Middletown transcript., 1897-03-13
IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The following legislative news from
Dover appeared in yesterdays Philadelphia
e"Press." The success Of the Democrats Of
this (Kent) county in robbing the Republi
cans of their victory in November has en-
boldened political leaders of that party every
where in the State, and there is a scheme
on foot to steal from the Republicans theil
power over the tax machinery oft count
les by systematic gerrymander.
The bill to divide Kent county in five
Levy Court districts that shall give the
Democrats sure majority was introduced
in the House yesterday. An entirely differ
ent bill, aiming at the same thing in New
Castle County, was introduced this morn
ing. A duplicate of the Kent bill, which
shall apply to Sussex County, will be pre-
sented tomorrow or the next legislative
day. The Kent and Sussex bills are urged
upon the ground of economy. The advo-
Gates propose to reduce the number of COM
missioners and collectors SO as to save
money.
They pretended yesterday to have found
much merit in the Newcastle County system
of five commissioners. Today in order to
secure hold upon the latter county, they
contend that the five commissioners are not
enough for so large and rich county as
New Castle. The old system was the best
and most satisfactory to the people.
DIVIDING THE COUNTY.
Therefore Mr.. Dempsey offered bill
which provides for the election of twelve
Levy Court Commissioners, not to be cleo
ted by hundreds as unler the original plan
which the Democratic Legislature of 1891
abolished, but by districts including several
hundreds so as to make sure of a Demo-
cratic majority. The Republicans carried
seven of the eleven hundreds in the county.
To overcome this Republican strength
Christiana and Mill Creek, two of the
strongest Republican hundreds are attached
to South Wilmington with its 800 Demo-
cratic plurality, in order to secure three
Levy Court Commissioners out of twelve.
North Wilmington, with its 1000 Republi-
can majority, and Brandywine Hundred,
with $50 Republican majority, are punched
together and are given two commissioners
New Castle, White Clay Creek and PEN
cader constitute the third district with three
commissioners. New Castles Democratic
majority is expected to over come the small
Republican majorities of the other two.
The fourth district is to be made up of
Red Lion, st, Georges, Appoquinimink and
Blackbir with four commissioners.
The first district, embracing Republican
North Wilmington and Brandwine, is given
two commissioners for 44,0O0 people; the
Democratic fourth district with ii 900 in
habitants is given four commissioners. The
second district. also Democratic, has 10000
and is given three commissioners, and the
third district, which will also be Democratic
has II 900 people and three commissioners.
In short, the bill purposes to furnish ten
Democratic commissioners for $1,000 peo-
pie and two Republicans for A, 900.
The bill continues in this ruthless fash
ion. 1t abolishes the Offices of Tax Re-
ceiver and Comptroller, now filled by Re
publicans, and which were created six
years ago in order to take the offices from
the Republicans. and restores the old con-
ditions providing for Collector of Taxes
in each hundred. The bill also takes from
the several hundreds the right to elect their
own road commissioners and makes them
all appointive by the Levy Court, a system
that was abolished forty years ago be-
cause of its expensiveness.
The bill is the most outrageous gerry
mander ever proposed, even in this State.
Fortunately, it promises to arouse bitter
opposition among the Democrats them
selves, and will probably be defeated.