Evening journal., 1913-01-16
MUST OFFER
BILLS EARLY IN
LEGISLATURE
Determined Stand is to Over
come Tendency to Delay
New Legislation
URGES CHANGE IN
THE MUSKRAT SEASON

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER, Del, Jan. 16.-Members
Of both parties i'm Senate and House
Are determined that il shall not be
their fault IL prospective legislation
Is not introduced early in the pres
ent session. Contrary to the general
belief, the members of the Legislature
do not draw most of the bills they
Introduce. AS a matter OF fact, but
very few bills are prepared by a mem
ber Most of the measures presented
to the Legislature are sent to mem
bers by their constituents, or the
members of the Legislature have the
bills prepared to carry out sugges-
lions of constituents
The general inclination is to blame
The Assemblymen if there is a. scar
city of bills introduced. in the early
weeks of the Legislature and rush
Of measures toward the close of the
session But the members, in most
Instances, are not at fault for this
condition of affairs. as most persons
Interested in some change in law
or desirous of having a new law en-
acted delay in having the bill pre-
pared for presentation in the States
law-making body.
To serve notice on the public that
all bills must be prepared without
delay and be introduced early Sena-
tor Reinhardt, after a consultation
with some Of his colleagues OF both
parties yesterday, offered his resolu-
tion fixing February 10 as a date be-
yond which no new bills could be
introduced. The Senate adopted the
resolution after Senators Reinhardt,
Ewing, GOrmley and Fooks, had spok-
On of the necessity OF the public
sending in hills without delay.
The resolution was sent to the
House late in the afternoon and was
adopted unanimously there. too on
motion of Representative HOhecker
So all persons who propose to have
bills introduced in the Legislature
had better get busy with them, as the
present assembly expects to get
through its work early in March.
Affects County Offices.
Representative Mooney yesterday
afternoon introduced his bill to abol-
ish the fee allowances to all county
officers in the three counties of the
State. The amendment eliminates
The portion of the present law that
gives the county officers a percentage
Of the fees they collect, but does not
propose to change the present sala-
ries.
Representative Grantland gave no
tice of bill to authorize former Re-
ceiver of Taxes Robert NJ. Burn to
collect all outstanding county taxes
in New Castle county for the years
1910, 1911 and 1912. Mr Grantland
says he has not received the bill as
yet and does not know what it will
provide.
Change Muskrat Season.
Senator David introduced a bill Ia
change the legal season for taking
muskrats in Delaware He claims
that the present season is too lone
and a shorter season would rive the
marsh rabbit some protection from
extinction and also would mean a
better quality of fur. The muskrat
industry has become very extensive
in parts of the State where marshes
abound. and some hunters 70. the
busy little animal net more than a
thousand dollars a year from their
muskrat crop, while the dealers in
the pelts also make a big profit The
hides have sold a high a ninety cents
apiece.
In the eastern end of Senator
Dayid's district the muskrat Industry
is important and lucrative to some
of his constituents. The present open
season is from November 90 to March
Is. Senator David proposes to change
the opening of the season to Decem-
Der 1, and, to end il about the first
OF Marsh
Want Game Warden.
Representative Bradford introduced
a bill TO give the Game and Fish Com
mission the appointment of the Fish
Commissioner for the State That Of
fetal is now appointed by the Cover
nor for term of four years The
Game Commission proposes that il
be permitted 10 name the Fish Com
missioner at a salary IL shall deter
mine and to hold Office at the COM
missions pleasure It is proposed
that the Fish Commissioner shall be-
come the chief game warden Of the
State
Democrats Want Detectives.
Representative Hammond gave mo-
lice that he will introduce a bill TAX
ing the appointment OF the two State
detectives away from the Governor
and giving the appointing power TO
the attorney general This bill evid-