Evening journal., 1919-03-06
KILL ENGINEERS
License MEASURE
Some Senators Feared it
Might Create a Trust,
They Said
1T PROVIDED FOR
EXAMINERS BOARD
Stan Correspondent.


STATE HOUSE, Dover, Del, March G,
After a debate that continued for
more than an hour and a half, the SEN
ate today, by a vote OF ~ nays 10 .
yeas, Senator's oGrmley, Latia, Palmer,
Price and Robertson voting in the ar
nrmatiye, killed Senator Robertson's bill
providlns for the licensing Of stationary
engineers IN the city OF Wilmington,
and the creation OF a board Of examln-
Ing engineers to consist Of three mem-
bers, appointed by theMayor.
Under the provisions OF the bill all
Stationary engineers operating an en-
gine OF more than 25 horsepower would
] be required 10 be examined and take
out a license. Engineers with more
than three years practical experience
could secure the license without TAX
/ ing an examination.
The bill was advocated by James n.
Roston, an engineer who represented
The stationary Engineers OF Whining
ton. Henry r. lsaacs, Sensior Robertson
senator GOrmlcy and senator Palmer.
10 was pointed out that the measure was
intended az a protection 10 life, limb
and property and that the engineers
were unanimously In favor OF q. Mr..
Isaacs read a letter from Wilmington
City Council recommending the the
I bill be passed
The opposition was voiced by William
~ Jones and Senators Bennett, Alice,
Handy and Walker. The chief argu-
ment advanced against the measure was
/ the fact that II the stationary engineers
should go on a strike after the pas
sage Of the bill. the employers could not
employ strikehreakers unless they
were licensed
II was pointed out Il would be up t0
the engineers themselves whether or
not the licenses should be granted.
In reply 10 hls Senator Robertson
pointed out that all interested parties
would have the right OF appeal from
The. decision OF the examining board,
and Mr.. Roston stated that the engi-
necrs Of Wilmington have been orsan-
/ lied for thlrty-scyen years and have
mover had a strike IN all that time and
there is no reason 10 believe, they ever
would.
senator Alice remarked that nurses
bill which was acted upon IN the Sen
ate a few days ago had been killed be-
cause H. was believed that Il would
create a nurses trust, and no thought
/ this bill would be equally likely 10 cre-
ate an engineers trust.
senator Walker explained that he
could not support the bill because he
believed that its possibility % fOsterlns
NnN- q MEnmLn "
Clash Between Senators.
Sci ator Prices bill 10 Increase from
$4,000 70 5000 the state appropriation
for the state Library Association 70 ex'
/ tend the activities Of that association
was passed unanimously by the Senate
after IL had been explained by Senator
Price and advocated by him and Horny
Ridgely. The passage OF this bill re-
suited in another clash between the
Republicans and Democrats relative 10
the bills on the Sehate calendar that
are Objectionable to the Democrats.
After Senator Price had advocated the
I bill, senator Alice called attention TO
I the fact that the Democratic members
had agreed to support no appropriation
bills and wanted 10 know II they in
tended 10 make an exception In this
case. He agreed that the bill was a
worthy one, but stated that he had read
in the papers that the Democratic
minority had agreed not to vote for any
appropriation bills until certain bills
had been stricken from the Senate cal
endar, and he wanted TO know II the
Democrats intended TO abide by their
caucus agreement.
Senator Gormley replied that he did
not know what Senator Alice rad read
IN the papers. lie DECLARED nat The
/ Democratic members under their agree
ment, had the right TO exercise their
own iudgmnt as TO what bills shoul
receive their support aud what should
not be supported.
81 am glad to have that explanation ~
replied Senator Alice, who declared
that it was his understanding that
the Democrats had agreed 10 klll ali
appropriation bills requirins a two
thirds vote, but that unde~ Senator
Gormley's explanation II any worthy
I legislation Is turned down !t will not
be because Of a binding caucus agree
ment. but because the Democrats de-
sire Il defeated. Il just want TO PUT the
responsibility where. it belongs he
concluded.
Senator Gormley replied taat 10 was
his constitutional right 70 vote as ne
pleased upon measures coming up for
his cons 'deratlon, and that he was will
ing 10 assume the responsibility for so
doing. The bill was then advocated by
Mr.. Rldgely, who pointed out the good
work that has been accomplished vy
the Library Commission, after which
! L L. IL