The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-16
SPEAKER SCORES MEMBERS
Mr.. Riggin Angpred By Their
Absence From Legislature.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS ON A HUNT
He Finds the Lawmakers At the De-
pot AnXiously Awaiting Ar
rival of Train On Which
to Make Exit.
SERGEANT-AT.ARMS On A HUNT
Special to The Sun.

Special to The sun
DOVER, Del, April l5.-The afternoon
session OF the House was called at BIS.
Mr.. Dempsey introduced bill entitled
can act to secure to laborers and en-
ployes of corporations their wages in
case of insolvency, which was read and
referred.
Afterthis had been done the members
began talking of adjournment to Mon
day, but when they counted the num-
Der present it was ascertained that there
were not enough to transact business,
not even to adjourn over Saturday, and
! the sergeant-;lt-arms was instructed to
90 to the depot and bring back a suf-
ticient number to enable the house to
vote Il quorum.
After long time the sergeant-at arms
returned with the number necessary to
make quorum.
Speaker Riggin, referring to the action
OF members i'll absenting themselves
from the chamber, remarked that they
were under the pay Of the State and
should attend strictly to the business
coming before the House and per form
the work faithfully.
If they could not do so it would be
well for the hody to adjourn sine die and
go home for good.
Mr.. Donaldson had read his bill for
the assessment and collection of per-
capitation tax, but upon agreement it was
Withdrawn for the present.
Adjournment was then taken until 10
o'clock Monday. The Senate reas
sembled at $50, but adjourned without
transacting any business. \
Representative L. S. Hopkins has
prepared substitute for the edu-
catlonal bill which was prepared
and printed some time ago. In the sub
stitute there are only few changes from
the old law governil the States educa-
tionaI system, these changes being made
necessary by the new constitution.
As it will be necessary to re-district
the schools, both white and coored
schools will be treated alike and the sys-
TEN made uniform so far as practicable.
1t also gives the colcred schools repre-
sentation i'll the State board, something
which was not accorded the colorec peoI
pie heretofore.
The substitute also leaves with the SUBJ
district school commissioner the power
of employing the teachers, and it gener-
ally localizes the government of the
schools without, of course, affecting the
schools within the corporate limits Of
municipalities which have an independ-
ent system of government.
The charter of the city of Will
milgton was considered in con-
ference committee this morn
inS, but owing to the conflicting Opin-
ions among the members they could not
decide upon any plan to either forward
or suppress the bill as it as ut present.
The opposition to the bill has been
while those who presented
themselves in advocacy of its passage
have be II unable to advance any very
convincing argument in favor OF its
passage. This being the case, it is in
timated that fu1ther action on the bill
in it's present shape is extremely doubt
full, several members expressing the be-
lief that Wilmington is much better
governed under the present charter than
it would be under the one now i'll the
hands of the committee.
For the first time in q number of days,
PRAYER was offered in the House this
before it was declared open for
business. The Rev. Mr.. Kslso presented
himself to the Speaker this morning and
declared his readiness to offer prayer for
divine inspiration, which offer was ac-
cepted with gratitude, but as the PRAYER
was offered in very hesitating and frag.
mentary manner it is doubtful! whethcr Y
the House will consider the question 0fss
Mr.. kelso temporary chap
lain of the House during the illness Of
the Rev. Mr. Stengle. ~
No business whatever was transacted
in the House this morning, while in the
Senate the bill. permitting the Whining
ton and Brandywine Springs Railway
Company to occupy the streets OF the
city of Wilmington was read and re-
ferred.
The House adjourned until o'clock,
with an understanding between the
that from l.3O t., 3 should be
aiken up in an informal consideration of
Mr.. Hopkins substitute for the educa-
lonal bill previously presented.
MC'UIIOrGn.