Evening journal., 1911-03-20
STATE PUBLIC
UTILITIES BILL
Some Talk at Dover of Re-
considering the Monaghan
Measure
BILL VALIDATING CITY
ELECTION RECONSIDERED

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Del. March 20.-Republi-
can members of the House had a con-
ference this morning to shape their
course on several bills effecting VIII
mington, some Of which were killed
on Friday II is understood that at
the conference of the Republican
members they talked over the ques-
ton of reconsidering the Monaghan
Public Utilities bill for Wilmington
and passing a statewide Public Utili-
ties bill in its place. Nothing definite
was decided on this point, as some
opposition developed among the Re-
publicans to defeating the bilk and
some Of them regarded it as a good
bill for Wilmington
1t Is expected, however, that Rep
resentatiye White will offer a State
Public Utilities bill for a commission
of five members to be appointed by
the Governor and press il for pas
sage. One Of the Wilmington MEM
bers said that some agreement may
be reached, whereby the Monaghan
bill will be retained for Wilmington
and a State bill put through regulat-
ing all public utilities of the State
including the railroads.
There is some doubt as to whether
enough votes can be obtained in the
House to reconsider the Monaghan
bill because of the division among
the Republicans
Validating the City Government.
The Republican conference decided
TO reconsider the bills to validate the
city government which were killed on
Friday
After the Legislature reconvened
Representative Wilson of New Castle
moved to reconsider the bill to
validate the city government of viii
mingtOn. Representative Gormley
raised the point that a two-thirds
vote would be required to reconsider
as that vote was required to pass the
bill.
Representative Hoffecker. Moore
and Wilson protested that only a ma
iority Was necessary under the rules
and Speaker Campbell ruled that a
majority vote only was necessary.
Representative T. o. Cooper pointed
out that the constitution required a
majority to pass a bill and asked
whether a majority of all the mem
bers elected or a majority of the
members present would be needed 20
reconsider. The Speaker ruled that
a majority of those elected, eighteen
members would be necessary. The
bill was then reconsidered unani-
mously and further action on il de-
ferred thus leaving 1t on the cal
endar.
It is understood that the Republican
members will force action on the
Moore substitute to apply the State
election law to Wilmington and put
it up to the Democrats either to pass
or to kill it. If Il is killed there Il
not much Likelihood of the other vii.
mington bills being passed.
On motion of Representative Wilson
the House also reconsidered without
! opposition the bill to make legal tho
ofIicehOlding of the men returned as
elected two years ago and Representa-
tive Moores bill to create the Will
mington Charter Commission.
No action was taken. however. tc
reconsider the Monaghan Utilities
bill. It will have to be reconsideret
by tomorrow afternoon under the
rules or it cannot be called up again
CITY Bill Is Enrolled.
Senator Monaghan apparently pu
zone across" on the opponents to tn
Public Utilities bill, which was passe'
on Friday He hurriedly had the bill
enrolled, had it compared this morn
ing and signed by Speaker Campbell
of the House and by Lieutenant Gov
ernor Mendinhall and had it sent q
the Governor before noon. If tiny NOV
is made for reconsideration it will b
claimed that the bill is beyond recon
sideration as it has been enrolled AM
signed, although the rules provid
troller for Kent county is also to b.
passed by the General Assembly.