Smyrna times., 1907-02-13
MANY IMPORTANT BILLS
BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
No NEW BUSINESS TO BE INTRODUCED
AFTER FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK.
Expected That the House Committee to Investi-
gate and Report Recon- neudatiOus for ln-
creasing Revenues May Report This Week

creasing Revenues May Report This Week
A food of notices of bills to be intro
duced in the Legislature is expected to |
be given in Senate and House during |
the week, as no new business can be
introduced after Friday of this week.
Before bill can be introduced a no.
tice must be given of it, unless the
rule requiring one days previous no.
tice is suspended. The Legislature
settled down yesterday to long
sessions, with adjournment a few
minutes before o'clock to enable the
members who desire to take the trains
to their homes. The special commit
tee of the House to investigate and re-
port recommendations for increasing
the revenue of the state may make a
partial report this week. The commit
tee comprises Representative Baggs,
Conwell, Corbit, T. o. Cooper and
Holcomb. 1t is one o! the most i'm
portant committees so far as duties are
concerned ever named by a Legisla-
ture, the subject being one that re-
auires exhaustive inquiry before being
reported upon. While the committee
is ready with some of its recommenda-
tions, there is feeling that the ques-
tion of taxation should be gone into as
deeply as possible, even if it should be
necessary to enlarge the committee by
some Senators on it and also designa-
ting some citizens who hold an official
position to cooperate with the legisla-
tors. Such commission could make
report, with recommendations, at a
special session of the Legislature that
might be called for November or Dec
ember next to enact laws to provide
revenue in conformity with the COM
mittee's recommendations. This has
given rise to special session talk, but
this is indefinite, although the bring
ing of the Legislature together for two
or three days to put through reven ue-
creating laws may be looked upon as a
strong possibility. About 175 bills
have been introduced in the House and
About thirty five measures have been
acted upon finally, several of them
being killed, while about twenty eight
have been passed. One of the most
important thus far enacted is that tc
amend the constitution by abolishing
the payment of a registration fee ol
one dollar as prerequisite to voting
This has been signed by governor Lea
aud will apply for the first time at the
city election in Wilmington in June
There can be no permanent registra
tion of voters until the Constitution il
further amended to provide for it, how
ever, as it now requires that each per
son desiring to vote shall register per
sonally at stated intervals. In al
probability such an amendment viii
be proposed at this session, and if it i
passed upon favorably this year an
by the Legislature two years hence
permanent registration can be made G
all voters. This would dispense wit
the necessity of voter going to tn
registration booth every two years, IN
less he should change his residence
when he would have to present him
self for enrolment in the new distriC
and have his name stricken from th
lists in the district from whence b
moved
Senator Conn er would abolish han.
ing as means of fulfilling a sentenC
of capital punishment in Delaware
and wonld substitute in its stead I'll
electric chair. He notified the Sena
Monday that he would introduce sue
bill. Death by electrocution is no
meted to capital convicts in New Yor
and Senator Conner desires tina
method to toreplace hanging in this stat
The Senate committees Tuesda
reported unfayorably on bills cuttin
off the Sunday school appropriation
and requiring the establishment OF
legal reserve by insurance and guara
ty CO m panies, and prohibiting paw
brokers from advancing money {
tools and clothing.
A bill ''in relation to the distribu I'll
of funds 1852, 900 in alb deposited
the State Treasury by certain railw
companies under the provisions of t
general incorporation laws" came
in the form'of notice from Represe
ative Richardson last evening.
In the House, Representative FIJI
OF Marshallton, gave notice of /
proposing an amendment to Sect
Is, Article of the Constitution, to
able the General Assembly to provi
an increase in the pay and compe
sation of its members.
The House also killed the bill to
crease the salary of county school 81
eriutendents TO $1,000 year.