Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-11


CURED by Legislative enactment, and
was an inherent power.
The motion to strike out WIS still
under discussion when ON motion OF
Mr.. Ellogood. tho committee arose and
tho, congen,ion at D. 10 adjourned until
this morning.
The balance of the oommittee's report
is as follows:
Sec. 6. No money shall be drawn
from the treasury but in consequence
OF appropriations mado by law, and a
regular statement and account OF the
raceipts and expenditures of oil public
money shall be published annually.
Sec, 7. In all iiasossments of real
estate for taxation, the value OF the
land and tho value uf the buildings and
improvements thereon shall be included.
The foregoing provisions of this section
| shall apply TO all assessments OF real
estate for taxation a for State. county,
hundred, school, municipal or other
public purposes.
Dover, March 10. -Yeaterdny's ses.
sion Of the Constitutional Convention
was ono Of the most exciting held since
the body convened in December. The
whole OF the session, which began at
the regular hour in the morning and
ended ut 80, was taken up in the dis.
cussion in committee of the whole of
| the report OF the committee on taxation,
or, rather, section thereof, as reported
| by tho committee. Tho trouble arose
over objections raised by some Of the
members towards the close OF the morn
| ing session to forcing q vote upon
| substitute offered By Mr.. MAJ tin of
Sussex, which was as follows;
The General Assembly shall provide
| for n poll tax of 81 per annum on each
malo citizen Of 81 years OF age and
| upwards, and no citizen shall be
| registered or vote at any general
election unless such poll tax and the
srrsarages thereof shall have been paid !;
but such poll tay may be paid at or
before the registration. "
| The above was offered az substitute
| for an amendment which had been pre-.
viously offered by Mr.. Spruance, which
was;
"Tbe General A assembly may provide
| for laying an annual capitation tax for
tho use of tho several counties, which
shall be uniform and shall not exceed
the sum of one dollar"
| The discussion previous to the ex-
citement was participated in By about
BALI OF those present.
| Mr.. johnson renewed the motinn
that tho committee rise.
The chair declared the motion out of
order. saying that the remarks made
by DR.. Pratt wore not Intervening
business" under the rules.
Mr.. Evans appealed from the decision
of tho chair, but the appeal was not
sustained.
The question was then again called
for. and Mr.. Martin moved that the
committee riso. This chair, however,
declared the motion out of order and
ordered vote on the substitute, the
yeas and nays having been called for.
Mr.. johnson said that in his opinion
it was unfair for the majority to at.
tempt to force the minority 10 vote
i on this question. If vote ia forced,
as l said before, | will be compelled to
vote favorably against my convictions.
Mr.. Cayender declared that ne Mother
anticipated nor desired any favors from
the majority, but would stand up for
his rights in. this and every other
matter. He said that IL the wishes of
the minority were not to be considered
by the majority, then the former might
| as Null iGhfo ult III Dub
deliberations no further.
Mr.. Spruance, who heretofore had
favored the forcing of vote. tuck the
floor and said that rnther than have
any hard feelings over the matter he
would consent to tho motion to rise,
although he had formed tho opinion
that tho gentleman from Duck Greek
(Mr. Cavender) was with the majority
on the pending question.
The committee then arose and the
convention adjourned until $50 p. m.
When tue convention came together
in the afternoon the section under dis
cussion in the morning was not imme-
diately called up, as was expected.
Section 6 was also passed over. and the
last section called up. This latter
created considerable discussion, some
claiming that those who favored the
original report were imbued somewhat
with the single tax idea. Messrs.
Bradford, Spruance and Pratt became
very emphatic, the latter warning Mr..
Spruance that he was introducing Q
firebrand into the convention in the
shape of political Liquidation.
When the vote was taken il was founo
that tho original report only hau two
supporters, Messrs. Pratt and Johnson.
The section aa finally passed roads:
Sec. Z. In all assessments of rea
estate for taxation, the value Of the
land and the value Of tho buildings
and improvements thereon shall be
| included, and in all assessments
OF tbs rental value of real estate fol
taxation tho rental value of the
, land and the rental value of the build.
, ings and improvements thereon shall be
, included. Tho foregoing provisions
, of this siuotion shall apply TO all assess
ments Of real estate or the rental value
thereof, for taxation for State, county,
hundred. school, municipal or othel
, public purposes.
} Section G. which reads as follows
was then called up. but after some dis
J cussion was again passed over:
Sec. G. No money shall be drawn
from the treasury but in CONSEQUENCE O
, appropriations made by law, and {
regular statement and account of tht
receipts and expenditures OF all public
money shall be published annually.
Chairman Pratt then called up sec
tion 3, which was under discussion
yesterday and final action thereon de
: farred. He amended the proposed
section so as to require a two.third
vote OF each house in order to create
debt, except under certain conditions
The amendment was agreed to.
\