Evening journal., 1913-02-10
DEAD Line ON
new BILLS in
LEGISLATURE
Hearings on Wilmington Tax
Bills, Ten-hOur and
Other Measures
ASSEMBLY MAY PASS
NEW BALLOT LAW
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.


DOVER, Del. Feb. Following
the dead line" for the introduction of
new bills into the legislature which /
will expire with today's adjournment, |
the Legislature will be i'm position to
devote its entire time to committee
work and final action on bills I'm hand. !
AL the beginning OF business this
morning, two hundred bills had been
introduced into the House and about
125 had been introduced into the SEN
ate. Some Of the members learned in
legislative ways. have a scheme which
they viii try to put into operation as
occasion should arise, OF introducing
old bills today and having them re-
ferred TO committees and later will
Try TO have the committees report back
entirely new measures as substitutes,
The members who will try this plan.
say they could not have few of their
bills prepared in time for introduction
today Whether this method OF substi-
tuting an entirely new bill, covering
an entirely different subject, will be
sanctioned remains to be seen, but
under the rules, bills can be reported
from committee without formal intro
duction.
National Progressive Bills.
Among the bills introduced during
ithe rush today were FIVE prepared by
the National Progressive State Com
mittee. which were given notice of re-
Gently by Representative Grantland.
They provide for a concentration OF
the revenue collections and tax collec-
tions in Wilmington, in the city
treasurer's Office. They also provide
for a reform in the assessment system
that will provide for the engaging Of
experts to assist the assessors, and
also sanction the application Of the
New York system of setting forth sep
arately the valuation Of the land and
Of the Improvements on it in separate
columns.
still another bill introduced by
Representative Grantland for the Ma
tional Progressives provides for direct
primary nominations for all candidates
for public office. including United
States Senators. and excepting Presl-
dental electors in Delaware.
Hearings On Bills.
With the legislative decks cleared,
so far as presentation of new bills is
concerned. the Assemblymen are look
ing forward to adjournment about
March 10. Several hearings on Inn
rortant bills will be given this week.
On Thursday hearing on the bill
limiting to ten hours q day the em-
ploymont OF women will be- up for a
hearing in the committee on labor.
A delegation of Wilmington merch-
ants and manufacturers Will appear tt
ask for changes in certain phases OF
the bill The laundrymen viii ASK
Tor exemption from the ten-hour day
feature, and some of the merchants
desire the weekly employment limit
for women extended from % hours 20
sixty hours a week, with exemption
for two weeks before the Christmas
holidays One big manufacturing in
terest that employs many girls and
women also is opposed to the ten
hour limit
Hearings On City Bills.
On Friday afternoon, the Mayor
and Council of Wilmington will be
given hearing on all bills intro
duced by Representative Smiley King
who is a member of City Council, tC
make changes i'm the city tax collec'
tion laws that will prevent the ac'
emulation Of unpaid taxes.
It would make delinquent taxes ;
direct lien against property until Sat
ished and would change the system
of tax rebates and penalties by pro
yiding that after October in each yeal
penalty Of one-half of one per cent
a month would be added until the fol
lowing September, when the propert,
could be sold TO satisfy the tax claim
Public Service Taxes.
Another bill introduced by Repre-
sentative King. and which is endorsed
unanimously by City Council, is tha
TO amend the law fixing the amour
10 be paid public service corporation
in city franchise taxes. II would In
sert before the figures Of what eacl
railway telegraph, telephone and elec
trio light company shall pay as take
per mile OF tracks or wires or con
duts the words mot less than whicl
would enable the city assessors or tn
Board of Revision to increase tn
taxes on such corporations whateve
amount the city might deem just an
fair. At present the amount the cor
porations pay is fixed by statute pass
ed by the Legislature which gives III
city no say i'm the matter.
Joint Building Plan.
On Friday, too, Council will advocat
the joint city and county buildm
project the bills TO carry out the city
parf in the project having been intr,
duced By Senators Gormley and Pen
ha.dt They empower the city |
borrow 100000. of which 5000
shall be paid to the county for IN
present Court House square, which
10 be converted into a park, and S25
800 shall be uscC TO tear down IN
lresert Court House and place th
square in the desired condition. Til
rsmaiaing SS00.OOC shall he apple
as the citys share Of cost of the prs
posed building. and the city's intel
ests shall be looked after by "Tf
Wilmington Building Commission" I
be composed Of five members TO
appointed by the judges Of the 81
preme Court The county bill. il
troduced by Senator David. provide
for the borrowing of 100000 by Il
Levy Court and the county's Interest
shall be looked after by the "Ne
Castle County Building Commission
to be composed Of FIVE men named /
the judges. The two commission
composed OF ten men. will act joint
IN securing plans for the propose
building, which are to be selected a
ter a competition between architect
The joint commissions also Will supe
wise all details of constructing an
furnishing the joint building.
May Pass Ballot Law.
A feeling is growing that befol
adjournment a stmplified ballot bi