Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-20
THE APPORTIONMENT STANDS
Convention Adheres to the
Original Report.
SOME DIvISlONsSHARPLY FOUGHT
Objections by Cooper, Pratt
and Martin.
They Did Not Like the appointments of
Kent and Sussex Countiss-The Conven-
tion However, Refused to Make any
Changes IN the Committees Report.

Staff Correspondence OF Gazette and journal.
Dover, May 13.-Tbe Constitutional
Convention yesterday took up the report
of the committee on phraseology and ar
rangement where they stopped on Tues.
day, and it was adopted up TO and in
cluding section 80 of article 4, before
any objection whatever was raised.
When motion was made to adopt
section 81. however, which pertains to
justices of the peace and regulates the
term Of Office Of those officials, opposition
developed to the recommendation of the
report, which fixes the term of justices
at four years. An effort was made TO
substitute seven years instead of four,
but after some debate the amendment
was defeated by vote of 10 to 8, and
hereafter Justices of the peace will serve
for four years only, unless reappointed.
Mr.. C9och was the main champion
uf the amendment, contending that it
required at least four years for justice
to familiarize himself with the duties
of the office.
When section 32 was called up it
accustomed one OF the liveliest debates
of the day. Mr.. Burris being exceedingly
emphatic in stating his opinion of the
OF the peace. He desired TO amend the
section go as to make Justices elective,
aud during his remarks said that in
vast majority of instances they we're
not only not conservators of the peace
of community. hut positive menace
and curse to the people. Very often,
he said. they are the instruments of
oppression towards the people, who are
at times wantonly and maliciously con-.
fined in our jails at the behest of un-
scrupulous prosecutors, aided and
abetted by the justices. Two-thirds of
those who are appointed could not
possibly be elected to the position If
the people had voice in the matter,
and in most cases they owe their ap
pointment to the favoritism of political
bosses in their locality, and not to any
ability they possess. The people. Mr..
Burris asserted, should be delivered
from euch outrageous abuses.
The proposition to take the appoint
ment of the Justices out of the hands
OF the Governor was defeated by
decisive vote.
The convention decided, nevertheless.
to require only minority vote Of the
Senate in order to confirm the nomina-
tions for Justice OF the peace.
The residue of article was adopted
without further discussion, and the
convention then decided to take up
article ., relating to the apportionment
of members Of the General Assembly.
There was no trouble over the action
of the sub.com mittee of Nav Castle
county, but when that of Kent was
reached DR.. Cooper made bitter attack
upon the whole section which he claimed
was "a razzle .':al,la and worse than
cowpath through tho woods "
Mr.. salisbury asserted that thu com.
mittee 10 whom was entrusted the duty
Of arportioning the REPRESENTATIVE and
Senatorial districts OF Keut county had
endeavored to divide the districts as
nearly as possible iu accordance with
the voting population. This. he said.
was the first objection he had heard to
the report. although he had discussed
the subject with several men of op
posite political parties.
Mr.. Richards stated that il the method
of ohjectionsrai to the report was
persisted in, it would probably result in
the rejection of the entire work of the
committee, and helhoned that the mem-
bers would stand by the action pre-.
yiously taken in committee of the
whole, when the report was agreed to.
DIR. Pratt made vigorous attack
upon the ommittee, charging that they
had acted discourteousy towards the
balance of the Kent county delegation
in not consulting them in relation to
the division. All through its delib.
erations," said the doctor, "there
seemed to be disposition to avoid con-
sultation with the rest of the Kent
t., ,.x1 = F.s. d
sumo that bad such course been pur-
sued the report of the committee would
not have been presented in such
worm fence shape"
Tho convention sustained the com.
mittee and passed the section, despite
the objections.
When the Sussex division was called
up another contention arose through
the antagonism of Mr.. Martin, who was
one of the members of the sub com
mittee. This report was the result of
a conference which was participated in
by the entire Sussex delegation. Mr..
Martin objected especially to that por-
tion Of the report which tackled Seaford
on to another hundred, and notwith-
standing tho fact that he made per-
sonal appeal to the convention to make
the change he desired, the vote in on
position was decisive.
The last change made was in that
portion of the report limiting the
special sessions of the General ssem-
bly, to 20 days The limit was made 30
days. 1t is very probable that the con-
vention will extend the limit of regular
sessions to 30 days. At present the re-
port allows compensation for 60 days
Only.
Dover. May 14.-There was a lively |
time in the convention yesterday over
limiting the sessions of the General |
Assembly aud contining the pay of the
members to the number of days they
are iu actual attendance Mr.. Spruauue
said that he believed this would stop
iunketing aud the members would then
he more liable to attend to their legal
duties.
Mr.. Bradford claimed that the limita.
tion of the sessions ana the restricting |
of compensation to the actual time |
occupied in the service of the State was
the part OF public policy and IL the
passes were taken from the |
they would be more liable to
remain in Dover at night and attend to
their duties.
DIR. Pratt said 1t was necessary either
toH he oil sn,s -