Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Provision Made For a State
Board of Agriculture.
TO CONSIST OF THREE MEMBERS
Each County to Have One Rep
reSentative.
The Board to Abato Diseases in Fruit Trees,
Plants. Horses, Cattle, &c., and to Devise
Plans for Securing the immigration of
Industrious People TO Delaware.


Industrious People TO Delaware.
STAFF Correspondence o. Gazette and journal.
Dover, April 10. The only business
transacted in the convention prope
yesterday was the reception of report
from the committee on accounts allow
ing Guyer 81 Hardesty, stenograpbers,
the sum of S301. 90, Immediately aftel
which the convention resolved itsel
into committee of the whole for tht
consideration of the report of the com
mittee on bill of rights.
DIR. Cooper, chairman Of the com
mittee, stated that the committee hac
made but few changes from the present
constitution-merely that the words
(" Author of the universe should be
stricken out and that the words
"Almighty God'' should be inserted
in lieu thereof, and that in all places
where the word Legislature" occurs
the words General Assembly, be
substituted.
There being no objection to the
above. the report was accepted.
The next business was the con-
sideration of the report of the com
mittee on alterations and amendments
of the Constitution and the calling OF
the Constitutional Convention, which
was introduced by Mr.. Carlisle.
The first section of the report called
forth amendments from Messrs. Ssuls-
bury and Biggs, ard the discussing
thereon occupied the whole of the
morning session and the greater part
of the afternoon.
Some OF the members from the lower
part of the State (Kent and Sussex
counties) seemed to think that there
was a desire upon the part of the
representatives from New Castle
county. and the city Of Wilmington
in particular, tu take an undue adj.
vantage of the people in Kent and
Sussex, and after an amendment intro,
duced by Mr.. Salisbury had been re-
jected, Mr.. Herring wanted to substi-
tute the .'two-thirds" for majority"
in two places in the section, but on a
call of the yeas and nays the motion
was lost by vote of 10 to 10.
Section ] Of the report, as amended
by Mr.. Biggs was then adopted.
The discussion on section also con-
5umed considerable time, and the
matter of the number of members to
compose future Constitutional Con-
ventions was debated at length. Mr..
Clark wanted to limit the number TO
30. and . proposed ah amendment to
that effect, which was opposed BY Mr..
Salisbury. who believed that future
conventions should bo composed of the
same number as the General Assembly.
Mr., Bradford desired that the con-
yention be composed of 40 members
The vote was taken on MIR. Brad
ford 8 motion and resulted in its re-
lection by 10 TO Z. Mr.. Salisbury OBJ
iected to voting further on such an
important question and moved that the
committee rise. The motion was carried
by vote of 9 to 8.
Dover. April 15.--At the morning
session of the Constitutional Con-
veDtion yesterday the report of the
on agriculture was recon.
mitte1 to the standing committee, after
ii had been amended as follows:
Section l. There shall be depart
ment established and maintained,
known as the Stats Board of Agricul-
ture.
Sec 2. The said board shall be COM
posed of three Commissioner of
!" one of whom shall reside
in each county in the State. Any two
Of them shall constitute quorum for
the transaction of business
Sec. g. The said three Commissioners
Of Agriculture shall be appointed by
the Governor by and with the consent
Of three tifths of all ths members
elected to the Senate-one for the term
~ hn 81 f,u,,
years and one for the term of three
years; and thereafter all appointments
Of Commissioners of Agriculture shall
three years, and they shall hold office
until their successors are duly quail
led: Provided, that any vacancy occur
Agriculture before the expiration of a
term shall be filled by appointment as
Aforesaid for the remainder of the
erm, and. provided further, that in
,ase such vacancy shall occur when the
senate is not in session, such vacancy
nay be filled by the Governor without
confirmation by the Senate until the
Senate shall next be in session.
Sec. 4. The said board shall have
he power to abate and prevent, by
nch means as the General Assembly
hail prescribe, all contagious and in
ectious diseases of fruit trees, plants,
vegetables, cereals, horses, cattle and |
ther farm animals; and shall also have |
he power to investigate and report to |
ne attorney general oil grievances |
gainst transportation companies and |
ommon carriers, and such other |
owers as the General Assembly may
rovide.
Sec. 8. The General Assembly shall |
rovide by law for the compensation of |
he members of said board, prescribe
nd define their duties. and enact
uitable provisions for the execution
y the said board of the powers herein
esignated.
Sec 6. The said commissioners may
evise such plans for securing i'm
,igration to this State of industrious
nd useful settlers al they may deem
xpedient, and such plans may be
xecute as prescribed by the General
ssembly.
Sec. Z. The Board of Agriculture
ereby established shall continue for
light years from the date of the quail.
cation of the first member thereof,
fter which it may be abolished by the
leneral Assembly.
DR. Cooper, who is member of the
Dmmittee, has in hand an amendment
, strike out all after the word ''ani-
lals" in section and insert the fol.
wing: And shall also have the power
, such manner and by such means as
no General Assembly shall provide to
,vestigate and report to the attorney
aneral for prosecution all grievances
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