Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-12
CHAMBER COMMERCE
ON PENDING BILLS
Reasons Given for Opposition OF
Board of Directors to Proposed
Measures.

The Chamber Of Commerce is keeping
an eve on the proceedings OF the speea
session of the Legislature, especially hllls
that have been introduced affecting the
city of Wilmington. The following state
ment has been Issued giving the reasons
for the approval or diSapproval by u I
board of directors. of certain pending oliis,
In opposing Senate bills 1, ) and ., anu
House bills 50. 63 and 81, providing lot
the repeal of the State income tax ana
also Senate bill 9, an act conicrrlng upon
the mayor and Council OF wilmington,
certain additional powers relating 70 the
issuing of licenses and collecting OF license
fees the representative of the chamber are
now in conference with city and State
officials. 10 see if compromise cannot be
arrived at, by which the revenue OF the city
and counties cannot be Increased by a re-
turn by the State of portion Of the state
income tax, hoping thereby 10 obViatc inc
necessity of issuing licenses by 1lty
Council for the purpose ot increasing tiic
city'S much-nccdcd revenue. lnaSmuch
rs this matter Is In conference ~ tue
present time, the chamber felt IT wise 70
disopprovc all of the above mentioned
acts ms mt present drawn, and to substitute
therefore, some other measure along the
hines suggested.
The action taken by the board IN dis
approving House bill 3, providing ior
COMPENSATION to soldiers, sailors, etc, VINO
served during the late war, was due 70 ne
fact that in the opinion of the hoard inc.
amount authorized was entirely mace
luate for the purpose and Tor the dddl-
tional reason that it has becn represented
toit that the various posts of the American
4 So . lo,uIIfx- rD nrAnnsR0 tn TINS
form of recognition of the services render
"a bv them during the war.
The board approved Al pnnciple'
House bill 10, an act to provide Tor State
armory and arsenal in which would be
located accommodations for the American
Legion. giving ample space for conVen-
lions exhibitions. etc, as more APP
propriatc recognition of the services
rendered by Dclaware's service men and
women. IL is believed that this bill. with
an amendment. not making it obligatory
for the municipality to provide $500, 600
in order TO avail itself of the State APP
but authorizing the raising OF
the funds by subscriptions from private
parties aS we'll as from the munlcap apahty,
should pass.
In opposing House bill Il, an act to
regulate New Castle county workhouse, II
was felt that the passage OF thus bill at
/ hr present time would be inappropriate
IN view Of the fact that the Legislature
has authorized an official Investigation
int, The workhouse situation, and until
: be rcport of this investigating committee
/. ready. the board feds that no further
action should be taken.
In opposing House bill p, an act to
-pstrict heavy traffic on certain highways,
X was felt by the board that It would he
yerv difficult to enforce the features IN tins
act would work hardships unnecessarily
IN many cases, and would only result III
adding to our statutes an un-entorclble
law. IN a.
The board approved of Senate bill 80,
nroyiding for the sale of county aims
houses and the establishment in lieu there
pf state home. Th ey, however, made
of various amendments
ia this bill. especially rega riding the ap-
Dontment and tenure office OF the COM
rnissioncrs. 1t is believed that the change
contemplated by this act, II properly
carried out. would be for the ultimate good
Cf the counties and State.
Since the chamber took action on tins
lil there have been such radical changes
made In the proposed act, the chamoer
now believes that no action should pc
taken on this measure at tins special ses-
sion. Bv deierring action until next year
he people will have an opportunity 10
express themselves on tins measure.
In opposing Senate bill 4l, pertaining 70
the sewer system Of the city OF Whining
ton. the board believes that the present
sewer and drainage laws pertaining 70 the
city are fair and equitable and should not
be altered at this time.
hill 4 a.
uuiring all corporations to pay all en-
ploves in legal tender. seIni-monthly. the
III rectors feel that, in Delaware there Is no /
necessity for sucl. law. Similar laws IN
mining communities were probably lustl- i
fed. where employees were forced TO deal
with the company stores IN order To get
their checks cashed. but this condition
does not obtain IN this community ana 10 IS
thought that 1t would entail an unneces-
ssrV hardship on corporations which pay
heir employees by check instead OF IN cash.
In Opposing House bill IS, an act to
regulate the police department OF Vii
mington, etc, by providing that no police +
bfficcr should work over eight hours IN
wcnl y-four, il was represented that +
under present conditions II would be I'M
possible to properly police the clty were
such a restriction IN force. Tins action
vas taken not because the organization
opposed shorter time OF service, but due
b its knowledge of the existing conditions
Il the police department and the inability
q obtain sufficient funds TO warrant such
large incle ease IN It's force, and also is
inability 30 obtain the men necessary Tor
suci an increase.
House bin 10. an act TO provide for a
hIcc-nember Levy Court for New Castle
'UgntN his act was approved III plin-
Iple. bat certain recommendations made.
h. chief of which was 10 provide that the
erln of the members Of tie present Levy
curt should expire IN january 1921 and
hat at the election IN November 1920
hEae members should be elected 10 serve
or two years. AT the time the present
1evy GOUTJ members were elected, they
we're selected by the people to represent
crtain limited areas and it would only be
air TO he voters OF the county at large 10
ave the selection Of the members of The
4evy Court to represent their districts By
-ote, rather than By legislative enactment
In opposing House bill IS, which pro
-ides that all members of the Board ol
Assessment Of New Castle county should
ct as a unit, the board Of directors fci7
hat this was an impossible provision and
.ould seriously interfere with the business
( the Board OF Assessment.
House bill So, providing for a promo
ION Of efficiency and economy in assessing
roperty by the Board Of Assessment for
,cw Castle county, was disapproved IN its
resent form by this organization, due to
he fact that ii provided that the assess
lcnt board should endeayor TO promote