Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-12
BILL TO ENFORCE
LABOR BY |DLERS
DURING THE WAR.
Provides for General Defence and
for Securing Needed
Labor.
AMPLE IN ITS PROVISION S
Special Dispatch tn Every Evening

Section /. In order to provide effective
means of defence and preserve order
within the State. and TO insure maximum
output of agricultural and industrial
product and the maintenance oi vital
enterprises during the period of the war
in which the United States Is now en-
gagged a Council of Defence for this State
is hereby established which shall be
known as "Thc State Council of Defence,
which shall consist of the governor and
eight suitable persons, resident OF tins
State. who shall he appointed by the gov
cTnnr.
Section >. The State Council OF De-
fence shall continue in existence through
out the duration of the present war,
and for six months after said war shall
be terminated by treaties duly ratlhed
bv the Senate ol the nlted States, at
which time the said council shall be dis
solved by proclamation OF the governor.
All vacancies occurring in the SAID toun-
ell shall Ec hllcd by the governor.
Section g. The powers and duties
of the SAID council shall he.
To enroll men not IN the national
aruA- for military service Of tho State
and for CARRYING on agriculture and m
dilstrics and all necessary enterprises
within the State. and to compel the per
fornancc of such labor and such military
or other services as shall he necessary
to carry out the objects of tins act.
>. To encourage and provide means
for the production Of AL things neccs-
sar> for the supplying Of the national
army and the civilian population, and
for the maintenance Of agriculture and
all industries and enterprises essential
TO the interest of State and nation through
out the war. and until the said council
shall be dissnvlcd as aforesaid
3. To cooperate and assist the Coun-
eli ~ National Defence IN the execution
OF IL, duties
s 10 cooperate with councils oi dc
fence and similar agcncIcs m other states
insofar as cooperation = m harmony
with the Council of National Defence.
5 To suppress instructions AMI re-
bellionS and 10 carry ont within the State
of Delaware such plans of national dc
fence a~ arc mutually agreed upon be
tween il and the Council of National De
fence
G. 10 adopt, or il IT shall see 1T, t.
cause to hc taken, census and inventory
Of the resources of the State IN men and
materials IL make investigation and
report to the governor the location ami
availability III military supplies and he
location and capacity of railroads and
automobiles. and ali other means Of
transportation and conveyance within
the State. 20 rs 10 determine their avalla-
hliiv for military purposes of the State,
and "a render possible the expedition.
mobilization and concentration ot State
troops and supplies 81 points OF defence
and military advantage.
II, owe frifpr.1ltfIAn DTpItIcRrS
oi materials a 70 supplies needed by
such military forces
5 And III general 70 take such steps
as NAV be, in the opinion Of said Council,
necessary or advisable for the public
defence and security. for the protection
OF routes Of communication; Tor the
public care end assistance of individuals
and classes upon whom the hardshIpe OF
war would fall most heavily; for the de-
yeloDmenf nf resources of States. and
particularly thcrefrom which vii he
derived ilc supple OF food and otncr
commodities uron which the conduct o.
v. rn;4ke~ 4 special draiu lfd such other
rlca SlIrr~ .. may be Hece. -ary I" meet
the cxigcnejes OF all situations ocrasloned
bv MAR. If no. iu conthc' with any rule
promulgated hy III" National Council Of
Defence
Q. To appoint an advi-or1 council
within the state and such committees
and local and couuclI- - it shall find
eNpcdient which shall have such powers
as the said Council shali determine,
subject 10 he terminated II the discre-
tion OF the Council
section. II shall b III, duty o1 every
resident Of TIN. State between the ages
OF 10 and 60 years who shall not be in the
I Il, ,tft 10
employed in q useful occupation during
the sud period, and every such person
who shall not be so employed shall bo
subject to bc assigned by said Council to
such employment as the said Council
shall from time to time determine. and
al such compensation 20 bc paid EY the
/ EMPLOYER rs the saii Council shall de-
clare to be reasonable and proper
Section ; Every uale resident Of this
| State between the years of IT. and 90 who
/ shall not be IN the national army or .
public Office shall perform such military
| duty as shall be assigned hlm by the said
| council under this act
Section g. Any resident of this State
who shall refuse 10 obey or shall tall tC
comply with any order Of the said Council
relating to anv of the provisions Of this
act shall be guilty of misdemeanor
and upon conviction thereof shall he
fined not more than $500, or imprisoned
not exceeding three months, or both al
the discretion Of the court
Section :. The said Council Shall have
the power 10 subprna witnesses and
require their TESTIMONY. compel tht
production of account books and files
and ali documents relative 10 any in
vestgatjon or matter which may Ike
under consideration IN ii
section s It shall be The duty ot
every count, Or state officer of this
State excepting the members OF the
General Assembly and the Judiciary.
whenever directed bv the said Council,
to execute any Of its orders for the
preservation Of the peace or the carrying
out Of any Of the objects of this act
Section 9 The said Council shall
employ such agents assistants and clerical
force as it shall find necessary or ex-
pedicnt
Section 10 The members Of the said
| Council shall serve without pay, and their
expenses while serving shall, after being
approved by the governor, be paid by
| warrants drawn on the State treasurer
and countersigned BY the governor
Section H. The said Council is here
by authorized and empowered to draw
uDon the State treasurer warrants, coun
tcrs gned by the governor for such anou
h shall be necessary to effect the ohleya
o this act, which warrants shall be paic
\ the State treasurer ont OF any un
appropr ated monies III the treasury.
The bill was introduced in the House b,
/ Speaker Hervey j. Hall
DERGnNAT