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

staif Correspondence Of Gnzetto aud Journal.
Dover, April T.-Stato finances are
receiving consideration from the MEM
bers Of the General Assembly Several
Sax bills have been introduced and
most Of them are still pending. Each
10 said to contain moro or leas merit
but none appear to meet the approval
OF all the members For this reason IL
is not known that any of them will
pass. ills the general sentiment, how.
ever, that something should be done to
increase the revenue of the State, and
some Legislation will undoubtedly he
enacted on this point.
It ia understood that bill will be
introduced in few days to tax in
Z; heritances. with Wow to realizing
something from this source.
Other similar bills are talked Of, but
nothing Is known as to the nature OF
them. FL
The members Of the Legislature have
been talking over such matters for
several weeks, and they are beginning
to formulate ideas.
Tho action Of State Treasurer Ross in
refusing to honor orders OF the Consti-
tutional Convention, on account of the
low state Of the treasury, has been en-
dorsed BY majority OF the members
OF tho General Assembly. IIe is acting
under advice OF his counsel, Hon.
Janus L. woloott. .
The bill requiring tho State insurance
commissioner to examine into the
affairs OF insurance companies doing
business In this State 10 on the calendar
for consideration in the House to-day,
hut several insurance men have made
an effort to have action postponed, and
ii may he again laid ovsr until next
Wednesday. Tbs committee having
the Insurance bills In hand will give a
hearing to Insurance. men to-day and
will furnish all the information at
their command on all OF the bills.
In oil probability, the State election
laws will be materially altered, with a
view to purifying the elections aud re-
moving, us far as eau possibly be douo,
the opportunities for fraud. The COM
mission appointed by joint resolution
10 draw up BILLS expected to prepare
a measure that will provide for the
shortcomings in the present laws. 1t
il not known when the commission will
be able to report.
There is now bill to abolish yoters'
assistants pending in the House, and
it seems to meet with general favor
among the members. Tbs text OF the
bill is az follows:
Section !. That from and after the
passage of this act, that the voters
assistants at the general election he
dispensed with, and il be unlawful for
any person or persons to remain in
election room, only long enough to
vote, except inspector, two judges, two
clerks, as prescribed by law.
Sec. q That all PERSONS wanting to
he instructed will bo instructed at the
election table by the two judges. the
voter after receiving instruction asked
for will take his ballot AMI go to the
booth, prepare, fold and hand it to the
inspector IA prescribed by law. but Mt
no time shall there be two persons in
one booth.
Sec, 3. That IL any person or per.
sons are disabled by being blind or not
having the use of their hand or hands,
the two judges shall prepare their bal
lots as the voters direct at the election
table and band the same to the in.
speetor in the presence of tho election
board the election officers must make
no suggestions whatever to the voters
other than those who desire assistance
under the provisions of this act.
Sec. 4. That il shall BIO the duty OF
1iiu tWb tub tlbClbDU 10 pre-
pare ballot according to the voter's
instruction without any of the election
board suggesting or advising how to
vote for any person or persons favorably
to the election board and the voter to
bava his own choice
Sec. S. 1t shall be unlawful for any
challenger inside OF the election room
liter the polls are open except long
enough to vote and not to excesd over
Oh three minutes for the purpose of
voting, except only IL in case that the
judges of the election should call them
inside and then all voters not In the
election room 10 remain outside until
disputes are settled, and in no one case
to allow over t5) five minutes to settle
Disputes and return to their respective
places
Sec. G. II any election officer or
officers should influence a voter or
threaten voter they shall DO dsamed
guilty Of misdemeanor and upon con
vieripn thereof be fined sum of nor
lees than lS200) two hundred dollars,
and not more than (S500) five hundred
dollars or one year Imprisonment, or
both at the discretion of the courts for
each and every case.
SEQ. Z. That it shall be misde.
meanor for any election officer to diyulge
, to any person or persons as to how any
! OF tho voters voted, that asked for In.
( structions and subject to fine OF
tsl00) one hundred dollars or not more
than (Sa00l two hundred dollars or six
months Imprisonment or both at the
= discretion Of the courts in each and
: every case.
''Sec. s. That it shall be unlawful
for any challenger to occupy space
inside of the election room during the
time of holding elections. except as
described in section 8, or during a
recess. That any person or persons
violating any OF the provisions at this
section ahnll be subject to fine of
tS200) two hundred dollars or one year
inprisonment or both at the discretion
of the court IN each and every case.
4 ''Sec. 0. That IL shall be the duty Of
;he election officers to SEQ that the
above laws are COMPILED with and upop
lrrest and conviction that they shall be
iesnsd guilty Of a misdemeanor and DO
fined not less than ls500) five hundred
dollars and not more than ISL, OOO) one
thousand dollars or one year imprison-
ment for each and every case or both
at the discretion of the court
See. 10. That this act shall be-
deamed and taken to be public act, :,
(1hria pfrar,,.a. J