Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-21
i. UNCERTAINTY RULES
At DOVER OVER THE
NEW DEFENCE BILL
Members of Both Houses Desire
Information as TO What
Washington Wants.
NEW BILL TO BE PREPARED
Special Dispatch to Every Evening

STATE lloUsT. Dover. MARCH u.
Practically all of this morning was
consumed by members of both houses
of the Legislature IN confcrrng inform
ally on the latest aspect oi the Defence
bill proposition, which contemplated
the drawing Of new bill hy JOINT
committee of conference. In view oi
the fact that II was not possible Tor the
House to act ON this suggestion until to
day, and as the Senate revised statutes
committee today considered its new bill
for the more effective Use of ldlers by
conscripting them into useful occupa-
tInns. the outlook at the opening ot
todav'a session was uncertain.
After receiving copies oi this h'll'
Chairman Barnard presented them 70
his colleagues nf the Senate committee,
and declared it 10 he the intention OF
the committee tn consider the bill with
a view 80 making some report thereon,
regardless Of the fate Of the committee oi
conference resolution. already passed
by tho Senate. which at that time had
not been given to- the House
II was believed that m tho event
Of tho House asserting to the conference
proposition, At least ono member 81 the
Senate revised statutes committee, ~
addition So Chairman Barnard. wnHld
he placed on the committee nj conter-
ence. which would give the conference
committee tho benefit ot the revised
statutes committees deliberations, no
matter whether there was to he an on
tirely now htll ~ 4 revision ~ the oid
one Sentiment. however. seemed IL
favor a complete new Defence bill, rals-
ing the age limit for tho utilization ot
idlc labor from lG tn - wears. climInat-
ing The military conscrp'lnn feature,
and placing upon tho court instead oi
the Council of Defence tho duty 81
interpreting useful occupations
MANY FAVOR 4 REcHss
MANY of the members favored adjourn
ing. following the appointment oi q
conference committee. until some time
next week. So a. a. give the committee
full opportunity to drhw hill with care
after lull inquiry Is madc
Some thought Il might be advisable
10 send an cmiasary to Washington. 10
confer with Federal government officials
as to their wishes N tho matter, and to
get al first hand the reasons that have
prompted them to ask the state to create
Council ~ Defence with statutory au-
thority. While the governor has mass
81 correspondence on the subject, the
members themselves have not been IN
direct communication with Washington
WANT INFORMATION
Roth houses arc avrrRc to Incorporating
any unnecessary features III tho new hhl.
and thcv. want full information before
thev act The House members. before
acting. may seek conference with
Governor townsend.
The House. tho first branch to convene.
mct AZ II O'Clock hut there being no
business before II. recess was Immediately
taken until | so 0 clock y. m
SCHOOL FUNDS ron wIiMiNGToN.
President Miller and Dr. T. q Cooper
of tho Wilmington Rnard Of Education.
and School Superintendent Scott are
here IN an effort 10 have passed the hiil.
which was evidently lost sight Of IN the
senate at the last session. increasing
Continued on page &