Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.


lover, AprIl 6.--ID6 CONSTITUTIONAL
Convention did very little work either
in committee of tho whole or in con-
ventioD proper yesterday. owing 10 thu
fact that the standing committees had
nothing wbatesor 10 report, with ths
single exception Of that on revenue and
taxation, which in the afternoon pse-
sented a report as an addition TO that
formerly offered. but which was rejected
by the committee OF the whole.
The eommitteo 90 alteration and
amendments to the Constitution. &C.,
on mopion OF Mr.. Burris. was Increased
to 10 members by the addition of
Mossrs. Ellegood, Spruance, Bradford
and Lavender.
When tine report OF tho committee on
agriculture was called for Mr. Cavender
introduced and had read the following.
which was referred TO the committee
for consideration without action:
Delaware College Agricultural Ex-
periment Station, Newark, Del. March
Dover, Del Dear Sir: The report Of
the agricultural committee OF the Con-
stitutiopal Convention names the tii-
rector and the horticuIturist of the
Delaware College Agricultural Expert
| tsSbt SkutApu hS bA-OlltiO VI q
State Board of Agriculture.
L take tho liberty of calling your at
tention TO the following points: This
experiment station was organized and is
supported by the National Congress /;
its existence is dependent upon the
wishes OF that body. Authority to
examine and approve its expenditures
is invested in the honorable Secretary
OF Agriculture and is oeIegatedjpy him
to an official of his department known
az the director OF the office of expert
ment stations. This official has notified
in effect as follows:
Section OF the proposed constitu-
tional provision indicates that large
part oil the business OF the iproposed
Board OF Agriculture must of necessity
tie administrative. Such duties are
foreign TO the proper duties OF an ex-
pertinent station. The national funds
appropriated to the several States for
experiment stations cannot be spent for
work pertaining TO State Board of
Agriculture. The proposed measure
should be amended 30 as not to impose
duties in connection with this board
upon the experiment station.
In view of the above statement the
eligibility of the ex-officio members
may be questioned.
Yours very truly,
Arthur L. Neale.
Director of Experiment Station.
The afternoon session was devoted
entirely to the consideration of a pro-
position from DIR. Pratt. as chairman
OF the committee on revenue and taxa.
ton, but after discussion OF two
hours the committee OF the whole de-
clined to adopt the new section, which
read as follows:
Sec. S. No county, city, town or
other municipality shall loan it's credit
or appropriate money to, or assume the
debt or become shareholder, or joint
owner in or with any private corpora
ton, or any person or company what
ever. No county. city, town or other
municipality shall be allowed to become
indebted for any purpose or in any
manner to an amount which, including
existing indebtedness, shall exceed ten
per centum OF the assessed valuation Of
the real estate OF such county, city. town
or other municipality subject 10 taxa.
tion as it appeared by thu assessment
rolls of said county, city, town or other
municipality on the last assessment for
county, city, town or other munich.
pality taxes prior to the mourning OF
such Indebtedness and all Indebted
ness in excess of such limitation, ex-
oept such az may now exist, shall be
absolutely void, except as herein other
wise provided. No county; city, town
or other municipality whose present
Indebtedness exceeds ten per centum of
the assessed valuation OF its real estate
subjaet to taxation, shall be allowed
to become indebted in any further
amount until such indebtedness shall
be reduced within such limit. This
section shall not he construed 70 pres
vent the issue of bonds to provide for
supply of water. or light, or both !:
but the term of tho bonds issued to
provide the supply of water or light
shall not exceed thirty (30) years. and
shall not be issued except upon the
affirmative vote of o majority of the
fr6eholders of said city, town or other
municipality as shall be provided by
the General Assembly. and sinking
fund shall be created on the issuing Of
the said bonds for their redemption,
by raising annually a sum which will
produce an amount equal to the sum
OF the principal aud interest Of said
bonds at their maturity.
las cunNcutlon huJouTneQ at q. 10
until l0.3 80 on Friday morning.
Dover, April 10..-The Constitutional
Convention yesterday adopted the re-
port of the committee on the Legisla-
ture. which is as follows:
Section /. No person shall be Sena-
tor who shall not have attained the age
| of twenty seven years and have been a
citizen and inhabitant OF the State
three years next preceding tho day of
his election, and the last year of that
term an inhabitant of the senatorial
district in which he shall BIO chosen,
unless he shall have been absent on the
public business Of the United States or
| of tho State. No person shall be a
| Representative who shall not have at
tanned the age of twenty four years.
and have been a citizen and inhabitant
| OF the State three years next preceding
the day of his election. and the last
year OF that term an inhabitant OF the
| representative district in which he
shall he chosen, unless he shall have
been absent on the public business of
the United States or OF the State.
Sec. 2. The compensation of members
| of the General Assembly and OF the
| Lieutenant Governor as president of
the Senate shall be paid out of the
| treasury of the State. No law varying
such compensation shall take effect
until after general election shull have
beun held since its enactment.
| Sec. 3. Whenever there shall be a
vacancy in either house of the General
Assembly, by reason of failure to elect,
l 1...sl al N.. a..