Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-17

Staff Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal.
Dover, Feb. 10 The House passed
the House bill amending tho Adams
tax. law. but not until after
prolonged debate. The opposition
was led by Messrs. Dempsey, Cheairs
and Mccullough. The bill was
some time ago, but the committee on
revenue and taxation drew M series
OF amendments aud struck out oil of
the Wilson bill after tho enactiug
CLAUSE. In addition to the amendments
printed In tnese columna Last week, the
bill provides that all assessments which
should have been returned to The Levy
Courts at the February session shall be
returned before March 2sth; that the
Levy Courts are to instruct tho assos-
sDrs Immediately after the passage of
the bill; that the assessments shall he
made annually: that in addition TO the
compensation received by the assessors
in Wilmington hundred they shall re.
ceive $500 each annually for making
the assessment; that the original act,
with tho amendment, must DO pub
lished when tho laws for this session
arc prblished; that IL any taxahla
liable under the act shall refuse to pay
tho tax assessed. within a year, he
shall he deemed guilty Of a misde-
meanor and, upon conviction, shall pay
fine equal to double the amount OF
the tax, together with the costs, and
in default shall be imprisoned not less
than three months nor more than six
months; that it shall be the duty OF the
collector to return to the attorney. gen.
eral the names OF all persons liable to
prosecution. Immediately after the per-
SONS become liable
When the bill came up Mr.. McCul-
Tough offered an amendment exempting
New Castle county. hut the Speaker
ruled the motion out of order, basing
his decision on section Of the Consti-
tuition. MIR. Dempsey fought the bill
and kept Mr.. Donaldson busy answer
ing questions. The bill, which was an
amendment to the Wilson bill, was
passed 10y the following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Adams. Davis, Don.
aldson. l.. S. Hopkins. j. II. Hopkins,
johnson. Martin, Mccoy, Smith,
Whitney, Wilson and the Speaker--12.
Eliason, Mccullough and Taylor--5.
Tho final vote, on the Wilson bill as
amended, wea as follows:
son. HAZEL, j. II. Hopkins. l.. s. Hop
kine, johnson, Martin, Mccoy, Smith,
Whitney, Wilson and the Speaker-13.
NayH-Messrsr Cbeairs, Dempsey,
Eliason, Mccullough, Taylor and
Thompson-6.
Absent-Messrs Dukes and Short.
An act was passed at the last session
of the Legislature authorizing peddIers
to pay their annual license Of $50 10
quarterly instalments, but tho law
failed to give the clerks of the peace
authority to issue quarterly licenses.
On account OF the oversight the law
hes been imperative, and in order to
remedy the dsfser Mr.. Cheairs has
given notice of bill in the House,
which will enable the clerks Of thu
peace to collect Sl2. 90 from peddlers
every three months.
Mr.. Donaldson gave notice OF a bill
directing tho Levy Court to pay 800
annually for each boy sent to the Ferris
Industrial School. Tho average APP
preparation at that rate, il is said, will
he about So, 600.
Dover, Feb. 16. In the Stste Senate
yesterday afternoon Mr. Meredith, at
tho request of John q. Gray of Will
mington. gave notice OF bill pro-
hibiting telephone companies doing
business 10 any part Of the State from
advancing thur rates beyond the rates
now charged or any lower rates which
may hereafter be charged.
Mr. Meredith also gave notice Of
bill In relation TO taxation In certain
parts of Wilmington. 1t reads aH fol-
lows:
Whereas, All that portion OF the
city OF Wilmington bounded by Seventh
street on the north. Fifth street on tho
south, Rodman street on the Gust and
Iiaw'ey street on tho west, the same
deriving DO benefit from heing within
the limits of the said city, and will
not derive any benefit for years to cume
therefore,
"Be it enacted by the Senate and
House OF Representatives Of the State
of Delaware in General Assembly
met. &c.
"Section /. That tho Mayor and
Council of Wilmington shall by the
City Council, after the assessment for
taxes hns been made in each year for
citv and school purposes, of persons
and estates in tho above described plot
OF ground, levy and collect from the
owners thereof both for city and school
purposes, in full for all taxes, at a rate
not exceeding one-hnlf of the regular
rate levied on persons and estates in
the remaining parts of tho said city,"
Provision is also made in the bill
that the act shall tako effect i'm
mediately upon its passage and remain
in force until December 3lst, 1908.
Mr.. Pyle said he would like to intro.
duce the House bill changing the name
of Ida NJ. Holston to Ida M. Chamber
lain and making her the adopted dauRh-
ter and heir at law Of George ". and
Elizabeth B. Chamberlain of baltimore
hundred. In Offering the bill Mr.. Pyle |
took occasion to express his dislike for
the Senate's resolution prohibiting the
transaction of any businesa except such
as related to making the laws consti-
tutional. Although he thought the bill
which had been entrusted to him was |
a good measure and worthy of con
sideration, be declared that he would |
never ask to have tha resolution ro-
scinded. Mr.. Alrichs thought the hill
all right and moved to rescind the |
resolution. The motion was seconded |
by Mr.. fyle and carried, and the bill |
was read and referred.
Mr.. Fenimore also succeeded In |
having the resolution rescndsd for |
the purpose Of having the bill amend |
ing the Adams tax law rond and re-
fsrred to quantities. 1t went TO the |
Revised Statutes COMMITTEES, Of which
Mr., Fenimore is chairman.
The House passed. the House bill
fixing the salaries of tho Chancellor
and Chief Justice at a.. 800 per auhum
and the associate judges at g.. 60O,