Evening journal., 1895-03-08
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
What the Law Makers Did in
Dover Yesterday.
THE WORK OF HOUSE AND SENATE

ton and BrandVwIns Springs Electric
RoAd-AgaInst Medical ouacks-Notes
of the Assembly.
STAFF Correspondence Evening Journal
DOVER, March The age Of consent
has been raised from is to IS years Any
man who now uses girl under 16 years
old for purposes of sexual interclurs
renders himself liable to a fine Of 81, 600
or seven years imprisonment, or both,
in the discretion Of the court The
Senate, yesterday, passed the House bill
for the better protection of fema le
children 1t applies equally to persons
who harhor girls under that age for pur-
poses OF sexual intercourse
The bill was reported without recon-
mendRtion by Chairman Records, of the
COMMITTEES on Revised Statutes Ha and
Senator Alrichs we're ia favor Of it and
Senator Fenimore, the other member OF
the committee, was opposed to it,
The bill was read aud the members
evidently did not understand it's import
for, In the debate which followed, they
showed that they were off the point in
many particulars.
Mr. Fenlmore-"What is in this
bilP"
Mr.. Records-"That bill is known as
an act fer the better protection of female
children Il raises the age of consent
from Is to Is years The committee
were not unanimous that 1t should be
reported favorably or unfavorably. We
were divided on It. There has been a
delegation OF ladies down here in favor of
it, and two members Of the committee
are favorable to the passage of the bill?"
Nr Dr1a I hnw
prepared to see anything done on this
bill l scarcely know the latitude of It;
but, as l understand this question it is
to protect girls under the age
Of IS years, and that It applies TO
houses Of ill.fsme. That where girls
under the age of IS years are found in
these houses and are harbored there for
immoral purposes, those who are
harboring them will be subject to the
penalties already provided in the law. l
understand that this is about all there
is In this measure. A girl might want
to get married at an age OF FROM 16 to Is
years. but l don't think this bill will
interfere In that case il she has the
consent OF her parents or guardians.
That will do away with any objection
from that standpoint The chairman of
the committee has had large experience
in these matters, and especially with
regard TO this bill. he has looked at IL
from every standpoint, and examined 1t
In all its phases and effects he was
appointed for that special duty. There
seems to me TO be no danger in this bill
Where q man may be unfortunate
enough to have a wsyward daughter
found in one OF these places 1t would
seem to me that 1t would
be q, source OF profound salts
faction to him that for such a cause
there is ample law to mete out punish
ment to those who encourage her In her
downward course When these people
learn that TO hSrbor q girl under IS
years OF age makes them amenable to the
law they will certainly exeI else more
care. AS q matter of fact the proprie-
tors Of these places are looking for girls
ranging from 15 to 18 years Of age IL is
not the older and more hardened class
that they want. They want fne looking
girls just growing into womanhood, the
ones who are most easily led astray. The
bill contains no Questionable features
| that can see
Mr.. Records-"Mr Speaker, supposed
that this bill had been so thoroughly sgi.
tated that every member would thoroughly
1
nation of the senator from New Castle
county that it not only applies to houses
of i'll fame, but to any man In Delaware
who has intercourse with girl below the
age OF Is years. There Is a fine and
| imprisonment attached to it. The fine
shall not be more than $1,000 aud the
term not more than seven years or both
in the discretion Of the court"
Mr.. FenlmoIe-"I think 1t is danger
GUS law. ANY man who enters house
of ill.fame Jays himself open to the
possibility Of coming in conflict with this
law"
Mr. Pyle-"I will say that think this
law will not apply in that case. IL will
only apply TO the proprietors Of the place.
He iR not supposed to know anything al
all about IL he is no more supposed tC
be amenable to the laws than a man who
travels on q railroad train is supposed tC
20 ahead and examine the bridges to see
II they are safe"
Mr. Hanby-"I would like to hear tn,
bin read again. II is little sweeping,
think, even admitting that We cannot
give too much protection to girls. This
goes all over the state. II 1t only applies
to these houses Of i'll fame don't thinl
L il will do a great deal Of harm
Mr. Records-"This is for the stat,
over"
"Mr. Fenimore-"If understand tha
bill it applies to any young man in thii
county, Sussex county or any othe
county, and any girl of bad repute ID
liable TO trap any young man and msk'
} him subject to that fine and imprison-
ment. l shall vote against any sucl
bill A young man is just as liable Il
temptation as q girl is, and we shoul'
protect all.
Mr. Hanby had the statute read a
amended.
I Mr.. Hanby--"How would it do to max
It 16 yearsf Eighteen Is little heavy
Insert the word is instead of IS Thi
law reads harbor. Many q man employ
domestic Of that age, and he harbor
her, and domestics In mems houses hav
been known to tell pretty tales thin
, this law would throw him liable TO sIres
upon the story of any domestic VIII
wanted to give him trouble. II we fin
that IS is useful, we can meet here agsi
and can 60 higher Don't Jump too high q
! once There were some ladies here VIII
, talked for this bill who said some thing
4 which would ne little delicate for me I
= say before YOU gentlemen, | don't thin