Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-13
SHOWING GREATER ACTIVITY
The General Assembly Begin
ming to Rush Business.
A TORNADOlN THE LOWER HOUSE
Workhouse Bill Caught in a
Gale and Killed.
Tho Act TO vacate need Street Betwesn
Monroe and Adams, which Had Boon
Sleeping Tor Several weeiss, Now u Law
Acisian Divorces Isiii Passed by senate.

stan Correspondence OF Gazette and journal.
Dover, May 1a. --Ihe House OF Eep.
ressntatives was In spirit Of unusual
activity yesterday, and, like a tornado
of the plains, swept everything before
1t. The Workhouse bill was caught up
in The fury of the gale and hat, its life
crushed out The Senate bills requir-
ing persons contemplating instituting
damage suits to take the preliminary
steps within 80 days after receiving
injury. and amending the charter OF
the town of Dover so as to enable it to
bring actions in the name OF tho town
suffered the same fate, while the
Senate bill to vacate Reed street,
between Monroe aud Adams, in Will
mington, after asleep of several weeks,
was passed by vote of Ia to 7, and
thus became a law.
The Senate was also on it's dignity,
aud, without ceremony, unanimously
passed. the Acklan divorce bill aud the
Senate bill to prohibit the depositing
OF thorn hedge trimmings in the
public rondways and so amended the
House resolution providing for the
participation of tho National Guard in
the Washington monument unwilling
ceremonies as to make its provisions
almost useless.
The Workhouse bill controversy, which
was The most important Of the day,
hogan at about 2 O'Clock, when the
friends and opponents to tho hill
nrrayed themselves in Representative
Hall, each side fully prepared to sub
Rtaniiate their claims. The friends of
the bill in attendance were AN followH
Chief Justice Lore, Judge Ball, Clement
II. Smyth, A. ID. Warner, Prof. Isaac
4. johnson, Wilmer Palmer. Owen j.
Ilession, j. Harvey Spruance. William
3. lilies, H. O. Kent, tho Rev. w. "a.
Walliug, ex-Mayor Austin Harrington,
Peter j. Ford and tho Rev. Alexander
u, Bowser OF Wilmington and Superin
tenden. Joseph James of the Chester
County jail at West Chester.
The friends OF the bill took tho floor
first. Mr.. james exhibited fabrics
woven at the Chester county jail and
gave data, in which he showed that
each prisoner there cost the county
about six cents per day.
Chief Justice Lore, who followed,
reviewed the claims for the bill and
urged its passage. lie was interrupted
by Senator Fenimore, Representative
1lazell and others, who asked questions,
He maze the assertion that in some
instances 10 this State the sheriff
would feed tramps night and morning
and receive two days pay for serving
two meals. this being one OF the argu-
ments in favor OF the abolition of the
present Jail system, which he pronounced
"rotten.' Senator Fenimore, who was
at ono time sheriff of Kent county,
denied that there was any intention on
the part of the sheriiis to defraud and
asserted that Kert's sheriff was poorly
paid, as he had to hire assistance out
of his compensation for feeding the
prisoners. Tho Chief Justice replied
that he meant to cast no reflection on
the sheriifs, but was simply striking
at the system, which should DO
abolished.
While the Chief Justine was talking,
Robert II. Lewis of near Dover took
the floor and bitterly opposed the
bill. He was followed by John II.
Salisbury of Dover, who claimed that
the State could not afford to embark
into the undertaking, but added that if
the State could afford it he would bo
one OF the first persons to advocate the
bill.
The discussion came to an end ait
3. 80 o'clock, and the House was called
to order by the Speaker. The bill was
Immediately taken from the calendar,
and Mr.. Wilson made strong speech in
opposition to its passage.
Mr.. Dempsey commended for the bill,
in a neat speech in the course of which
he said it had been stabbed In the back.
Mr. Mccullough, who had voted for
the bill week previous confessed that
he had experienced change of heart, in
view of the fact that several people in
his hundred had instructed him not to
vote for the bill. Then. too, he
thought the opposition had not been
given fair show.
Messrs. Adams and Iiazell also OPP
posed the bill.
Mr.. johnson, who has been warm
supporter all along, moved that the bill
be referred back to committee for
amendment, in order to save it.
Messrs. Dempsey and Donaldson
thought such action would not save it
and at Mr.. Donuldson's request Mr..
johnson withdrew his motion.
Mr.. johnson theu offered an amend
ment 10 the effect that the workhouse
should be located in Kent county. The
amendment was adopted, but the bill
was killed by the following vote:
Ayes-M essrs. Dempsey, Cheairs,
Donaldson, Eliasun, johnson, Mccoy,
Taylor and the Speakers.
Nays-Messrs. Adams, Davis, Dukes,
Hazel, j. ii. Hopkins, l.. s. Hopkins,
Martin, Mccullough, Short, Smith.
Thompson, Whitney and Wilson--l3
After the bill had been killed its
advocates filed sorrowfully out of the
room.
Mr.. Dempsey called up the Reed
street bill and made a speech in favor
of 1t, in which he asserted that some
who had opposed it were now in favor
OF 1t. The bill was carried by the
following vote:
Ayes Adams, Davis, Demp-
soy, Dukes. EIiason, Johnson, Martin.
Mccoy, Mccullough, Short, Taylor,
Thompson. Whitney and Wilson--l4.
Nays-M essrs. Cheairs, Donaldson.
Hazel, J. II. Hopkins, L. S. Hopkins,
Smith and the Speaker-7.
The Senate bill 10 relation to plead
ing and practice, which was defeated
in the House, provided that person
intending to bring suit for damages
should serve notice. with reasons and
data. on the defendant, within 80 days
and institute suit within six months,
also give security for costs.
The amendm emit to the charter of the
town of Dover, which on Mr.. Hazell's
motion, was indefinitely postponed, as il
rnptl intad IN h tho Ct,not it Ion