning. Us reported below, Captain
Dasey was On his feet rs soon as the acting
reading clerk, John +. salisbury started
| on the bill. MIR. Speaker" said he, "bc.
fore that bill is read, have an amendment
to Offer
The amendment added the name of
| Peter u. Ford and increased the number of
! commissioners to five,
"N lille there have been quite number
| here advocating this blll,h said Captain
1 Daaey, There have also been quite mum
| ber here opposing it. If we are going to
| Increase the number, | think we had bet
| ter increase by two than by one. Ii is
with great reluctance that favor any in
crease after the City Council has written
To us, collectively and individually, to keep
| hands oil. ! would prefer to keep hands
| of. As TO Mr. Ford. he has never
! mentioned this amendment to me, but
will be personally responsible for using his
| name"
| Mr.. Cooch opposed the amendment. lie
| had no personal objection TO Mr. Ford,
! but MIR. Ford wanted to build sewers ont
| i'll the country and Was therefore, out of
| harmony with the interests Of the DEPART
Ahftlt' l'NalNANa' VIC sl'lNlllbll Va MI. IbEu,
or any Other htth man, would destroy the
| non.partisan--two Democrats and two Re
| pnbhcans--c complexion which this bill
/ was designed 10 give the board.
But the Ilasey amendment seemed to
| strike the House Just right, Tor, on a rising
| vote being called for, no less than l6mem.
bers assumed perpendicular attitude. Of
course there was nothing left after this for
| the five remaining members to do and
| only one of them Mr.. SpruanCe, stood up
! when the negative was called Tor.
John r. salisbury then proceeded to
read the bill as amended, but it was soon
| manifest that the bill would require com.
| plete overhuuling to doyGIail Peter i. Ford
into it aud MIR. Spruance novel to recon-
mt ii.
Mr. CooGh concurred saying; al don't
think MIR. ford's Interests will suffer by
this bill beng recommitted."
Mr. Gam wanted to dispose of the bill at
| once, but the motion to rccOInlnit pre-
vailed.
Within two minutes thereafter the mem
hers had the chamber to themselves. As
big crowd probably never before melted
away so suddenly in the history Of Dela
ware legislation. The same idea seemed
to strike everybody--to make a break for
the S.5i train to Wilmington-and away
they went
''Well," said MIR. Ford, after it was over,
this is the first time | ever had unsu-
licited honor fairly showered upon me-
Captain Dasey said, in an interview :
Tine amendment adding Mr.. Ford origi-
mated with me, and | am alone and
entirely responsible for it. had no talk
with Mr.. Ford, or anybody else, about it,
Nobody spoke TO me in regard to it. told
Mr.. Spruance | was going to offer an
amendment to increase the board to five,
and he said 'WhoH | replied. MIR. Ford.
also told Mr.. salisbury and Mr.. Hick-
I a,.s.I.a ,,nh,.,l,, ,,ls,, =. .,.,