Evening journal., 1913-03-13


fine. The House yesterday afternoon,
passed the House substitute for Sena-
tor Hazel's bill to prohibit the use OF
cigarettes by minors in Delaware. The
senate is expected to concur in 1t,
The bill prohibits any person, firm or
corporation from selling or giving
away cigarettes or cigarette papers
to minors, under the age Of p years,
under penalty of from S25 to SlOO
fine. II also prohibits any minor
under q years buying cigarettes or
smoking cigarettes in any public
place. under penalty of $40 fine. II
provides a fine of from S25 to 800
upon any person, firm or corporation
permitting a minor to smoke upon
premises. held, owned or managed by
him or them, and provides a penalty
of S25 upon a minor for misrepresent-
ing his age to procure cigarettes or
the "makings"
When Representative Barnard call
ed up the bill, the House lobby was
filed with a delegation Of women ad-
vocating the measure, and also by
boys from the Wilmington Confer
ence Academy and the Dover High
school, who were interested listeners
during the proceedings
Mrs. Lila Aaron, Of Dover, an ac-
tive worker in the w. c. T. L., was
given the privilege of the floor Some
people have asked you to protect
clans. some have asked you to pro-
tect Holsters, and muskrats,' she said.
1--WE have noticed that you have given
these matters gentlemanly consider
alton We. the delegation present
nTOfnDf
Delaware boys against the deadly
poisonous cigarette The bill is not
drastic as ii comes to you. No cpl
demic has swept over the country
like the cigarette habit. IL is con-
tagious and spreading all over the
country. People studying the situa-
ton tell us 1900 to 1000 boys are start
ing the habit in this country every
day. and with this have sprung up
the Juvenile Courts
Professor George S. Messersmith
principal of Dover's High School
smoke of the stultifying mental effect
of cigarettes upon boys, as he mad
observed in his school experience.
The Rev. Henry G. Budd, principal
of the Wilmington Conference Acad-
envy. also told of the harmful effect
our school we feel that when a boy
begins the use of cigarettes his day
of usefulness is done" said Dr. Budd
"and we part company with him"
Professor Wesley Webb and Gilbert
] Meredith said the State Grange hac
endorsed the passage of a strong anti.
cigarette bill to safeguard the healtf
of boys.
rt.s ~ ~ p,,ot-oo,, and y
Ferguson of Dover, also asked the
Legislature to safeguard the Interests
of the youth of the state by passing
the bill.
Mrs. Aaron presented a petition
signed by 5,0O0 men and womel
throughout the, state in behalf Of tn
anti-cigarette bill.
Representative Mooney pointed on
that. inasmuch as a fine of S25 wa
provided for a boy misrepresenting hi
age, it might work hardship upon
parent by the incOrrigible smoking re
peatedly and being subjected to re
peated fines, which the parent would
have to pay.
Speaker Holcomb said the commit
tee had considered that, but though
fnAI Wnlie IL might Muli Aht lew I
would benefit the many.
Representative Hirsch said he con
sidered the bill too drastic. I'VE nov
have on the statute books a law pro
hibiting the sale or givisg away o
cigarettes to minors" he said. and
confidently assert that here have no
been five arrests under it in fiv
years. II opens the door to trouble Z
merchants and storekeepers bv boy
of uncertain age smoking on thei
property I believe. too, that unde
this bill, even if a boy should mis-
represent his age to get a cigarette
the person giving a cigarette would b
liable to a fine for giving it."
Speaker Holcomb and Mr.. Barnar
did not agree with this latter view
as they thought misrepresentation b
a minor would relieve the giver {
liability.
The vote on the measure was:
Ayes-Messrs. Arthurs, Barnar
Bennett. Bradford, Cook, Cooper, Gun
Minis Derrickson. Hoffecker, Houston
Jester. King, Lattomus, Lynch, Nj
Cormick, Owens. Phillips, Pool, Smit
Taylor. Speaker Holcomb-22.
Nays-Messrs. Allen, Hirsch, La.
ton, Lingo, Mooney, Mcdonald. Re,
ords, Schneider. Stoeckel, Swan, Wal
amon-11
Delinquent Tax Collection.
In behalf Of Representative Gran
land, who is i'll at his home, Represei
tative Mooney called up fer final a.
ton, the bin to authorize Robert \
Burns. former Receiver of Taxes fC
New Castle county, to collect ou
standing county taxes for tho yea
1909, 1910. 1911 and 1912. The lie,
Court is to provide two clerks to a
sist Mr.. Burns. under the bill. and ais
is. to fix his compensation. NJ
Mooney said he understood the bi
was agreed upon by the Levy Cou
and Mr.. Burns.
Representative Hoffecker oppose
the measure. 1T is not the right kir
m bill to ask this Legislature
pass" he said. He did not think
right for man in office eight years
allow the back taxes to pile up ar
then come to the legislature for al
thority to collect them He thourl
the Levy Court could arrange IL get
the taxes without asking the Legisl
ture to pass a bill which he believe
is unfair to the county. He believe
there were enough clerks TO cole
the outstanding taxes. IF there
no law to authorize this, it is time v
should pass one. The principle
this bill is wrong" Mr.. Hoffeck,
added "and we will have similar bill
here every four years if We don't ste
tt now