Evening journal., 1911-03-22
NO CHANCE FOR
REVENUE BILLS
Important Measures May Fail
Unless Legislature Ex-
tends Session
RAILROAD BILL IS
AMONG THE "SLEEPERS'

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, March 22-After hav-
ing delayed until three days of the
time proposed for shutting off action
on general legislation, the House yes
terday afternoon resurrected the big
batch of bills to raise revenue for the
State, as recommended by the State
Commission revenue and taxation.
There is no chance of these bills pass
ing, unless the session is prolonged,
and the chances are that they will
die the death that apparently was
intended for some of them by the
powerful interests opposing them.
One Of the revenue bills that has
slumbered long and peacefully was
that to increase the Delaware Rail
road Company's taxes $4,000 a year
and another was that to increase TO
$500 and 5000 a year the liquor IL
cense fees. Both of these were oppos-
ed by the interests they would affect
and even the Revenue Commission
was not unanimous in recommending
these bills.
After the thirty or more revenue
bills recommended by the Revenue
Commission were introduced Repre-
sentative T. O. Cooper had a resolu-
ton adopted to the effect that tho
bills should be considered in a joint
session. That joint session or joint
committee meeting never was called
Nobody asked that a date be set.
Many persons lately have been in
quiring as to what action would be
taken on the bills, inasmuch as all
kinds of measures. have been put
through the House to raise salaries
and to increase appropriations, bu
not one bit of action has been taker
by the Legislature as yet to increase
the States revenues one cent.
Representative Cooper yesterda,
afternoon. three days before Friday
the last day for general Legislation
Of the present Assembly under tn,
proposed adjournment program. haC
rescinded the resolution for consider
alton of the revenue commission
bills in joint session. and provided
that they should be considered al
regular business. Thirty or more i'm
portant revenue measures to be con
sidered in three days with scores anC
scores of other bills on the calendar
would make any Legislature go some
and it certainly is too much speed fol
the present House. which has neve
been accused of violating any speed
regulations. Thus Il will be seen tha
little i'm the way of revenue legisla
tion is likely. unless the Legislator,
should devote one entire day TO con
sderation of those measures an,
nothing else. Then many OF ther
would fail for want of time to ac
on them.
Want More Money I'm License Fees.
Representative Tebo's temperate
committee yesterday afternoon report
ed favOrably on the House bill to in
crease liquor license fees to $500 an
5000 a year. This is one of the revenu
measures put to sleep at all session,
II has no ch of being passed.
is said that there was a deal by whic
the bill to regulate the sale of liquo
for medicinal purposes in Kent an
Sussex counties was passed but n
other liquor legislation was TO &c
through
Meanwhile the Delaware Railroa
$4,000 tax increase bill sleeps as sound
}, ly in Representative Alexander
House Committee on Revenue an
Taxation as if a locomotive had ru
over IL. And the same locomotive, ar
' parently is waiting to take a shy
the Drexler Statewide Public Util
ties bill, which is to control railroad
5 as we'll as other utilities.
It was said today that the Senate
I holding up all appropriation bills fC
/ consideration the last day, as the Ser
= ators are determined to safeguard II
treasury and not allow any undr
= drain on the finances. The Senate
yet, has passed no appropriations.
p During discussion on Senator Wall
! text book bill yesterday afternoo
!. Senator Drexler suggested that all Il
W salary increase bills be killed II I
other means of providing revenue we
!, devised
q 1T all the interests in this State an
e all investments were taxed on :
p equitable basis we would have ann
\ money for the general fund" said Sc
4, ator Drexler. "We are living hand
le mouth by means of q nefarious bus
At ness, ] call it, of chartering corpor
u tions to go broadcast through u
le country"