Evening journal., 1917-03-23
stan Correspondent.

STAFF Correspondent.
DOVER, March 2s.-Democratic |
members Of the Senate yesterday at
ternoon killed Senator Hickman's bill
to reorganize the Board Of Education
OF Wilmington by providing for a
five member board. This bill which
was prepared by the General Service
Board and the Joint Citizens Commit
tee OF Wilmington, after considerable
investigation OF school conditions IN
other cities had been given much con-
sideration by the members OF the le-
gislature for some weeks. The bill as
voted on yesterday was a substitute,
Senator Hickman at the last minute
putting in a substitute making two
important changes from the original
bill. One change provided for two OF
the board members TO be elected
south OF Eighth street two north OF
Eighth street and the president TO be
elected at large instead Of all five
members being elected at large. The
other change provided that the bond
ed Indebtedness should never exceed
$500 900.
Senator Wharton was the only De-
mocrat 10 support the bill. The vote
was as follows;
Yeas-Brown. Frazier Hickman,
Hoffecker, Long Newton, Walker ana
Wharton.
Nays-Gormley. Hart, Holiett, JOSS
eph. Mitchell, Murphy Webb ana
Barnard.
Absent-POOl.
It required IL votes 70 pass the
bill
The bill was supported on the floor
by Henry r. Tsaacs, DR.. Victor WASH
barn. Senator Hickman and Charles
Warner. president Of the Public Ser
vice Board while DR.. 7. o. Cooper a
member OF the present wilmington
Board OF Education. Samuel II. Bay
nard president Of that board. ana
Senator Gormley, spoke against the
bill
eorv,iey Speaks In Opposition.
One interesting feature Of the de-
bate was a statement by Senator
Gormley. I'm which he charged those
advocating the bill with using unfair
methods. Senator Gormley resented
some remarks OF Mr. Warner who
was the last speaker for the bill. The
latter in his closing remarks stated
that he thought IL right that the Sen
ate before voting on the bill should
know the attitude Of the Wilmington
members Of the General Assembly on
II. He said that SIX Of the seven Viii
mington members thought some
change should be made and five OF
them favored the present bill.
II was This latter statement that
Senator Gormlev took exceptions 70
In taking the floor to speak against
the bill the Wilmington Senator sta
ted that it had been his intention &c
not make a speech on il. He then re.
marked that he thought his schoo
DAYS were over but that he had jus'
experienced a school teacher on th'
floor OF the Senate telling him wha'
he should do.
Mr. Gormley sad he was respons
ible for his vote to the people whit
elected him and that he would no
shirk his duty at any time He thei
said that unfair methods had beef
used 20 create favor for the bill.
Senator Gormley. referred to tn
nght on a similar bill two years ag
when it was defeated by the Senate
He said the members Of the Board o
Education who were members at tina
time after the Senate had killed tn
hill went home and at the next schoo
election were reelected and that h
would predict that the same will han
pen at the next school election II
June.
Senator Hickman for u.
Senator Hickman. who advocate
the bill. spoke OF the many progres
sive measures that have been passe
during this session and said in hi
mind this was one of the most In
portant bills that has been consider
ed by the Legislature. Senator Hicb
man said the people OF Wilmingto
want the new law and he felt sur
after the Senators heard the argJ
ments 70 he presented they woul
pass the bill
Henry r. Isaacs was allowed IN
privilege OF the floor and explaine
the bill. Mr.. Isaacs read a statameu
prepared by the Joint Citizens Con
mittee or Education. Of Wilmington
which committee assisted in the pr
paration of the bill.
The speaker said IL was general
admitted that the system in Wilm'nl
ton at this time is defective. If tn
is true. he said. some change shou
be made and he thought this bi
should be passed.
Or. r. o. Cooper. a member OF Il