Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-08

| s,e1sW Nvuuuf. II tDe COUNTIES are
aistrictei as thus proposed, it woule
pe practically impossible for an,
/ poiitieai party to obtain complete con.
troi or tho representation from an,
county. and the minority would always
nave representation. Therefore, Mr..
! Chairman, | cannot conceive how the
adoption OF this Recommendation
would imperil the interests of the
people Of other Kent or Sussex couu
ties. The idea that three members
from Wilmington, which the amend
meat allows, could outvote 10 is q
| palpablc absurdity on its face. IL
might no said that the city of Will
mington might indirectly influence the
| nomination and election of membora
from nearby hundreds, such as Brandy
wine, New Castle and Christiuna, be-
cause the farmers OF these hundreds
dispose OF the products of their farms
in fhe city. In New Castle county,
outside OF the city OF Wilmington,
there are 10 hundreds, and no reason
able man will dare assert that ma
lority OF these would be so biased for
the, reason that the city is situated
where 1t is. There is no probability
that the Senators from the city of Viii.
mington would override the will of the
people of Kent and Sussex, much less
that Of the will of the people as repro
sented by the Senators and representa-
tlres from SUSSEX, Kent and rural New
Castle uombined.''
Mr.. Bradford closed his remarks with
an earnest appeal to the members to
grant the concession asked for, which
40 said was only iusI. Tho city OF
Wilmington. he claimed, bad con.
tribufed more to the reputation of the
State than the other counties COM
blned. lie said that the request was
libeiat and that il it was deuied the
convention would simply refuse to
grant to the peops of Wilmington Il
concession far less than that to which
they were justly and honestly entitled.
Mr.. Herring followed and presented
voluminous statistics intended to show
that in various States the representa-
tlon was not in proportion to the popu-
lation. He opposed any appointment
which did not provide for an equal
numher OF Senators from each county.
Mr Biggs then took the floor, and said
in part:
This is a question that has agitated
the people OF the State for number
OF years, and it was my urgent hope
that the committee would bs able 70
present report that would be salts
factory. All the members OF the com
mittee seem to have signed this report,
but at least one ia evidently opposed to
the provisions contained in document
that no has already signed. / hope
that New Castle county will be granted
atieast what the report recommends,
ana y Thought the report would be
accepted without opposition. II there
is justice in giving New Castle county
any concession whatever. it should
nave increased representation in the
Senate as we'll as in the House. What
advantage has New Castle that ia de,
Died tp Kent or Sussex? We are all
brotners. We pay our money into ths
same common treasury; we have the
same institutions; we vote under tbe
same laws. Why, then, should this
be made against New
Castle county? Can you tell me. Mr..
Chairman, why it should take three
men from New Castle TO equal politically
one from Sussex or Kents That is lust
what the proposition TO continue the
present basis of representation .neans.
We bear our proportionate share of the
electing our representatives it takes
three men from New Castle where it
only requires one in Kent or Sussex.
What justice is there-what fairness--
in such a proposition? What have the
people of New Castle county eve. done
that this inequality should be visited
upon them? The farmers of rural New
Castle should have an equal right with |
the farmers of Kent or Sussex. They |
are all brothers, and no one can deny |
this fact. The concession contained In |
this report does not give to Whining
ton near the recon- mendation to which |
tits justly entitled, because the popuIa-
lion of the city is equal to that of |
Kent and Sussex combined, or Sussex |
and rural New Castle combined. This |
report only allows us two Senators, and |
il We had representation according to
population the city of Wilmington
would be entitled to 10 Senators. But |
We don't ask 1t and never have asked |
It. We do ask, however, that the re- I
port of the committee be accepted and |
as a slight concession along
ne lines of justice and right
At the conclusion of Mr.. Biggs' re-
marks the committee arose, and tue
adjourned until $50 D. IN.
When the convention reassembled at |
'.3o oo'clock the committee of the whole
esumed consideration of the report OF
Tho committee on the Legislature.
Mr.. Donahoe withdrew his amend
mont making the number of Senators
Y, ana allottipg three to the city of
Df. Pratt favored the report. DR..
Jooper thought II Senators would be
90 largo number. Messrs. CLARK,
salisbury, Dasey, Smithers. Burris
md johnson favored the increase, and
dessrs, Martin, Hoisey and Ellegood
opposed it.
There not being quorum present in
he evening a night session was not
Ield.
Dover, April 2,-The failure OF the
Convention through the
forts of rhe ohstructionists on Wed.
esdsy to reach vote upon the propo-
ition to accord New Castle county, and
specially the city of Wilmington, 10.
reased representation in tho General
assembly did not have much effect
pon the members, judging from the
vote cast yesterday.
ligbtsen members voted in favor OF IL
enators, two of whom shall come from
be city of Wilmington, while only five
ppoaed it, In regard to tha matter of
representation in the House, the report
I the ommittee-which gives Will
iington 8, rural New Castle 10, and
he two other counties 10 eacb, the
onvention agreed l,y vote of 20 to 9,