Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-20

States who want divorces.
MIR. Dempsey called for the ayes and
nays, and every member, except Mr..
Wilson, who was absent, placed himself
on record as being opposed to the bill.
Representative Woodward w. Cheairs
achieved signal success when he So
cured the passage 10 the House, upani-
mously, OF the bill to prevent cor
rupt practices and bribery at aiectlons.
which ha introduced early IN the session
Mr.. Cheuirs was ably assisted by Mr..
Hazsll, who explained that the bill was
calculated to cover all cases. of bribery
and fraud. All past offences had been
condoned, but il was intended to cover
future cases. Mr.. HAZEL also did a
great deal of the work in connection
With AMENDING the bill.
The measure passed the Senate at tho
last session, but the rush incident to
the closing of the session prevented it
from passing the House.
In the Senate yesterday afternoon, on
motion OF Mr.. Pyle, the Wilmington
city charter bill was recommitted to the
municipal commission for two years,
when IL is again to be reported.
The Senate passed the Senate bill to
provide that one.half of the fines col.
lected in cases where the Law and
Order Society assists in the prosecution
shall 60 TO the society.
By hard work, in the direction OF
submitting amendments, Representative
Short succeeded in having his pet bill!
to incorporate the Delaware Central
Railroad Co. passed by the House yes
terday morning. He introduced the
bill several Gays ago and has been care
fully looking after it ever since, While
there was no material opposition, some
question was raised concerning the
intentions OF the inGorporators, aud in
order TO overcome all objections Mr..
Short, on Wednesday had the bill re-
committed and assisted the committee
in amending it, the amendments added
being that within 10 months after the
paesage OF the act the company shall
expend at least $40, 600 10 Sussex county
in the direction of making start, and
that the entire line shall be completed
and in operation within three years.
The House passed a House bill to
provide that every male citizen 10
Smyrna shall have the right to vote,
provided he has resided in the town
six months, and that il they havo been
left of the assessment list must pay 81
each. Mr.. Hazel explained that l3S
or 140 Democrats had been left off the
list and the intention of the bill was to
give them right 10 vote
The Maryland & Woodland Beach
Railroad charter was passed. after it
had been amended, 80 as to provide
that the road shall be commenced in
six months and completed in two
years, and that 10 per cent Of the capital
stock shall be subscribed.
Mr.. HAZEL called up the substitute
election bill, and it was passed.
In the discussion which followed the
reading of the bill Mr.. Eliason said he
thought the substitute should have
b7en printed, 30 that everybody would
know just what was. in il. lie was
satisfied with ita main provisions, hut
thought opportunity should be given to
serutinize 1t.
Mr.. Hazel explained the bill fully,
and when the vote was taken there was
not dissenting voice.
As result OF the work OF the CON-
mittee ON claimH. which held long
session Wednesday night, Chairman
Mccoy OF the House committee re-.
ported fayorably the joint resolution to
compensate William EC. Spruance for
bis services as chancellor ad litem in
the parlor car pilot case. An unfavor.
able report was made on the claim of
Hubert Cassidy. for balance on the
amount expended in erecting the Della
ware Building at the Worlds Fair.
The House passed Joint resolution to
pay Mr.. Spruance Si00.
The House bill to provide for a
stenographer for the court Of chancery
was reported unfavorably in the House.
Favorable reports wers made on the
following bills in that body:
Senate bill to regulate the business
OF pawnbrnkers in New Castle county.
House bill to establish and maintain
State Board of Agriculture.
House bill to amend the charter OF
the city of New Castle.
House bill TO increase the salaries of
the clerks OF the assessors and col.
lectorsof Wilmington from S720 to 5000.
House bill to provide that foot ped-
dlers shall pay license of $50, payable
quarterly.
Senate bill in relation to arrests and
costs In connection Herewith.
House bill to give the Assawaman
Canal an additional 81, 600.
House bill to improve the culored
school system,
The bill to refuud Sl95, 600 of tire
States funded debt. recently intro
duced in the House by Mr.. Short, was
reported favorably in the House to day,
with some slight amendments, which
changes the date for orening bids from
the 10th OF next November TO May ist
1898 that the date OF the bonds shall
bo June lst, 1898, instead of December
1st, 1897; also slightly altering the time
for redoeming some of the bonds.
Dover, May 10. In the General AS
ssmbly. yesterday, the joint committee
on taxation, of which Senator Pyle and
Representative Hazel are the chair
men, reported to the House the follow
ing substitute for the House bill to
tax Investments for county purposes
An act to equalize taxation for State
and county purposes.
whereas, 1t is but Just that the
burden of taxation should he adjusted
and distributed 30 that it may bear
equally upon all, according to the value
of every mans estate; aud.
Whereas, The present system of taxa
tion Is unjust and oppressive, in that it
taxes most the property least profitable
and relieves altogether that which pro-
duces the greatest income; and,
Whereas, Every consideration Of JUS
tice, equality anu fair play requires that