Evening journal., 1919-03-08
SENATE OPENS UP
TOR new BUSINESS
Regardless Of Resolution,
Senator Bennett Allowed
TO Introduce Bill
TO ALLOW
III AS SUBSTITUTE
stan Coresnond6nt


STATE HOUSE, DOVER Feb. s.--The
Senate yesterday afternoon opened its
doors for the introduction Of new busi-
ness when Senator Bennett was allow
ed TO introduce a bill to make It pos
sble for the school commissioners of
Georgetown to borrow $4,000 to re-
deem bonds due this year. senator Ben
nett stated that in the rush Of business
the last few days before the time fixed
for closing new business, the putting
in Of this bill was overlooked, and that
It was a very essential measure. The
I senators agreed to allow the new bill
10 go i'm, although a concurrent resolu-
ton was adopted weeks ago shutting
OF new business about the middle OF
February This being a concurrent
resolution, It is, claimed BY some that
the senate had not the right to admit
this bill without the authority OF the
House. 1t is also claimed ihat the
House can now legally refuse 60 accept
the bll on the ground that II has no
standing, having been introduced after
tle date set in the concurrent resolu-
ton shutting or new business.
At the afternoon session yesterday
Senator Bennett offered the bill as a
substitute 10 Senate Bill No. i9s THIS
latter was introduced in skeleton form
to provide a uniform price for gasoline
in Delaware.
Senator Alice made the motion 10 al
low Senator Bennett 10 introduce theI
Georgetown bill He contended that
the action n shutting on new business /
on February IL had been taken by a
majority vote and that a mojority vote
could always suspend any acton taken
by a majority vote which contention /
was agreed TO by Senator Gormley, |
Democratic leader Of the Senate.
Senator Gormley. while explaining
that he did not oppose that particular !
bill objected 10 the introduction Of I
substitute lis. the subject OF (which /
were not german to the title OF the or I
iginal bll declaring that 10 would be .
a dangerous practice 20 establish.
Senator Palmer declared that be did |
not believe any Senator would intro
duce such a substitute bin containing
a snake.
Senator TIolleit asked for q ruling of :
the chair as 10 whether substitute bills
could be introduced unless german 30
the original, declaring that he recalled
that such rulings had been made by pre-
siding officers al past sessions.
senator Gormley, replying TO Senator
Palmer, declared that he had not in
tended to intimate that "snaky' meas
ures would be presented, but he did not
think it advisable TO open the door for
such a practice. lie also called attention
to rulings that had been made by past
pesiding officers against such proceed
ure.
Senator Walker took exception % this
remark. declaring that he had attended
a number Of sessions and II was his
recollection that the introduction of
such substitute bills had been permit
ted. although he did not approve Of the
practice.
Senator Gormley replied that two
years ago the presiding officers had
made hard and fast ruling that the
practice should not be permitted and
that Che ruling had been adhered 90.
Senator Walker then dretV attention
to a bill that he had introduced him
self at a past session the substance OF
which was entirely different from the
original bill.
Senator Handy remarked that he had
consulted ex-President protom- Barnard
about the matter and had been in
formed that it was permitted at the
last session
Senator ALE declared that the con-
lentions NJ both sides were correct. He
agreed with Senator Gormley that il
would be unwise to introduce substi-
tutes different from the original, and
also declared that 10 was only proper
That really necessary bills should not
be debarred. He pointed out that the
action shutting of new bills had been
taken by majority vote and contended
hat a majority vote could allow
specific bills to be acted upon. He
pointed out that 1t would not be fair
10 shut down on such legislation for
,wO years when it could be admitted
)y majority vote.
Senator Gormley. expressed the opin-
on that the Dover senator was cor
'ect, declaring that the Senate can by
/ majority Vote suspend any action on re-
Iuiring a majority vote.
Senator Alice then moved that the
ormer rule be suspended and that Sem