Evening journal., 1919-03-25
SENATE KILLS PROPOSED
CODE FOR STATE SCHOOLS;
MEMBERS WARY ABOUT 1T
stan Correspondent.

Staff Correspondent
STATE HOUSE, DOVER. DEL, March
25-Mainly on the ground that the peo-
pie OF the State and they themselves
(ths Senators) had not had time tc
properly consider and digest such q
comprehensive measure, the Senate
yesterday afternoon after nearly three
hours discussion defeated the proposed
new school code which embodied more
than one hundred printed pages by a
vote Of yeas to nays.
The question was ra sed both be-
fo.e and after the vote whether or not
10 required just a majority or a vote
OF two-thirds OF the Senate 10 pass the
3ill. John b. Hutton, one Of the at
torneys connected with the survey
commission that prepared the data on
which the bill was based, stated be-
fore the vote that IL was his opinion
that a two-th.rds vote was necessary
70 pass H. After the vote the matter
wss aga brOuyh up and after some
discussion President Protein. short de-
c.ded 10 withhold announcement OF the
vote until legal opinion was received
on the question. II was finally decided
20 refer the matter to Attorney-Gen-
cray Renhardt and last night President
Short announced that Mr.. Helnhardl
bad notified HIM IL required a two
thirds vote.
As President Short was about TO an
nOunce the vote Senator'S Robertson
and Walker who had supported the
b!ll changed their votes TO no for re-
consideration. The chair then an
nounced that the bin had been lost.
The original vote follows:
Yeas-Senators Alice. Brown, CORN
ley, Handy. Long. Pool, Price, Robert
son and Walker.
Nays-Senators Bennett, Hollett, Lat
Ia, Murphy, Palmer, RicharGsa Web
sier and President Protein short.
When the bill, which had been made
the spec al order Of business for ?
O'Clock, was called up for final acton.
Attorney John b. Hutton, who was
counsel for the School Survey Commits
sion, which had the original bill pre-
pared, was given the privilege Of the
floor TO explain II. He pointed out
that a number OF amendments had
been made 10 the origin bll IN order
to meet the var Gus objections raised
One Of these was limiting the powers
that wee conferred upon the state
Of Education and CIV
Ing supreme power TO the State Board
)f Education, making the State COM
missioner the executive officer Of that
body only.
The original bin placed no Unit up
IN the bond issues that could be is
sued. or the amounts that could be
'alsed by taxation. but the amendments /
United the amounts that can be raised
)y taxation to 1 i-2 per cent. Of the
assessed value OF real estate, and the
)ond issues to per cent OF the as
iessed valtt, and also limiting the
borrowing capac ty 10 10 per cent OF
he budget for the school year. The
provision that the school fund be dis
.rlbuted on the basis OF enrolment and
attendance, which It was thought,
would have been unfair 10 the rural
districts, was eliminated.
Attorneys Wary About II.
Henry R!dgely. attorney, OF Dover,
was also given the privilege OF the floor
and po nted out how suggestions had
been made as 10 how the original bill
should be amended and that these sug-
yestions had been carried out as well
IS could be done under the circum-
tances He explained, however. that
ne work had been done hastily. and
s some things had been found that
eeded amending. there might also be 4
ther things. and he would not care I
, stand sponsor for the legality OF the
III as an attorney.