Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-20
Reports of Investigating Com
mitteeS Presented.
CONFLICTING EVIDENCE PRODUCED
Proof Insufficient to Sustain
the Charges.
The Committees discharged, But should
More Accusations of Crookedness in Tho
General Assembly be Forthcoming An
other Investigation VIII be Ordered.

House bill to replace New Castle
County's Levy Court Commission by a
court of IL members.
The House hill to tax inheritances
was reported favorably, with amend
ments providing that real estate shall
be exempt, when tho successor shall be
the mother, child, father or lineai de-
scendant of the grantor, ,bargainor, de.
visor, donor or intestate. aud also
making slight changes in the manner
of collecting the tax.
A favorable report vas made on the
House bill to prevent corrupt practices
and fraud at elections. which passed
the Senate at the last session. The
election committee lacked on several
amendments. however, making its pro-
visions applicable to all registration
frauds and providing that supposed
offenders may be arrested while at or
leaving an election place, but shall be
entitled TO an immediate hearing.
10 the House Mr.. johnson offered a
joint resolution authorizing the State
treasurer to take from tho school fund
and place to the credit of the general
State fund $40, 900, or as much thereof
rs may he needed, the amount 30 taken
to be replaced on or before the first day
of next October. The resolution was
adopted and sent to the Senate.
The bill to incorporate the Delaware
Central Railroad Co., which proposes
to build line between Lewes and
Seaford, was called up in the House
for passage by Mr.. Short After it
bad been read Mr.. Short gave assurance
that the road would be built within
reasonable time.
The House bill to increase the licenses
on oyster boats passed the House, after
Il had been amended by providing that
the compensation of the collector shall
be 10 per cent of the collections, pro-
vded the amount does not exceed
$1,000 per aunum; that the CAPTAIN OF
the guard boat shall be paid $50 and
each member of ths crew $50 per month,
out of which they shall board them
selves.
Leander S. Hopkins offered a joint
resolution to authorize the State auditor
10 codify the State school laws and have
printed in pamphlet form l.000 COPIES
one to be placed in each school district
10 the State. II was adopted and sent
TO the Senate.
The House passed the House bill to
authorize the Governor to appoint two
additional notaries public for Whining
ton hundred, after making tho number
three, instead of two.
The Senate passed the House bill to
prohibit the sale of cider in lens auanti.
ties than 10 gallons in Seaford hundred
and one mile into Broadkiln hundred.
John M. G. Moore objected to the passage
OF the bill as amended, and said ne
would rather see it killed, but it sur
vived.
4
committees of the Senate and House of
Representatives, being unable to obtain
any new information concerning rumors
of bribery and fraud ou the part of any
Of the members, yesterday afternoon,
through Chairmsn Meredith and Hazell,
submitted their report, and, on their
motions the committees were dis.
charged. Accompanying the report was
voluminous stenographic report of the
hearing at which j. Ii. and #. ii. Hof-
fecker testified. The text of the com
mittee's report, as submitted to the
House, is as follows:
Dover, DEL, May l3, 1897. To the
House of Representatives of the State
of Delaware: Your special committee
appointed to Investigate charges, made
in the public press rejecting on the
integrity of this House, beg leave to
report as follows:
"That 10 accordance with the powers
conferred by a certain resolution Of this
House. your committee summoned be-
fore ii such persons as could give evi
dence touching the charges 'of bribery
corruption or misconduct 10 office of
melpbers of the House, and your com
mittee herewith submit stenographical
report of the proceedings of your com.
,hr tal II, ini,f eonai,, tb
the Senate committee appointed for a
similar purpose.
your committee further report that
they have thoroughly investigated all
tho charges which have come TO their
knowledge. and have pursued all sources
of information within their power, and
find that the evidence, conflicting as it
is, is not sufficient to sustain the
charges and allegations.
" Respectfully submitted,
Benjamin A. Hazel,
"Thomas johnson,
Woodward ". Cheairs,
Committee
The report of the committee was
adopted without comment 10 the House.
The Senate report was similar to
that submitted in tine House, and was
also adopted.
Even now that the committees have
been discharged, it is not proposed to
idrop tho Investigation. and should any
new evidence. materialize it will be
looked into.
The House, at noon yesterday, made
short work of the bill TO divorce Laura
Q. and William II. Acklan, and all of
tho 20 members present voted for in
definite postponement. 1t had Eassed
first and second reading and gone to
committee, but had barely reached that
point, when, on motion of Mr.. Demp-
sey, IT was indefinitely postponed.
Speeches against the bill were made by
Messrs. Hazel, Dempsey. Eliason and
Smith, the remarks of Messrs Hazell
and Dempsey being particularly forci.
Mr.. Hazell held that Mrs. Acklan
mad no right or claim to any considera.
tion at the hands of the Legislature.
Mr. Dempsey took similar view and
thought that summary disposition of
tne bill might assist ip clearing up the
clouded atmosphere which hangs over
The heads of the members. He did not
like the idea Of making Delaware the
i. Z 4 ia