Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22

out the State have manifested them
selves SO strongly in favor of the bill
granting ths Wilmington & New Gas
tie Railway Co. the privilege of running
through Wilmington and iown the State
that the opponents of the bill are
evidently becoming alarmed and desire
to have the life crushed out of it fol
fear OF an avalanche of public opiuior
against such action. The bill has beer
pending in the House of Representa-
tives for several weeks. and yesterday,
in the absence of several friends of the
measure, Mr.. Thompson, by request,
called it up for final action. This was
great surprise, except to few, and
Mr.. Dempsey entered vigorous protest
against the bill being called up 10 the
absence OF It's frien5s and against their
wishes. He asked Mr.. Thompson WHY
he called it up, to which Mr.. Thompson
replied that he had been requested to
do 80.
by friend?" inquired Mr.. Demp.
II don't know" Mr.. Thompson re
Well" asked Mr.. Dempsey, ''are
you friend to the biIl?n
II will show you when the vote is
taken, " replied Mr.. Thompson.
DIR. Dempsey denounced such nction
Oh the part of enemies to any measure.
Mr.. Mccoy also objected. He said
he hoped MIR. Thompson would with
draw his motion. as he hoped the bill
would not be brought up until some
time when the friends are present and
all have chance 10 be heard.
Speaker Riggin called l.. S. Hopkins
to the chair and also protested against
action heing taken on the bill at thia
time. He said that it had been uuani-
mously agreed among tie members not
to call up bill in the absence Of it's
friends
Mr.. Donaldson said he would not
insist on vote being taken at this
time, but it had been on the calendar
for some time and there bad been con
siderable lobbying and he thought
time should be fixed for taking a vote.
Mr. Dempsey asked Mr. Donaldson
how much lobbying there had been
against the bill, to which he replied
that hs knew there had been lobbying
against ii and inferred. when he smoke,
that there had been lobbying on both
sides.
Mr.. Dempsey said be could see no
excuse for calling the bill up at this
time, as there was plenty of other bust
meas which could be attended to.
Mr.. Donaldson said he had not called
the bill up and would not ask for an
immediate vote, but insisted that a
time should be fixed.
Mr.. Dempsey said Mr.. Donaldson,
who, lie presumed, was unfriendly to
the hill. had no right to set time for
vote.
Mr., Donaldson, in reply to Mr.. Demp-
Bey, said he had no right to presume
that ho was unfriendly to the bill.
Several Others endeavored TO talk, and
while the discussion was in progress
Mr.. Short moved that the House nd
1ourn for the noon recese, which pre-.
vailed.
At the opening of the afternoon
session three communications to Speaker
Riggin were read before the House.
They were from Fruitand Grange of
Camden, "a citizens of st. Georges and
DO citizens of Odessa, aud all requested
the Legislature to pass the Wilmington
" New Castle Railway bill. All were
framed in strong language and showed
the sentiment of the people in those
places in no unmistaken terms.
After the communications bad been
read Mr.. Dempsey resumed discussion
on the bill. which had been shut off by
adjournment He said he thought Mr..
Thompson was not inspired by ami.
mostly, but whoever told him 10 call
the bill up must have been. He argued
for postponement.
Mr. Short also made speech, in
which he neither favored nor opposed
the bill.
Mr.. Thompson 8 motion to take up
Tho hill uaa rofautoI hu tho
vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Davis, Dukes, Short.
Thompson, Adams and Wilson-6.
Nays = Messrs. Dempsey, Cbeairs,
Donaldson, J. II. Hopkins, l.. S. Hon
kins, johnson, Marin. Mccoy, Nc
Cullough, Smith, Whitney and the
Speaker-l2.
Absent-Messrs. Hazcll, Eliason and
Taylor-3
Thus the bill was sent back to the
calendar.
On motion of Mr.. Donaldson the
House adopted resolution requesting
the registers of wills in the three
counties to estimate what the revenue
Tor year would be, provided the in
herltancs tax bill should be in force.
The House committee appointed to
investigate alleged Discrimination in
railroad freight rates held meeting
yesterday afternoon and received the
report of Attorneys L. d. Hearne and
y. II. Cochran, Jr., which included a
bill to create railroad commission Of
three men, to be appointed by the
Governor on or before June Jst, 1897.
The first three mon are to serve three,
four and five years. and aftsrward the
terms are to be for five years The
salary is to be $3.50, except one, the
secretary, who shall receive $500 extra.
NO person connected with any railroad
can be appointed, and every appointee
must be at least 80 years of age. The
bond shall be $1,000. The ofiice shall
be in Dover No final action can be
taken in any matter except by a ma
lority. OF the board. The comm ission
shall have supervision over all railroads |
and railways, exoept street railways, |
and they shall Investigate all accidents |
resulting in loss of life or injury to |
person, the manager of every railroad |
being required to notify the board by |
telegraph OF all accidents. The com. |
mission shall also have power to adjust |
freight rates and regulate all tariffs |
Different rates may be fixed for different |
railroads, and express rates may also
ba ilyan frha srs 4