Evening journal., 1913-03-19
STATE WIDE
UTILITY BILL
PASSES HOUSE
Republicans Vote SOlidIy
Against Measure Abolish
ing Wilmington
Commission
FAVORABLE REPORT ON
EQUAL SUFFRAGE ACT

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
STATE HOUSE, DOVER, Del. Mar
19.-Both branches of the Legislature
settled down to hard work this morn
ing determined to wipe as many bills
as possible Off the calendars.
Up to the present time the Legis-
lature has been devoid of the closing
week confusion. Remarking that the
House had a busy day ahead, Speaker
Holcomb urged the members to give
close attention and vote promptly on
all bills.
Nil Suffrage Bill.
Representative Hammond on be-
half of the revised statutes committee,
reported fayorably Representative
Swans Equal Suffrage bill.
Let us call it up. vote and stop
playing politics on this bill" remark
cd Representative Hammond but the
Speaker said il would have to await
its regular order.
Subsequently, without any debate,
the House killed the bill, s yeas to
20 nays, the vote being as follows:
Yeas-Barnard. Cooper, Cummins
Houstc, Owens, Records, Taylor
Speaker Holcomb-S.
Nays-Allen, Bennett, Bradford
Cook, Derrickson, Grantland, Ham
mond Hoffecker, Jester, King Lay
ton, Lingo, Lynch, Mooney, McCor-
mick, Mcdonald Phillips. Poole
Smith, Schneider, Stoeckel, Swan
Wagamon-23.
More Tax on Property Owners.
Representative Grantland's bill tc
abolish the capitation tax in Whining
ton was passed by the House without
any opposition. Mr.. Grantland said
the tax is $3.50 but it is collected only
from property owners.
The House passed Representative
Arthur's bill to increase from $500 tt
$500 a year the amount kenton may
raise by taxation and authorizing ta'
town to borrow $4,000 for improve
ments.
State Wide Utility Bill.
BY q strict vote. the Democrats sup
porting It and the Republicans op
posing it the House passed Dr. Ham
monds state wide Public Utility Bill
which he introduced for Speake
Holcomb. The vote was 20 yeas ant
III nays. Representative Grantlan'
opposed the bill, claiming that vii
mington only asked for legislation e
strengthen the hands Of its Publi'
Utility Commission. He objected L
a State Commission of three members
and said Wilmington should have a
least two members of a five commits
sion board as otherwise Kent and Sus
sex would dominate Wilmington.
Would Abolish City Commission.
Speaker Holcomb took the foo
and asserted that Mr.. Grantland tool
self view in assuming that VIII
mington had conditions needing onl.
regulation. He said railroad rates
telephone charges and operation o
trolley cars in rural sections neede'
supervision.
The bill empowers the Governor &
appoint three commissioners at $500
q year each, one to be from eacl
county, a..d II also would abolish tn
Wilmington Public Utilities Commits
sion.
New Primary Law For Lower COuntie
The House passed Representative
Hammond's bill applying the NeN
Caste county primary election law {
Kent and Sussex counties. 1t woul
leave optional with each politica
party, the question of direct nomina
tions in convention.
Representative Kings bill, to enabl
the New Castle County Levy Court
secure by condemnation the Philade
phia turnpike and convert it into
free road, was passed by the Hous
Certificates for Accountants.
The House also passed Represents
tive Schneiders bill, to require a'
countants desiring to use the designi
tion certified public accountant" {
&C. p. A." to secure a certificate FRO
an examining board TO be create
under the act Accountants who hay
been practicing for two years are c;
empt for examination.
Portraits for State House.
Representative Bradford's bill desii
mating the President pro tenn of n
Senate and Speaker Of the House q
a commission to secure portraits f,
Continued on Page Seven.