Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-01

s,nfl Correspondence o. Gazette and journal.
Dover, March Ex-senator Pyle in
formed The Gazette's representative
this morning that there is little possi-
bility Of the bill providing new char
ter for the city of Wilmington becom-
Ing q law at this session of the General
Assembly. Mr.. Pyle. who is constantly
awake to the welfare Of the citizene of
Wilmington, has made considerable in
quiry cnncerning the feeling Of the peo.
Die with regard to ths proposed new
charter and be has learned that some
Of the most substantial citizens of both
parties are loath to have the proposed
changes made unless they can have
moro time 10 give the provisions of the
bill consideration. Tiny are afraid to
trust to such a radical change until
they know more about what the actual
situation would he should tho bill paas.
Many Wiliningtonians favor tho pro-
posed new charter. but they are not in
favor of its hasty adoption. Senator
Pyle and his colleagues feel the same
way, and the indications are that the
bill will not get out of the Senate at
this session, but will 60 over until the
next session, two years hence, at which
titu0 ~ Will bb tdhbu uudl llut.
The Intervening time will give the
people an opportunity to become
familiar with the proviaous of thu bill.
At l30 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
the House committee on crimes and
punishments gave public hearing in
Representative Hall to the advocates of
the Workhousa bill, which 10 now pend
ing. Judge j. Frank Ball of Whining.
ton presided over the meeting, and
after stating the objects, called upon
Chief Justice Charles B. Lore. who
made speech in advocacy of the bill.
After explaining the principal features
OF tho measure and exhibiting the plan
OF an institution for 264 prisoners,
which can be built for S150. QUO, he
stated that such an institution would
be great saving to the State. In
Delaware each prisoner costs the State
80 cents per day. while in West Chester
each prisoner costs seven cents and in
the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsyl-
vania the cost 10 eight cents, and the
Baltimore Penitentiary paid to the
State Of Maryland last year a net profit
of $40, 600. The Chief Justice ex.
plained how the. necessary $500, 600
could be borrowed and paid, and beld
that the State would own tho plant at
the end Of 30 years and that tho keep
of prisoners would cost about or 8
cents per day. He claimed that the
annual saving TO the State would be
pense TO each county would be 10 pro-
portion to the number Of prisoners.
Tho Chiof Justice was followed by
Bishop Colema who agreed in his re.
marks with tho expressions of the
former. Referring to the opposition on
the part of workingmen, he held that
tho institution would benefit them, as
it would reduce their. taxes.
Attorney General Robert G. White
also made u brief address, in which he
dwelt upon the fact that there is
great necessity for improvement in the
prison system Of the State. lie thought
a workhouse would reform many pris.
oners, while the present system does
not reform them.
District Attorney l.. @. Vardegrift
claimed that the State owes it to the
criminal population. as well as to tue
citizens generally, to establish work
house.
Judges Cullen and Marvel, the Revs.
c. A. Grise and F. NJ. Munson and
Alfred ID. Warner also spoke.
At the conclusion of the addresses
Representative HAZEL said it was a
question with the members of the Log
islature as to whether they were jua-
titled in loaning the credit of the State
TO the extent of S200, 600 without feeling
that the people were back OF them, and
this they did not know. az tho matter
had never been submitted to the people
in their sovereign capacity.
Judge Ball asked if it, was desirable
TO have petitions signed by the people,
and it is likely that such petitions will
be circulated for signatures
Senator Alrichs on behalf of the
judiciary committee, repurted favoranly
with an amendment the House bill in
relation to indices in the Office of the
Register in Chancery in New Castle
county. This IL the MEASURE which
was recommitted on Tuesday, upon
motion of Senator Handy, who sue
ceeded 10 amending the measure by
stipulating that the cost of the work
should not exceed in the aggregate the
sum OF $500. The committee recon.
mended an amendment limiting the
cost to $500 and it thus passed the
Senate without opposition.
The bill in relation to allowing all
persons who are deaf, dumb or blind to
be provided for at the expense of the
State, whether indigent or not, was de
feRted.
The Senate bill incorporaripg the
Diamond State Telephone Co., which
has been banging up in the Senate for
some time, was finally passed, NIL oppo
sition havingiabeen withdraw.
The Senate amendment 10 the town
charter OF Smyrna, was given third
reading yesterday afternoon. Senator
Handy offered further amepdment
which would allow the town officials
racently elected to fill ou, their terms.
The Senator made bitter attack upon
the bill and claimed that it was an
easy matter now a-uayu, IL the election
in any of the municipalities of the
State did not result satisfactorily TO
the dominant party in the Legislature,
70 Introduce and have passed measure
tegislating tbs choice uf the people out
sof office.
The town election i6 Smyrua oc.
3 curred early in ths present month aud
The bill under consideration nulliiisd
the action of the citizens.
~ senator Pyle 10 reply said that il it
3 was true. as had bson stated, that the
Euegroes had by their right of suffrage
swooped down upon the town OF Smyrna
and assumed control of that town, the
people have a perfect right TO come
here and ask relief.
Senator Hnnby said the whole object
OF the bill was to nullify victory won