Evening journal., 1899-03-13
LOCAL OPTIONS DEATH
Its Final Struggles in Senate
and the Committee.
LOAN BILL THROUGH THE HOUSE

BUT REPRESENTATIVE FRIZzEL
lwlaIL ENDEAvOR TO HAVE 1T
RDIJuElD BY THE sENATE-RE-
GlAlRDING MEMBERS AND THEHR
NlHIEAGE- OTHER MATTlERs IN
SENATE AND HOUSE.
Stan Correspondence Evening Journal
Dover, March 1S.-iAfter weeks OF ef-
fort the hopes Of the friends of loca!
option were Blasted on Saturday after
noon, when Senator Abbott, Of Milford
was permitted by the Senate to with
draw his name from the Kent county
local option bill, thus preventing fur
ther legislative action on it. His ac-
tion was preceded by an unpleasant
scene in committee, and one which
materially marred the closing hours cf
what has been an unusually pleasant
session.
When the biz was passed by the
House and cent to the Senate it was
referred by President Salmons to the
Committee on Revised Statutes, Of
which Senator Maui was chairman.
HIS colleagues On this committee de-
sired that he hold the bill back, while
the friends Of the bill were at the same
time urging him to report it. On Sat
urday afternoon he insisted. that some
action be taken, ana. finding that the
!ssue had to be met and disposed OF.
the c-mmittee assembled in the par
Tor. Senator Abbott took up a pen
and said that he would end the whole
thing by scratching his name from the
biz. Chairman Maull declared that he
would never permit it, and character
lied such action as "a forgery" He
left the parlor. carrying the lccal op-
tion BIN with him, and his indignant
colleagues Immediately deposed him
as chairman and elected Senator
Blakely in his stead.
On the floor Of the Senate, Senator
Abbott, who is Union Republican, Of
Milford, said:
''Mr. President: woulG like to make
statement to the senators. IF the
senators will allow me l will simply
make a statement relative to my posi-
ton on the local option question. l
signed the petition as enc CT three sen
ators from Kent county, giving a right
to the people such as the new Consti-
tuition seemed to provide. At the time
1 did 1t l was actuated by the belief
that Sussex county was to join hands
with Kent in the matter; and IL that
were the case was satisfied to petition
to be one of the petitioners of the
General Assembly. 1t has so turned
out that Sussex county does not make
the demand for local option, I, being
from Milford, thus occupy a very I'M
enviab,e position as to my constituent.
in Milford. They were back Of me
when signed the petition withthe I'M
derstanding that both Kent and SUISSE,
were to petition the General Assembly
When they learned that Sussex did not
then they said my position was n-
one that they justified from the fac
that the liquor business in North Mil
ford, which is in Kent county, is II
the hands of men who handle 1t a.
we'll as any men in the business any
where; who absolutely comply will
the law. Absolutely There has neve
been in the town one single complain
against them-not one. While on tn
2 otlher side l have nothing to say Il
condemnation OF the gentlemen in th
, business, they are not as we'll prepare
to do the business as the men in Mort
e Milford which is in Kent. My peopl'
D since it has been apparent that it
not to be in Sussex, have been urgin
r me that / should not be one Of tn
r parties to petition the Legislature fc
= Kent county to have it. Therefore, 70
S lowing out, as l believe, the reque.
e Of my constituents, l wish TO take N
g name from the petition. At a meetin
n in committee to-day, Mr.. Presiden
J. Of that committee, composed of tiN
T members, fcur Of that committee wei
!, Of one accord, and that was that
l. should have that privilege. One. I'll
o then chairman of that committe
If took from out Of the committee rco
D. the petition, leaving the four commi
teemen in the committee room "
then and there elected chairman
-. that committee. I now move you, s.
n that that bill, with the petition,
n placed in the hands Of the chairm'
At of the committee at once"
Sc Senator Alice seconded the motic
- saving that he signed the petition al
N his name would stay there. Yet,
rs thought that Senator Abbott shou
re have the right to remove his name
y he wanted to. He characterized Senai
90 MaulYs action in walking out withc
:" giving Senator Abbott an opportun
e 10 reunove his name as a high-hand