Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-19
SENATE REFUSES
T0SUBM|T DEFENCE
TO CONFERENCE
Rejected Senator Wharton's Reso-
luton and Relies on Its
Own Committee.
AMENDMENTS IN SIGHT
staff Correspondence of Every Evening
Sr,Tr HOUSE, Dover, MARCH 10

Aft Correspondents Va 'sNtiS GNthfhs
STATE HOUSE, Dover, MARCH ~.
IL am very sorry to sec that yoll are
injecting politics into II, which Is a very
scr,ous matter Mt this critical stage in
o,r country. Now ! would like to vote
on that bill and kill it.
With the above accusation against
his Republican colleagues in the Senate,
Yesterday afternoon, DR. Charles NJ.
Wharton of Dover showed his displcasurc
nj the action of the Senate in defeating,
bv a party vote. the following concurrent
resolution. which had been offered by
him. with the object of cndeavoring 10
reconcile some Of the features of the
Defence Council bill, passed bv the House,
which had been complained of:
Re IL resolved by the Senate, the
House of Representatives conCurrlng
therein, that n Joint cuInmittee> be ap-
pointed consisting of two TO toe named
hy tho President pro ten of the Senate.
and three To he named by the speaker of
the House. and of which the president
pro tenn of the Senate, and the speaker
OF the House shall also bo members, to
draft Defence bill, and report the same
to the General Assembly
Immediately after the prohibition reso~
lutIon had been disposed of IN the Senate
Mr.. Gornlev presented the following
protest. handed him by Alexander X.
Abrahams, which was received and re
fcrred to the committee on revised stat
utcs. 1t bore about $50 signatures. ne
text follows:
"As citizens Of Wilmington, Delaware
whom YOU arc representing IN the state
Legislature, we wish to protest against
the features of the proposed Councli 81
Defence hill which gives thus co9hch
power to consCrlpt the cltlzenS oi re-
aware for military service or tor Iah"F.
We consider IL would he most dangerous
~ vest such mower IN State body Power
TO cnnscrint should he only in the national
government. and We ask that YOU give
our views consideration IN voting on tins
measure
Immediately after this protest had
been read and referred to the committee
on revised statutes. Senator Wharton
offered his resolution providing Tor a
committee Of conference
DIR. Wharton said his object in offering
the resolution was that there Is serious
objection to the Defence hill in its present
shape Ninety per cont OF the people
of Delaware are doing all they can 70
help the countrv's cause. The other
10 per cent are natural slackers We
arc here 10 represent all the people. he
said The members Of the two houses
can meet together, with advisers, and
we can get MP bill that will meet the
wishes of all the people.
Senator Frazier said he believed the
committee on revised statutes, which now
has the bill. is qualified to handle it. with
proper advice. He felt that IT should be
materially changed The revised statutes
committee comprises Nessrs. BARNARD
Frazier, Hart and Iiollett. Mr. Webb was
a member at the last session, but as he IS
III and cannot be here. a vacancy exists,
which Presidents Pro Tenn Barnard YES
terday WAS authorized to fill
DR.. Wharton thought It would be better
for both houses to first decide upon the
contents of the bull SO that there would
be harmony.
As the House has made its decision,
Mr.. Walker thought it was up TO the
Senate 10 act as it secs fit, amending the
bill If il is not satisfied with 1t IN it's
present shape He was not in favor Of
Senator Whartons plan Its with this
body to determine what TO do with this
hill. " he said. "aud then send it to the
House for its concurrence If we make
changes.
Senator Wharton's resolution provid-
ing for a committee of conference was
defeated bv the following vote
Eeas-Nfessrs Gormlcy. Hollctt Hart.
Joseph, Mitchell, Murphy and Wharton
-.
Nays-Messrs. Brown, Frazier Hick-
man. Hoffecker Long Newton, Pool
Walker and President Pro TEN Barn
srd-9
As soon as the vote was announced
Senator Wharton called for the bill TO
be placed on third reading for passage,
and when told that II was still IN com
mlttee he made the declaration given at
the introduction of this article
While the revised statutes commit
tee is keeping its own council, II was
reported yesterday afternoon that several
amendments to the Defence bill were
planned, including the following,
Naming the commissioners in the blil
(the members were reported to be divided
on this
Modifying the conscrption clause.
Raising the exemption age from 10
10 Is wears
Providing for an appeal o the
courts without defending criminal ac-
ton.
1t is not certain, however, just what
the ultimate result will be Regardless
Of the committees actlon-even shout
II propose any or all of these amendments
or the action of the Senate for that
matter the result in the House is prob
lematIcal. in view OF the fact that many
OF the numbers Of the lower branch feel
ING that they can trust the governor and
hls appointces TO act justly IN administer
ing the new Law. are loath to change II.
V Is hoped to reach class OF IOaferS.
white and black. particularly in the down
state towns, some OF which are now there,
while some are being driven over by the
operation OF q Maryland Law They claim
that only q drastic Law viii have the
desired effect In this behalf