New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-07
nrJ,UIPE'S NEW CONSTITJ TON.

Va State In The Union has stood more III Net"
~ a nov, fundamental law than Delaware III
ctitutions will not make community moral anu
in sntc Of It's perfected Constitution. Delaware
will remain conspicuous for political corruption
rnless = really strong public sentiment Wofks
with determination In making the law eH"ci'e
FOR tho suporcssion Of evils that were not euaru'
oil AGAINST by the old But IL Is the province Oh
q constitution TO give power 10 the moran eie-
mont of the community and make 1t possible 10
onforce law even though considerable bodies OF
citizens find profit in crime. Delaware long SUI
fercd from n political organization when Nv
rectly encouraged bribery at elections ana hihde
II eosy for a few conspirators to manipulate Inc
Government machinery. The new instrument
which is TO become operative without suDhiS-
sion to the people appears in the man wen
adaptcd to give righteous sentiments Tree pay
and that is all that can be expected of any con-
sttutiOn.
One of the most potent factors for evil was inc
nolI.tax system which made It possible for a boss
TO purchase votes in large masses by paying for
the registration of voters. This sort OF priper!
once in operation diffused its poison through the
whole State, and it appeared to be only II ques-
ton of time when practically the entire eiec-
having if they were not worth paying for. For
some reason. probably for revenue the Consiitll-
tional Convention could not be induced 10 abol-
isb tho nol,tax altogether but 1t did its best TO
transform It from a handy and insidious in
strument Of corruption into test or indlvldnal
interest in public affairs. The tax is changed
into registry fee of 81. and voters are qualineu
only by personal registration The qualification
IL
but 10 sion dealing with the electors one at a
time the general laws against bribery nave 10 DE
invoked. While this is unfortunate neverthe-
less the antbribery provisions appear 10 DE
adequate. and it must he admitted that If they
will not stop general payment or registration
fees they would probably not stop bribery in
other forms The offering by any person within
or without the State of any inducement to vote
or TO register or TO refrain from either Is maze
q crime. punishable by heavy fine or imprls-
onment and by loss of the franchise TOT ten
years Doubtless an offer to pay mans OK
penses for registering will be considered an IN
ducement." and the law. If strictly enforced. will
be effective TO stop the old poll-taX scahdals
Stern measures have been taken TO prevent the
law from being made a dead letter. The great
troub]e in Delaware has been the widespread
acceptance Of the ballot as marketable COM
modify to the extent that it was practically I'M
possible to secure conviction for bribery from
iury. Now the trial of election cases by jury
Is abolished. and a bench Of judges. appointed
by the Governor. Is TO have sole jurisdiction
without the Intervention OF either grand or petl'
Jury. The courts are 10 supersede the Old
Boards OF Canvass, which so frequently JugSled
with returns and members of the Legislature are
to be elected by districts instead of by cotn-
ties Consequently, theft Of the Legislature VIII
be difficult, since one piece of manipulation VIII
no longer affect number Of seats An educa-
ton qualification in the form of reading ana
signature test is established for new voters ana
altogether the purity of the franchise appears
to be we'll guarded. If the Constitution does not
make honesty and intelligence predominant it
will he because the citizen and official in COM
mon prefer corruption.
In other respects the Constitution Is radical
departure from the antiquated instrument
which it suppants. A Ieutenant-Governor is
created so that the scandal Of an acting Gov
erpor claiming membership in the Senate and
invading that body TO create deadlock can
never again be witnessed The Governor is to
have a veto power. the Legislature is to mold
biennial sessions and the per diem compensa-
-
they wish to remain in Dover longer they must
do so at their own expense The power to
grant divorces and pass local laws is taken from
the Legislature, and the Governor is TO have
authority TO pass on appropriation bills item
by item. Compulsory education and local or
ton concerning the liquo: traffic are provided
for and the judges in future cannot all belong to
one political party. The work of the conyen-
ton as whole indicates that Delaware is still
! bound by the highly conservative traditions
which have always characterized it. All vaga-
res Of single tax and all sentimental consid-
| erations in favor Of universal suffrage were re-
| jected. and the changes in the Constitution were
| confined TO the correction Of wellrecogniZed
| abuses by methods not the least experimental.
! The Angl0-Saxon slOwness 10 project theory
| into law has been conspicuously illustrated.