Year: 1873




come under public comment since this pur-
chase was made, viz: why was it necessary to
purchase a site when parties offered to donate
one in each of five or six different towns on the
Peninsula, Dover included?





The LEGISLATURE adjourned on Saturday
morning last, after session of fourteen weeks
The term was one of the longest ever held
and the amount of work done of general
interest was of the smallest moment, compare
lively Nearly all the legislation was of a local
or private character, and in this line large
number of bills we're enacted, such as divorce,
corporation and stock laws-nine-tenths of
which should be granted by the courts instead
of the Legislature.


The Legislative schemes of New Castle county
were all thwarted and slaughtered. Increased
representation, courthouse removal, county
division, modification Of the usury law, and
several other measures were laid on or
thrown under the table without much form
ality, in many instances


Among the bills acted upon, either favor
ably or otherwise, were the school bill, liquor
bill, the railroad tax bill and the general
incorporation bill. The defeat of the school
bill was a triumph of prejudice over justice, and
a sad triumph it was. The bill was not all
that many desired in a school law, but it
promised much better things than we now
have, and when it was introduced in the House,
by Mr. Hickman, there was general desire
expressed for its passage. Very little objection
was urged against the negro clause, and
inasmuch as the Committee on Education had
reported the bill without dissent it was hoped
that said clause would not prove a stumbling
block to Democratic prejudice. But such hope
was groundless. 1t was merclessly slaughtered,
and for two years more the present inefficient
law must serve US. What possible objection
there can be in allowing the colored people to
raise by tax among themselves sufficient funds
to maintain separate schools for the education
of their children we cannot see. Last fall,
when the coIored people of this town solicited
donations to enable them to maintain a school
for the education of their sixty colored children
within the town limits, very many DemOcra IS,
some Of them sufficiently hide-bound to place
their orthodoxy beyond question, made liberal
donations to the fund, thus acknow Lodging the
justice in the charity. The bill, it will be re-
membered, passed the House nearly in its
original shape by vote of Is to 2, Messrs.
Wilds and Wright, of this county, being the
the only two who opposed it. 1t was after
wards reconsidered, and the clauses providing
for separate schools for the colored people
stricken out. In this shape it again passed by
a vote Of ii to 9-some of the Democrats
voting in the negative because of the expulsion
of said clauses This amendment was made, it
it is alleged, to secure the passage of the bill
through the Senate. but when it was put upon
its final passage in that body it was unani-
mously defeated. Party behests defeated the
bill, and let the party take the consequences


The liquor license bill was passed in such a
sh pc as to not be very satisfactory to either
the temperance men or the liquor dealers. 1t
is sort of go. between. We have seen copy
of the bill in It's original shape, but sirteea
amendments were tackled on to it before it was
enacted. A short outline of the act, which we
find in an exchange, is as follows: The
applicant for license is required to procure
10 his application II freeholders in the school
digtrict in which the license is to be obtained,
or "a in the ward in the city of Wilmington
the applicant to publish his application with
the name -igncd in two newspapers of the
County 81 days before the sitting of the Court
which is to have discretionary power in grant
lug license. ~ liquor to be sold or giver
away on oAOOatu or election day, or to AM
minor or person drunk-fne for violation from
$50 to 800, second violation to forfeit licens,
not to be renewed again in two years. AL
sales "by the small are uncollectable by law
Officers holding commissions required Il
enforce the law, also Grand Jurors. N
Restaurants provided for, in the bill.


A railroad tax bill was enacted, just befor
adjournment 1t provides that the Philadel
phia, Wilmington & Baltimore road shall
taxed s27 900 in lieu Of all other than the te
cent tax, La lieu of the ten cent tax th


Company is to pay the State $4,000 as


specific passenger tax. This makes $4,000


in all which the company will have to pay {


the State, instead of $4,000, as heretofor,


The Company can regulate the ten cent tax


any way it may deem best to meet the 3d. ,OOt
J It is also proposed that other roads may pa
q to the p, W.. & b. Il. r. such lump sun


in proportion as the passenger receipts ms


justify.


The general Incorporation act looks to


amendment to the constitution, which W


have to be effected before such an act can pa.
1t passed this Legislature and will have to


ratified BY the Legislature OF two years to cor
Ito secure the necessary amendment to allow


to become a law. 1t is a measure bad


needed.


." The political clap-trap about Senator su


ner was foolish and out of place. Had /