Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-24
1eciato THE EVENING JOURNAL

DOViR, Del. March 24-While per-
functoJ sessions of the Legislature
are bebg held daily with President
pro ted Marshall and Speaker Hol-
comb fting to enable them to sign
bills, lie biennial session is over so
far as general legislation is con
cerned There is a report that on
April or s, when the Legislature
return to consider general appro-
priatiolf and claims bills. a petition
may bfsubmitted for resubmission
OF the question of the license or no
license of the sale of liquor in Sus-
sex comfy. According to the report,
but or8 more signer among the Sus-
sex mnbers of the House is requir-
ed to make resubmission possible.
The Constitution provides that when
a maipity of bhe members from each
orancl in a local option district pc
tition Or a submission of the license
Iuesti'n the Legislature shall provide
for slch submission II is manda-
tory, lroviding such a petition is pre-
sentec for resubmission to be ar
ranged for.
While not many bills of Statewide
importance we're enacted by the pres
bills Il importance to cities, counties.
and towns we're passed. Probably the
most Important bills in State-appli-
catiol passed we're the Ewing sim
pifet ballot ball the Gormley mar
riage law, the Mooney ten-hour law
for Women. the Cooper Child Labor
bill, and the affiliated college bill.
Amoig the bills of the utmost import
ance to Wilmington and New Castle
county that we're passed we're the
billslof Senators Reinhardt, Gormley
and David for the Joint city and coun-
ty building at Wilmington, Represen-
tatire Kings bill increasing the tan
to be paid by public utilities to VIII
mington and Representative Cook s
bill authorizing the borrowing by the
county of S250,000 for construction OF
a new bridge across the the Chris
tiana river at Third street and a bill
authorizing a loan of $4,000 to make
the B. & o. bridge over the Brandy
wine public bridge.
Representative Grantland made a
great fight to have repealed the bulk
head law. which places the develop
ment OF the Delaware River front
Of Wilmington in the control of pri.
vate interests, but il was defeated in
the Senate. Mr.. Grantland also hac
several bills advocated by the Ma.
tional Progressives for amendments
to the charter of Wilmington thai
would consolidate departments anc
provide for more efficient collection
of revenues. but they evidently were
too progressive for they were KEEP
sewed up in committee of the House
and finally were stricken from tn,
calendars at Mr.. Grantland's request
as also was his bill for the direc
nomination of United States Senators
and other State officers.
Three important amendments to thu
Constitution of the State we're passed
they also having been acted on favor
ably two years ago. One authorize.
the State to lay out and build road
that extend through at least tw'
counties Another provides that on
judge may cond let sessions of Gen
eral Sessions Court or Superior Court
except in capital offenses or election
offenses Another f. to make bill o
resolution that passes the Legislator
the legally passed bill, providing tn
ayes and nays shall have ben re
corded on it, despite any mistakes Il
the legislative journals affecting il
The most important constitutions
amendments propo. ed that failed o
enactment were those providing 70
the initiative and referendum, an
woman suffrage.
Good roads legislation occupied
prominent place in the Legislature
Representative Bradford's bill empow
erinf New Castle county to borrow
$3.50 600 for roads was enacted.
stipulates that first of all the stat
road through the county must be com
pleted and then $500 for eacl
mile of improved roads must be sc
aside for maintenance. Senator Walls
authorizing Kent county to borro'
100000 for road improvements ais
was passed, the property owners Z
pay ten per cent of the cost of i'm
provements in front of their prop
erty.
Representative Phillips bill to appl
the Maryland road law to SUISSE
county was killed in the Senat
through a fear that it might affect tn
Kent county bill. There is a posi-
blity that It may be reconsidered an
passed in ono Of the two closing day
of the Legislature, IL It is found
would not conflict with the Walls Law
Otherwise, Sussex county will nc
have provision for comprehensive
road improvements. Amendments t
the boulevard law also failed.
Aside from the above highways bill
the Legislature passed bills authors
ing the employment of prisoners
New Castle, Kent and Sussex cour
ties. on the county roads. The lowe
counties are empowered to use. The
short term prisoners in building an
improving roads and the New Cast
county Levy Court is authorized
enter into contracts with the tru:
tees Of the workhouse for the employ
ment of prisoners in constructor
highways. This may mean much
the three counties.
Two bills affecting the liquor bus
ness we're passed One is Senate
Hazel's to prohibit the shipment ,
liquor into local option territory
While the bill is intended to prevei
liquor being shipped by common ca
rier into Kent and Sussex countie
opponents of the bill have raised II
question as to whether or not "loc
option territory" as mentioned in Il
bill could not be applied to the who
State. which is divided into four l
cal option districts. two Of whie
Kent and Sussex. have voted dry
The bill does not prohibit shipmen
into counties that have voted again
the license and sale of liquor. b
into local option territory" Ter
perance advocates down the sta