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

stan Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
Dover. March 0. Capt Dasey yester-
das evidently did not like to soc so
many absenteea In the Constitutional
Convention, and he inquired OF Chair
man Ellegood OF tho committee what
had become OF the members. Presi
dent Biggs was among tho absenteeH,
and Secretary Charles II. Jones called
the convGnti IN to order and named DIR.
j.. W. Cooper for president pro tenn.
Prayer was offered by the chaplain Of
the House OF Representatives, Rev. II.
G. G. Viucont.
The only business transacted in con
veution was the presentation of a bill
from Guyer aud Hardesty, which was re-
ferred to the committee on accounts
after which on motion of DR.. Pratt the
convention resolved itself into COM
nittee OF the whole for the considsra-
tion Of the report Of the COMMITTEES on
revenue and taxation, with Mr.. Gill
christ in tho chair.
After the fret section OF the report
had been read Mr.. Lavender asked
why the provision exempting public
charitable institutions from taxation,
as agreed upon in the standing com
mittee, had been eliminated from the
printed document. DR.. Pratt said it
had been done at the request of
majority of the committee. Several OF
the members, after some discussion in
committee, then gathered together and
consulted, and finally DIR. Pratt, before
any action whatever had been taken or
the report, moved that the COMMITTEES
rise. report progress aud ask leave to sit
again, which motion was agreed to.
Nothing further for the consideration
being prepared, IL was decided after a
motion to that effect was made by DIR.
Pratt, TO allow John S. Crosby the
privilege of addressing the convention
on the subject OF taxation. He was
allowed 20 minutes, and at the con-
clusion of his address the convention
adjourned until ESQ p. m.
When the convention mot again in
the afternoon Messrs. Salisbury and
Spruance presented several bills which
were referred 10 tho committee ON &C
counts
On motion of DIR. Pratt tho report OF
the committee on revenue and taxation
was again taken up, and tho discussion
on the first section, which specifics
what institutions shall be taxed, was
quite warm. The original report was
finally amended SO as to leave with tho
Legislature the pow or to pass general
law regarding exemption from taxation,
ami section l as amended is:
Sec. ]. All taxes shall DO uniform
upon tho same class of subieots within
tho territorial limits of the authority
leyying the tax, and shall DO levied and
collected under general laws. but the
General Assembly may by general laws
exempt from taxation such property as
in the opinion OF the General Assembly
will best promote the publ ic interests.
Section 2 as printed orcasioned OPP
position, a majority OF the members
believing that it would be unwise 10
take from the Constitution the pro-
vision requiring that revenue measures
shall originate in the House. On
notion of DIR. Cooper section IA OF the
present Constitution was substituted for
section OF the printed report and IL
as follows:
Sec. .. All bills for raising revenue
shall originate in the House OF Repre-.
eentatives: but tho Senate may pro
pose alterations as on other bils; and
no bill from the operation of which,
when passed into q law, revenue may
incidentally arise, shall be accounted 1
bill for raising revenue; or shall an
matter or clause whatever, not imine.
diqtely relating to ind necessary for
raising revenue be in any manner
blended with or annexed to bill fol
raising revenue.
The discussion On section 3 OF thu
printed report had not gone for wheI
by unanimous consent its further
consideration was postponed for thu
present. As suggested by the eom
mittee il rends:
Sec. .. No debt shall be created by
or ON behalf OF the State. except e
supply casual deficiencies of revenue
repel invasions, suppress Instruction
defend the state in war or to pay
existing debts; and all laws authorizinl
the hurrowing OF money by and OF
behalf of the State, shall specify tn,
purpose for which the money is to bt
used, anil the money SO borrowed shal
be used for the purpose specified anC
no other
Mr.. Spruance, when section 4 WA
taken up, said he was opposed to tn,
multiplication OF the principle of til,
referendum. He thought the check
already agreed unon were ample, apc
in all cases bill must have a majorit,
OF all the members elected, and fol
some purposes twothirds and in other
Unnecessary III OTu6f II
make Legislative action valid.
DIR. Cooper succeeded in having th,
section amended and it reads:
Sec 4. No appropriation of thu
public money shall be made to, nor rh
bonds of this State ba Issued or loaned
10, nor shall the credit of the State, h,
tho guarantee or tho endorsement o
the bonds or other undertakings of an,
county, municipality or corporation
be pledged otherwise than by enactmsp
OF tho Legislature receiving the affirma
tive vote of three fourtha of all thu
members elected to each branch thereof
Mr.. Cavender opposed section. . O
the report, saying he was averso Il
giving the Legislature the power Il
place debt upon a community frou
the effects of which it might reouir
years to recover. He said that til,
very thought of industrial improvement
10 many INSTANCES caused a ocrtail
class 10 all towns to advocate streni
ously such "A measure especially
some glibtongued man came along an
ADVOCATED it. lie said they never con
sidered the subsequent cost until th
enterprise was found to be failur
and the increased taxation fact.
Mr.. Lavender afterwards withdre,
his amendment, saying that his pun
pose was to bring the matter to th
attention NJ the rnnp, ittne W t,