Middletown transcript., 1905-02-25
LOCAL OPTION
IN KENT COUNTY
Representative Garrison Will
Introduce the Bill
WILL EXCLUDE LOBBYISTS

DOVER, DEL, Feb. 20th.-Representa-
tive Garrison to-day gave notice in the
House that he will introduce a bill pro-
viding for the submission Of the question
oi lic or no license of the sale of in
toxicating liquors to the qualified voters
of Kent county,
The signers to the petition thus far are
Representative Baggs, Denney, Garrison,
McGinnis, Benson, Murray and Davis,
Union Republicans, and Representative
Prettyman, Democrat. The senators who
have promised to sign are Senators T. C.
Moore. Barnard and Houston, and it is
expected Senator Conner will sign the Pc
tition.
The bill will be drawn in conformity
with the local option Law of Maryland,
which has been passed upon and declared
constitutional by the Supreme Court of
that state.
The Senate this afternoon went into
executive session and discussed the ques-
tion of keeping lobbyists from the floor
of that body. The number of persons
other than members and those privileged
to the floor who have been trooping
through Senate and House chambers has
been growing steadily, until some of the
members have concluded that it must be
stopped.
Hereafter nobody excepting members
of Senate and House will be admitted to
the floor of the Senate except through
the principal door, guarded by Sergeant
alarms Henry NJ. Lang. After the joint
session Sergeant-at-arms Lang was given
careful instructions as to the exclusion of
all persons excepting those entitled to
the privilege of the floor. The door lead
ing from the House cloak room into the
Senate cloak room also will be kept locked,
to exclude intruders.
The House will probably take the same
action within day or two, as there has
been more or less confusion attending
the sessions the last two or three days.
The House this afternoon passed the
House bill increasing the salary of the
court stenographer from 81 800 to So, 600
a year. Six Union Republicans voted
against it. Representatives Lyons and
w. S. Meredith announced they intended
to support the measure, and Representa-
tives Townsend, Marshall and Abbott
spoke against it. Mr.. Townsend con-
tended that salary of 81 800 year was
sufficient for a man who did ten months
work a year like the court stenographer.
Horace 6. Knowles was called upon to
explain the bill, land said the judges unan-
imously we're: favorable to it and there
was no doubt but that Mr.. Harjesty, the
court stenographer, was entitled to con-
more money than he is paid for
his services.
There was spirited fight over the
House bill to extend the powers of JUS
tices of the peace, and give them juris- |
1icdiction in cases of petty larceny, carry
ing concealed deadly weapons, disturb
ing religious worship, and violating
The liquor laws.
Representative Meredith contended |
That the bill in question would deprive |
nan OF his fundamental right to trial by |
ury.
Representative Jester pointed out that |
he bill expressly provided that an ap-
peal might be taken to the upper court in
al cases.
Twenty votes were recorded for the
dill and fourteen against it. Representa-
i've Cooper raised the point that two
birds vote is necessary to pass such bill,
md Acting Speaker Benson withheld his
lecision until he could confer with the
legislative attorneys on that point. The
Democrats voted solidly against the meas
lre