Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-01
E"sn'as'Cs HSsnins saturssy uDsay 14O1O
SATURDAY. MARCH 50. 1918
Lesislsture-Expensive Luxury.


The State of Alabama, which is many
times as large as Delaware, contents
itself with a legislative session once in
four years, and it seems to get along
splendidly. Witness the development
of some of the cities and great industries
there, which causes us to pause and wonder
whether the people of Alabama are not
giving to industry the thought and energy
We are wasting on legislative sessions and
partisan politics.
In Delaware, under our new Consti-
tution-snd it does not differ from the
old one in that behan-we have a legis-
lative session every two years, whether
we need it or not. and lately we have been
having few extra" thrown whether
We need them or not is a debatable
question. The latest extra which.
after desperate struggle, ended last
Friday, and the Is days of it, cost us just
SI5.263.o5, and dear knows how much.
IN sacrifice IL cost some of the members
for there were some who made it plain,
in private conversation, that they were
neslecting their business because of the
obligation imposed upon them when they
accepted the office.
But, just think OF it-sl5, ,263.05 for
three weeks OF pickering over two PROPOSE
rions which the governor had asked the
members TO dispose of, viz
Ratification OF the Prohibition Amend
ment TO the Federal Constitution.
The creation OF State Council of
Defense.
Many citizens could not see any
necessity Tor action at this time IN either
behalf As for the Federal amendment,
there is grave doubt in the minds OF many
persons about the desirability OF forcing
If at a special session, which really was
done. in view Of the fact that il was not
an issue when the members OF the present
Legislature were elected, whereas. II
the matter had been left until the next
session. the people would have had
chance To express their opinion at the
next election and choose q Legislature
which would represent their views in
that behalf Therefore, the members Of
a Legislature 50 elected would know
what the people wanted them to do.
Even among those favoring prohibition,
there are many who consider the matter
one for State control. while Others see
no violation Of State rights il making II
national
As for the Defence Council proposition,
while il IS true that the government had
asked the State TO create one, the last
Legislature conferred upon the governor
large power in the matter of enforcing
defence program, and, if it should be
found, after g trial, that this was insutfi-
cent, the next Legislature could have
renedied the defects. However, if the
defence act is going 70 result in placing /
all OF the idlers at work at some useful |
occupation, and the governor felt that he |
could not do this without such action, |
some good may result, but even at that |
IL should not have taken so Legislators |
three weeks In which to accomplish this, |
and ST an expense of S15, ,263, which would /
70 long way in helping the Red Cross i
and other agencies that are aiding the
army in fighting demooracy's war.
II would have been much better if the /
governor had had the defence bill drawn
long before the session and published it,
In addition TO sending copy to each mem
ber, so that by the time the session con-
yened all would have known what was /
expected of them and what their constitu-
ents thought about the matter