Evening journal., 1918-03-06
Will seek Open
door FOR BILLS
At LEGISLATURE
Conllnued nom Flrst Page

tuHNIuutu from IlIel Edko.
will ratify the prohibition amendment
unless there Is a change in the lineup
Of the Stale Senate from that Of the
session year ago. At that time the
'drys' controlled both Senate and
House. AS there IS a vacancy in the
House and the Governor has called no
special election to MI 10. a question
has been raised as 10 whether or not
the vacancy should be filled to make
the extra session constitutional II is
understood the Governor has received
legal opinions TO the effect that II is
not mandatory that -the vacancy exist
ing in the House from the Blackbird
hundred district be fllled. There was
some talk today that a legal question
as to the constiiutionslity OF the Leg
lslature's action might be raised in the
courts II the special session Is held
without an election being called TO nll
the vacancy.
In addition TO the vacancy caused by
the death Of Representative Collins, Of
Blackblrd, there is a question. it was
said today, about the membership
status Of some State Senators. state
Senator Charles NJ Wharton. Of Dover,
is now a medical officer and recrea-
tlonal director az The Naval Base at
Norfolk. and a question has been raised
as TO whether or not that constitutes a
Federal ONCE that might disqualify
him from membership in the Senate.
Senator Thomas +. Gormley, Of this
city. recently was appointed an assist
ant Federal income tax collector and
some persons have raised a question
whether or not that would disqualify
him from Senate membership. senator
Gormley laughs at that, however, and
asserts that he did not accept the Fed
eral appointment, and points out that
he has been with the dupont Company
since January 1
Some persons started a report that
Senator Thomas S. Webb, of Christiana
hundred. had moved over into Pennsyl-
vania. This report is unfounded. now
ever. as Senator Webb still has his
residence near Cenireville.
There was rumor that a Statewide
prohibition bin might be proposed IN
/ the Legislature. bat If such a measure
is introduced 10 would not have much
chance Of being passed. 1t was claimed
today, as many dry members are not
In favor Of such legislation az ihis
/ time, since " illlliHt tNN anu tAi aA +hNf'
Castle county only recently voted on
the wet and dry issue
Among the subjects that members
viii try to have acted on in the special
session VIII be an amendment TO the
Estate income tox law 90 remove the
exemption Of agricultural projects from
taxes and a Wilmington paid fire de-
partment bill Representative McNabb
/ will offer the income tax amendment
and Representative Connolly the fire de-
partment bill.
There likely will be a clash at the
opening Of the session as to whether
the legislation to be acted on shall be
confined to the three subjects specified
by Governor Townsend OF whether the
doors shall be opened wide to all legis-
latlon, as the Legislature should deem
, a resolution will be offered 10 llmi
, business 70 the three subjects specified
by the Governor. Under the Constitu
ton. the legislators are limited t.
thirty days pay for a special session
A special session could continue a.
long as the Legislature should deem
nt but the members could not draw
pay for more than thirty days. Thu
present officers Of Senate and Hous
viii serve as officers Of those branche
in a special session