Smyrna times., 1897-05-05
The UnsavOy Character Of our Legis-
lature,


1t is unfortunate for our Legislature
(the seats of q number of whom
were obtained it is claimed by
usurpation rather than election)
that as a body of law makers it has not
commended itself more to the favor
able consideration of the people. To
illegality on the part of its political
enemies is added that of rottenness or
inexcusable inefficiency on the part
of its friends. Just what is thought
can be better expressed in the language
of our cOtemporaries. The Dover m
der, Democratic, says:
If the General Assembly of the State
of Delaware, now sitting in the Capitol
at Dover, should adjourn tomorrow,
the record of its sessions would be
scrutinized almost absolutely in vain
for one act of public importance, cal
culated to promote the general welfare
of the people.
Throughout the four long months of
its existence, its time and attention
have been absorbed by the clamorous
demands of private corpOrators, seekers
after divorce, and lobbying log rollers.
From the day of the general election
of last fall, the voice of the people has
been raised for some act preventive of
a repetition of the disgraceful scenes
enacted during that day Every honest
Delawarean who cherished his civil
rights and the good name and fame of
his State, felt the pressing necessity of
a relief from the possibility of such
disgrace in the future. 1t was with
such hopes and such feelings that the
present session of the Legislature was
welcomed as the means for the remedy.
The Sentinel very naturally has
found much to condemn, but it hardly
expected to have such such open
charges of corruption to notice, as
have found their way in all the
daily papers. 1t tersely says:
According to recent political history
in this State, the Democratic cure for
vote selling at elections is riot, usurpa-
ton and theft. We wonder what thev
propose as a cure for legislative vote
selling? When the Democrats were
beaten last Fall, they said it was be-
cause large number of their voters
sold their votes. A corrupt bargain
had been made by which the State was
to be sold and delivered to the Republi-
cans, and to prevent this, they (the
Democrats) were justified in stealing
the county and State; and now we
hear that the sanity sOlOns for whom
the great political theft was committed
have been selling their legislative
votes. What is to be the cure for this
-whitewaSh?
The DclaWare0R takes cOgnizance of
the charges, and insists on investiga-
ton. 1t says:
The House of Representative did
well in appointing a committee to in
vestlgate the charges of corruption
against members of the House. At al
most every session of the Legislature
for years ugly rumors have been afoat
that some members were subject to i'm
proper and corrupt influence. But so
far as we have any knowledge the
charges were never so openly made.
nor received with so much popular
credence, as at the sessions of 1895 and
1897. The fact that the General AS
sembly insists on making itself cheap
and incompetent divorce court is
| directly responsible for the scandal, as
the charges have almost always been
in connection with divorce cases.
During the last week or two open
charges have been made in the news
papers that members of the Legisla-
ture have attempted to extort money
from divorce suitOrs. A large sum of
money is said to have been demanded
of Mrs. Acklau A reputable LAWYER
In the city of Wilmington declares that
members called at his office and asked
for money to secure the passage of the
Cause divorce bill
The charges are too definite and come
from too responsible a source to be
ignored.