Evening journal., 1913-02-17
LEGISLATURE
UNDER HIGH
PRESSURE
With Calendars Bullying With
Bills, March 28 is Talked
Of for Quitting
BOULEVARD AND BALLOT
BILLS TO BE ACTED ON


Legislature now working under full
pressure of crowded calendars of bills,
the members are talking of adjourn
ment, and tomorrow Senator Ewing's
resolution fixing March 2S as a date
for final adjournment will be called
up in the Senate for action. The reso-
luton was offered on Tuesday last,
but at the request of Senators CORN
ley and Walls action was deferred
for one week Under the resolu-
tion consideration of all business
would cease with the end of March 21,
and a recess would be taken until
March 28, to give time for the backing
and arrangement of bills that has been
passed to receive the signature of the
presiding officers. No bills are en-
rolled under the new system, the orig
inal bill being preserved
Many important bills are to be con-
sidered in the remaining month or so
of the Legislature, Senator Gormley
during the discussion over the fixing
OF March 2l as date for shutting off
consideration of all business raised a
point asNo whether there would be suf-
hcient legislation to occupy the atten-
tion of the members until that time.
Judging from the full calendars with
hundreds of bills awaiting to be acted
on, there will be many to fail OF con-
sideration by March 21.
Boulevard Legislation.
The DUPONT Boulevard legislation is
now one OF the topics occupying the
attention OF the Assemblymen. and
action on it is expected soon as a re-
suit OF today's hearing in joint ses-
sion. All good roads legislation is be-
ing held in allegiance because of the
boulevard agitation
Another important bit of legislation
to come to the fore probably this week
will be action on a simplified ballot
bill to supplant the present Austral-
ian ballot system and voters assist
ants AS has been set forth in these
column, Senators Ewing and Rhein-
hardt, for the Republicans. and Speak
er Holcomb and Senator Fooks. for
the Democrats, have agreed upon
compromise ballot bill. built around
the Ewing bill that was framed by the
Republican State committee All par
ties would have their ticket upon the
blank ballot, TO be marked with lead
pencil as at present. There is a pro-
vision, however, that voters may OBJ
tain ballots prior to election to be
marked in their homes. on the street,
or anywhere they please or within
the voting booth if they choose. There
is a provision. too, that the intent OF
the voter shall be counted, so that if
he should make a mistake in writing
in the name of one candidate Il would
not reject the remainder OF his ticket.
An agreemeit has been reached, too,
that no new party can get a ticket
on the ballot unless its petition shall
be signed by five hundred voters, and
also that no party that polled less
than 500 votes in the county can have
ticket on the ballot at the next cleo
tion, except by petition signed by five
hundred voters.
Wilmington Taxation.
Now that a hearing has been given
on Representative Kings bills to i'm
prove Wilmington's taxation system.
which are endorsed unanimously by
City Council, action is expected on
them in the House soon. Whether a
hearing will be given on Representa-
tive Grantland's bills introduced for
the National Progressive State Com
mittee remains to be seen. They
would bring about a consolidation Of
the financial departments of the city
by providing that all city revenues
should be collected by the city treas
urer. They also would merge the
Street and Sewer and Water Depart
ment under one head to known as
the Department OF Public Works.
They also would provide for the New
York assessment system being applied
to Wilmington, with the value of the
land and the value Of the improve
ments thereon set forth in separate
columns on the assessment books
Representative Grantland also intro
duced for the National Progressives a
bill providing for the direct nomina-
tion Of all candidates for public Office
exceptiong Presidential electors Ev-
en- candidates of each party for United
States Senator would be nominated at
primaries, under the Grantland bill.
lnasmuch as the Democrats are ad-
vocating such a measure it would not
be surprising If the Grantland direct
primaries bill was passed by the
House and il might stand a fair show
OF getting through the Senate, ton.
Public Utilities Board.
Senator Gormley has introduced a
Dill TO strengthen the law creating
the Public Utilities Commission of
wilmington. The bill was prepared
oy City Solicitor Hastings at the re-
quest OF the Board of Public Utili-
uos commissioners. If enacted il
would remove any doubt as to the
right of the Utilities Beard 90 regu-
late public service corporations in
Wilmington
representative Hammond has intro.
duced in the House a Statewide Pub.
lie Utilities Board hill II nro,-idce
for three commissioners. TO he an.
pointed by the GOVERNOR one from
each county. and not more than two
from any one party, who shall draw
lots Tor TWO, four and six-year terms
Their successors would be elected by
the people at biennial elections. The
bill is modelled after that in Pennsyl.
vania and New Jersey, and was
drawn by Frank De II. Janvier fol
the Democratic State Committee. Tn,
Democratic platform advocates such
bill. 1t is said that one or two
Republican Senators are i'm favor Of
a Statewide Public Service Commits.
sion, and if the Democrats draft 2
fair bill they may have a good chance
OF having it enacted.
Initiative and Referendum.
The Democratic Senators are in =
quandry about the Initiative ane
Referendum bill. to amend the State
Constitution, which passed the Hons,
the past week. The Democrati,
platform is pledged to further tht
initiative AID referendum. but som,
of the Democratic Senators. il is said
individually are opposed to it. Whether
the Democratic Senators can be Hnee