Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-17

A Good opportunity TOT s"uhu heHtN'"ti""'
The coming session of the General
Assembly Of Delaware ought to afford
an admirable opportunity for sound,
reform legislation. 1t should be the
aim of the members to do all in their
power to legislate for the best interests
of the State.
The fact that the State Senate will
be Democratic body, while the House
will be largely Republican, absolutely
procludes the possibility of partisan
legislation. The election of officers OF
the respective branches. and OF United
States Senator, will be the only parti-
san matters that can be accomplished.
This being the case, the members OF
the Legislature can we'll afford to settle
down to practical business, as soon as
the senatorial election is out of the
way. And they should not approach
this matter of legislation in a partisan
spirit. The Democratic Senate need
not bother itself to pass partisan meas
ures which the House will not touch,
nor the Republican House to pass
measures which it knows will find no
favor in the Senate, each with the pur-
pose of putting the other body lin a
hole" and thus making political CAPT
tai for the next campaign. The people
win readily see through all such
schemes and hold the authors of them
responsible.
There are number of needed meas
ures which the coming Legislature
ought to be able 10 enact without diff
Guilty, despite the political hostility
between the two branches. Among
them may be mentioned General In
corporation act; a new charter for VIII
mington: needed changes in the
election laws; the matter of appropria-
tions for the Ferris Industrial School
the Industrial School for Girls ant
kindred institutions; the fixing of sal
aries for county officials; the improve
ment of our road systems; the improve
ment of our Levy Court methods o
doing business; the improvements of GU
tax collection systems; the improve
ment of our system of drawing juries
and many others.
With the possible exception of ney
charter for Wilmington-and havinI
existed thus far without serious detri
ment, the city may worry along fey
! years longer without new suit Q
, clothes-these subjects are not even re
motley partisan. But they are vastl
| important, and they should receive al
| tention at the hands of the General AS
! sembly.
Neither body need be afraid that tn
) other body will derive full credit fo
r any measure of public benefit passe
! by both branches. All who Join in tn
good work will receive the commenda
Q tion of the people, who arc intelliger
enough to look beyond any mere part
Q san schemes and get at the root of a
t that the Legislature may do or ma
s not do. But there is small doubt tn;
n the people will hold to strict a,
u countability the body that may int
s pose partisan vote to defeat al
h measure of public benefit and real r
J.: form.
The prospect of evil legislation, evt
d with the connivance of both bodies,
9 fortunately negatived by tho fact tn
II in Governor Tunnel the people have ;
honest executive, who will not fear
use the veto power vested in him
is the Constitution with intelligence al
IS a firm desire to protect the public i
terests. This fact alone is great Q
u surance.
VI The session will be limited to six
~ days, unless the members are will
- to remain longer in session witho
~ compensation, which is not likely to
40 the case. The session, therefore, Dug
to be busy one. 1t may also be ma
90 useful one if the members, recC
- nizing the futility of attempting
" enact partisan or evil legislation, W
~ settle themselves down to good, hon
u, work, and leave all political conside
~ tions behind from the minute Il
nc enter upon their legislative duties.