Evening journal., 1903-02-11
SMITHS BILL
WAS KILLED
He Wanted All Corporations
Made Liable for Acts Of
Their Constable
SPIRITED DEBATE ON THE MEASURE
Many Notices Of Important Bills Given
IN the House Yesterday Afternoon.
Mr.. Warren Would Protect Those
Who Are Hahitua Drunkards.
Special 10 the Evening journal.

1
Special TO The Evening Journal
Dover, Feb. 12-The bin introduced
lby Senator Smith, making All corpora
uons liable for the acts of their special
constablos or officers, caused lively
discussion at yesterday afternoons ses-
sion Of tine Senate. which was devoted
to the consideration Of the bill II was
finally lost by a vote of 10 10.
Senator Smith-"In his opposition 10
this bill yesterday the senator from the
First district of New Castle declared
that certain firms had been driven out
Of business by damage suits.
But this Mr.. President, is intended
more as a general protection than as a
driving out measure | believe in pro-
tecting corporations. / believe in pro-
tecting persons Has the corporation
any more claim 10 protection than the
lndiyldnal2 Hasn't the law contem-
plated the same safeguard? Isn't a
mans life, mans reputation. a mans
property worth something2 If a man
Is choked into insensibiity for standing
up TO his rights. and is dragged through
the streets and subjected to every in
dignity, | say isn't he to be protected?
Every man Is guaranteed by the con-
stitution not to be deprived Of his life
liberty or property. Are corporations
greater than the State? Where rs the
mans remedy? It isn't right to mea-
sure mans reputation and health in
dollars and cents. say We must give
these men equal rights, for d corpora
ton is no more than an individual.
Mr. President, / am advocating this \
bill because it is right I'm not nd- 1
vocating II out Of any sinister motive
or selfish purpose. Why would it pro |
tect corporations? Because when you
iix penalty they are going to become
careful and not appoint persons who see
fit to 60 beyond the degree OF reason in |
their acts But it's an corporations.
We want good corporations, but wei
don't want them TO iniure our people. I
My opponent yesterday spoke OF dam
age suits slightly, but he did not speak
|of the other side-the mother who has
"a husband and the children q father
@lf men have the regard for human
rights, it seems to me that bin should
pass.
Mr.. Allee-'I would like to ask SEN
ator Smith whether or not he has not
redress against city government which
commissioned him.
Mr. Smith-'That is very uncertain.
He is not under city supervision. not
paid by city, not amenable to police
commission"
Mr. Sparks Objects.
Senator SparSs-"I believe It today
within the province Of the Police Com
mission of Wilmington to rescind that
officers commission at any time III
there are certain techincalities Of law 4,
which people fail to observe and lose
cases Thereby, then there is no reason
why we should add to the innumerable
damage laws. The corporations Of this
State have too much sense to go into
court every time they are sued. but pro
eeed to settle the case out Of court. 1t
is not only unfortunate for the COM
panies doing business in this State, but
for the people in general"
a call for the yeas and nays showed
as follows:
Yeas, s; nays, TO-
Bill in the House.
In the House yesterday afternoon.
there were many notices OF important
bills given. Among these was one given
by Representative HOlcomb authoriz-
ing the mayor and council of New Cas-
tie to borrow a sum not exceeding $685.
600 TO encourage industrial plants to To- (
cate in that city. Another was given ]
by Mr. Rose, which raises revenue for I
the State by taxing manufactures. This
bill will revive chapter "a volume a.
Laws OF Delaware, as a supplement to {
chapter 3G4, volume "A. as amended by ]
chapter 10 and II. volume 10.
Mr.. Warren gave notice Of an act pro-
viding for the protection Of persons who
have the habit of drinking spirituous
and intoxicating liquors to excess.
Another important bill will be intro
duced by Representative Jones, but re-
fers to the city Of Wilmington only Il
will regulate the sale Of Illuminating
and heating gas in that city. In a bill
OF Representative Buckmaster, the APP
continent Of a gas inspector for Will
'ngt0n is authorized.
l'r. Bancroft will introduce a bill al
odseg & the Trustees of the Poor Of New
edile county to convey certain real
at he did u-nsend viii hiring nm q r,ea-
. was liouag ~ after the refining of petro-
nu enae = lneh her oils in this State 1t
~ lneie YES Iadard of the inspection
q 1t will require that
------- aave a certificate of
us, big pur- "a ienS ol 9laVe III
inst pills gem 0E H.,
~ anu MI IOWtlAl
-" nal notary public
l'aliu-'iies IS u provides one {
ke-tne uoses Wy, and Mr..
), Sick Head ~ c,,ea,,.
' grated by a
.. ana ;. 424 Il.