Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-31
LEGISLATURE WILL
BEGIN WORK
lcontInued From FIrst 20
Ballot for Senator.

Ballot for Senator.
Organization Of the Legislature vii
be effected tomorrow. after which ad-
journment probably will be taken until
Monday next, to enable the presiding
officers 70 make up their committees.
II organization Is effected Tomorrow
the first ballot for United States Sena-
tor viii be taken on Tuesday. January
Is. The Republican caucus for Senator
will be held on the night OF January
IA.
Important Bills.
AS to the legislative business TO
come before the General Assembly.
many important bills will be presented.
There Is a crying demand for more
sources OF revenue for the state and
for Wilmington. Governor Lea is ex-
.pected to touch upon these subjects in
his biennial message, 20 be transmitted
to the Legislature Immediately after
organization. Wilmington now depends
solely upon the taxes upon real estate
and from water taxes TO run the mu-
nicipal government The trolley COM
panies, gas and electric companies and
other public service corporations pay
no taxes for the use OF the streets.
Bills are TO be introduced IN the Leg
islature providing for the taxation Of
public service corporations I'm wiz
mington for the benefit OF the city and
also to divert one-half OF the liquor H.
lcense fees paid by Wilmington into the
city treasury, instead of giving It to
the state.
Several drafts Of a proposed new
charter for Wilmington will be intro
duced in the LEGISLATURE. They will
provide for local home rule for the city
without the necessity Of asking the
/ Legislature for everything desired TO
be done. The Republicans lack one
vote in the Senate OF the two-thirds
majority required TO put through a
charter entirely 20 their liking, and II
a new charter is given Wilmington Il
will have to be satisfactory TO at least
one Democrat before Il can be enacted.
There has been some talk of creating
an excise commission TO grant liquor
licenses. and take that authority away
from the State judiciary II Is hardly
likely that such bill will be passed.
Local option legislation for Kent and
Sussex counties will be advocated Wig
lorously, however. and serious consider
alton viii be given the proposition 20
increase the liquor license fee from
$500 to $500.
The trustees OF the state Hospital at
Farnhurst will ask the state for $50.
600 with which TO build a "ilm-crow'
hospital for colored inmates.
To Reoraanize State Courts.
one Of the most important bills that
will be presented to the Legislature VIII
be a measure providing for a reorgani-
zation Of the courts Of the State II Is
being prepared by Wilmington attor-
lneys. and will provide for a continuous
session OF court. virtually. in each of
the county seats, Wilmington. Dove
, and Georgetown. This will be accom-
lpllshed. e IS proposed. by having resi-
J dent judges remain at these places per
imanentiy, IN order to dispose OF al
business promptly and without waitinl
, for the allotted terms OF court. as 4
) now the rule
Another bill will provide for the an
lpointment of a Municipal Court judg
! for Wilmington at a salary Of $4,000
{ year, who viii handle all Of the mat
ters that now come before the sam
} judge and before the four wilmington
b magistrates. The effect will be to d
{ away with the Wilmington magistrates
: whose titles are Justices OF the peace
The change, II is proposed. viii e
: into effect upon the retirement Of the
present state Judiciary in 1909. The
! annual salaries Of the associate Judges
] viii be $4,000 each. an increase OF $1,000
} and the salaries Of the chief justic,
and the chancellor VIII each be $1,000
an increase yearly Of $500. The Gov
lernor to be elected In 1908 win have
} the appointment Of these new judges II
the bill shall be passed. It is said e
be a non-partisan measure.