Milford chronicle., 1920-06-04
AMENDMENT TO CODE
PASSED AFTER FIGHT
OBJECTIONABLE PLURAL REFERENDUM
FEATURE MAY MEAN VETOING OF
THE ENTIRE REVISION.
ONE DOLLAR, ONE VOTE
PIERRE S. DU POINT MAKES A STRONG
PLEA, SHOWING INADVISABILITY OF
PLURAL PROPERTY BALLOT.

PLURAL PROPERTY BALLOT.
Dover, Del, June 1-Torrid de-
batting, exceeding in violence even the
verbal pyrOtechnics of the warning
factions over the suffrage question, at
tending the passage Tuesday after
noon by the Senate of the revised
school laws with the Objectionable
plural voting referendum provision in
tact. The final poll was u yeas to
4 nays, but the attempts to eliminate
the cumulative voting feature was de-
feated on four separate occasions by
tally Of 9 to Z, s to and s to 6.
The explanation of Senator Long
in recording a negative ballot was in
terpreted by Senator J. Frank Alice.
Jr., as signifying that Governor John
G. Townsend, Jr., had decided to veto
the bill and this would mean the con-
tinuance in operation of the present
code It would also mean that the ef-
fort of enemies of education to intimi-
date the States executive into signing
the measure because of their having
incorporated in III his recommenda-
tions for a special appropriation Of
$54O,000 would recOil upon them
selves when the people learned that
their being deprived of the money was
due to deliberate action on the part Of
their representatives.
Prior to the opening of the after
noon session there was a confer
ence of the Republican members, but
no agreement on the referendum could
be reached. Senator Murphy lining
up with the Republicans against his
four Democratic colleagues was one
of the elements that enabled victory
for those desirous Of re-establishing
the feudal baron system of voting.
It was also contended, although not
openly on the floor, that objection to
giving colored citizens the same vot-
| ing strength as white in the extreme
southern end of the State was an
other argument used by the advocates
of the referendum.
Senators James w. Robertson, Re-
publican, and Thomas F. Gormley,
Democrat, both of Wilmington, were
in the forefront of the champions for
Democratic system of government"
Senator ]. Frank Alice, Jr., of Dover,
Republican, led for the property bal
lot" advocates, but he made a sorry
GAulDlLlOl III lAgAu6 " uHAAOAu NAg
fairness method
Senator Robertson first attempted
to have the referendum feature omit
ted as applying to cities and counties.
They were both defeated by a vote of
8 to Z, the poll being:
Yeas-Messrs. Gormley, Hollett,
Latta, Long, Pool Price, Robertson.
Nays-Messrs. Alice, Brown, Handy,
Highfeld, Murphy, Palmer Walker,
President Pro TEN Short.
Two other suggestions were also
offered one providing for a normal
referendum and the other for a spec
ial commission to act in conjunction
with the county boards in passing up
on the advisability Of bond issues.
Either would have enabled fair regu-
lations and would have safeguarded the
State from extravaganza or unjusti-
fable bond issues. They were endors-
ed by Pierre S. DUPONT, vice-president
of the State Board of Education, who
has given millions for the educational
welfare of the children of Delaware
These were both defeated the first
by an s to vote and the latter by an
s to 6. The yeas and nays were the
same except that Senator Richards
was absent twice and Senator Prince
once when the roll was called.
In opening the battery for the sup
porters of better education, Senator
Robertson stated that Mr.. DUPONT was
better fitted to explain the evils of the
amendment tackled on by the House.
Mr.. DUPONT didn't think the Yesting
of the school board with authority to
issue bonds was extraordinary mas
much as they would supervise the
spending of the money. He thought If
they were capable of spending it they
we're also capable of deciding as to
the wisdom of their issuance.
Referendum Impractical
He explained the practical impossi-
bility Of conducting a referendum in
a county, explaining that the bond is
sue might be desirable for schools
necessary in one part, Wniie the oIner
section might be disinterested in the
project because of sectional prejudices
or because Of their disinclination to
pay more taxes. He believed that it
was not only inadvisable, but almost
dangerous and cited the possibility of
corporations or one individual con-
trolling the whole situation. He con-
cluded with the earnest request that
the referendum be omitted from the
school laws entirely.
Senator Gormley characterized the
provision as "Un-American, undemo-
cratic and absolutely unfair"
Final Vote Given
The vote on the final result follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Alice, Brown, Gorm-
ley, Handy, Hollett, Latta, Murphy,
Palmer, Price, Richards, Walker,
President Pro TEN Short. Total u.
-Highfield Long, Pool, Rob-
ertsOn. Total 4.