The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
DELAWARE'S% REDEMPTION.
CORRUPTION THRoTTLED BIZ THE
NEW CONSTITUTIoN.

FL ONS1AAOAAON
Radical Reforms Rstsbilshed In the legislative
and Executive Departments-Ne Moro Pedel-
ling or Laws and Frnnchiscs-Isribery ut
tho Polls Observation-Disclosures to ne Tried
without Juries-The old Basnrd Machine
Demoiished-Pon Tax ASolished-Enir Count
Assured-''w hiter Not In the Constitution.
DOVER, Del. May 22.-The new constitution.
which has been in process Of development since
last December and which is near completion,
and in all probability will be declared to be the
fundamental law Of the State, is a much more
radical improvement over the old instrument
than il was expected to be. 1t contains more
than nifty distinct and important dcviations
from the lines OF its ancient predecessor. The
new constitution has been made altogether by
way OF amendments to the old, but the most de-
voted student OF the old one would hardly recog-
nize its lineamcnts beyond the bill of rights. the
duties and powers OF the courts, and the ordi-
nary and long-cstablished qualifications for the
various offices. In these particulars the two
papers are much alike; in the first they are
identical, not n word or line having been
changed in the bill OF rights. The others have
been much changed rs to form, but not as to
matter.
The distinctively new provisions of the re-
viscd instrument relate, first and conspicuously,
to elections next In Importance and novelty
TO local option;" then corporations" rev
cnue and taxation. education. agriculture"
and 4" health" Under e miscellaneous there is
II provision to prevent lesislating out of office
men elected by the people, and finally an
easy method is provided for the calling
OF II future convention. The only new
Offices created are. first, u fourth Associate
Judge; second. a observation-disclosures and
tn I'd. three Commissioners of Agriculture.
The only salary touched upon is that OF the
Ju iges. which shall be not less than $4,000 n
year. This is an increase OF 20 per cent. The
per diem OF MEMBERS of the General Assembly Is
made IS, an increase Of 81. but the legislative
session is limited to sixty working days. Hence
no Scnator or Representative can draw moro than
$500 for each OF the biennial sessions. 1t was the
original purpose to abolish the fee system now
30 common in Delaware, and a report was made
to that effect, but 1t was concluded, in view Of
the difficulties in the way OF stating 1t, to leave
all that to the Legislature.
The great purpose of the convention which In
about to close its work was to provide q modern
constitution. The old one was formulated in
1881. But aside from and beyond this general
purpose the delegates kept certain other we'll
defined objects in view and much OF the new in
strument is due wholly to these less general but
equally important aims of the men who con-
trolled the deliberations Of the convention. The
delegates were a unit in their purpose to stamp
out bribery at the polls. They were al
most a unit in seeking to demolish
the county rings. tho product OF appointments
instead of election to office. They were a unit
in striving to put an end to the wholesale rob
berry of elections by partisan Returning Boards.
Notwithstanding that at least five of the dele
gates have held their seats as the result OF such
fhaft in Eant nttnt luaf Nnyap,har THAI
had no divisions in-changins county TO district
representation in the General Assembly, and
they were solidly In favor of taking from the
Governor his. eutocratic power over pardons,
md giving 10 him the power OF veto. Finally.
as their session ran along. side by side with that
Of the present Legislature, their united purpose
to take FROM the latter the power to grant dt-
yorces hardened into u fact.
Dealing with the Legislature. the conv ention
aooiished the county representation of three
Senators and seven Representatives and estab-
lisbed district thundred) representation OF Ave
Wilmington two Senators and five Representa-
tives. This will constitute a Senate OF II Sena.
e,.l members. The Joint Assembly will have
?? votes and "a majority for the election Of q
as at present. A Lieutenant-Governor. elect
t the ssDa the b Proplse; E. Is Is. to preside soid over
IN case OF a tie. The senate is to elect a Presdi-
dent PRO TEN. and the House a Spe ,kcr. In the
event that either OF the latter should be ele-
waited to the Governors office. as he may be by
si,lccession, his seat becomes vacant, and an cleo
zion must be held for his successor. The dubious
In the Senatorial election of 1895 cannot be re-
pented. Hitherto whichever party carried a
Gilt. Hereafter each township elects its own rep
Sssentatiye,a and the next General Assembly will
DC practically a stand-Of. The Democrats NAV
secure a majority OF one In each counIy-that is,
.hree In the whole State. Minority representa-
The innovations affecting the Legislature are
IN brief As follows: The General Assembly must
SIT at Dover; no bill or resolution shall be
passed, except for adjournment, without the yea
ease; the ordi1ary session, held 6ienniplly and
sixty days. and special sessions hslf as
Governor %"F and per speaker PEAK f?f H no ba iiis II nj
tsries. 'pseiseiiIns, an and rp al l%r%s On i ss%iil lot;
are forbidden; no divorces shall be granted; no
school district boundsrIes shall be passed; mem.
bers must disclose their interest in bills, II they
punished: every statute is a public act unless
otherwise designated in tho bill; the. State
Treasurer must settle annually with a lesisla-
Dealing with the executive department. Arti.
Gle III. provides that all contests Of election
the Chancellor; all appointments must be con
mars by By q the Senate for Saises paying $500 or
nrmed regardless OF the income of the office;
tbs Gfg GSe maX remove any officer, EXCEPTING
rue 6ONeTnOr, upon the address OF
two;thirds of the members OF the General AS
semeiy; the Governor shall have the power OF
three-ifths vote OF both houses; he may
veto an item or items of an appropri-
alton bill without affecting the rest Of Ike act;
the acknowledgements must have the same
qualifications for Office as the Governor; the sue
essssion to the Governor is to the Lieutenant
Governor. to the Secretary OF State. to the At
rney|General. to the President pro TEN. of the
senate. and to the Speaker OF the House: coun-
Xoficers. excepting the Sheriff and Coroner.
sntl4 nave G term OF four years. instead OF five.
and shall be elected. and not appointed; tho
sheriff and Coroner shall be elected for two
Years. as Is now the practice; the terms of the
GOVERNOR, Northumberland, Senators, At
.pTney General. and Insurance Commissioner
al OF whom shall be elected. shall be four years,
ma that OF the state Treasurer and the Auditor
=, ACCOUNTS two years: the Governor shall no
ioh-er grant pardons and commute sentences
eHceHt upon the recommendation Of q majority
vi IN" Heard OF Pardons, composed OF the Lieu
Snan!-uoVcrnor the Chancellor. the Secretary
o. Accounts.
lhG reforms OF the judiciary consist in five
law InIlIIE mat nl ~ Ea.r. .k.,. $40 IL