Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-10-30
Editorial Every Evening, March %, 1879
USELESS AND BURDENsOME EXPENSE.

USELESS AND BURDENSOME EXPENSE.
The bull-headed persistence Of the prohibition adyo-
Gates in employing their accidental majority in the
Legslaure-for certainly the question Of license or
no license was not an issue during the political cam
palgn Of last year-to suit their own purposes re-
sardess OF considerations Of right and Justice is most
surprising. They insugurated a campaign that was Of
very doubtful character in the first place. that IN
volved suppression Of public sentiment and general
desire in the city Of Wilmington and that finally
promises to impose heavy and unnecessary expense
upon the taxpayers Of New Castle county. As the
procedure followed to force special Local Option
election in Wilmington and rural New Castle county.
next November, so obviously runs counter to the de-
tail for such elections as precisely laid down in the
Constitution, there may be a release from the IMPOSE
ton through challenge Of the constitutonality OF
the Resubmsslon law. Otherwise the special election
viii be held.
Why the proponents Of this measure should have
been inslstent upon having a complete new regis
tration. and one conducted under auspices separate
from the regular election authorities Of this city and
county, il is difficult to state unless It was for the
bald purpose OF securing control Of the election ma
chinery and operating it in favor OF their cause II
this is really the purpose there is probability that
the court viii be kept busy hearing appeals from the
actions Of the registration officers.
The registration Of last fall, with a supplemental
registration OF day. the purpose Of adding new
voters TO the lists would have been sufficient for this
special election. It will with the supplemental regis
tratlon, be used for the municipal election in VIII
mington, next June. an event OF much importance.
Why a registration sufficient for an election Of this
character should have been deemed insufficient for
special Local option election is somewhat Of
mystery.
And so. in consequence OF the exercise, by the
agents Of the Antl-saloon League-one Of whom, at
least is resident OF another state-of the power It
so plainly possessed. this accidental majority in the
Legislature consented TO impose upon the taxpayers
OF New Castle county and the city OF Wilmington not
only the expense Of special election that was not
asked for and was not desired but the considerably
greater expense OF special registration for the cleo
ton It has not been possible. for some years, for
the administrations OF Wilmington and New Castle
county to raise sufficient money for legitimate pur
poses, and now they are to have sadded upon them
large expenditure which could be much better en-
poyed in good road Work and other matters Of real
public benefit.
However. this arbitrary and unfair action OF an ac-
cldenial majority in the Legislature should prove
wholesome object lesson TO the voters Of New Castle
county. IL should induce them. when they come 20
vote at the special Local option election to forego
all other considerations and vote for the defeat Of
these agencies which have forced such injustice and
such an unwarranted expense upon them. They
should face the danger that would confront them
should these agencies emerge from the contest with
vote Of approval and confidence Inflated with such
triumph, they would go farthr, and II continued IN
power would enact legislation that would deprive
citizens OF this state OF the right Of free action In the
most personal affairs Of life. The autocracy Of Eu-
rope now tottering on its last legs, would be mild
benevolence to what these agencies would impose
upon the people Of Delaware. II given unrestralned
power.