Evening journal., 1920-04-15
mo Referendum,
SENATEDECIDES
Defeats Gormley's Bill For
People to Pass on Federal
Constitution Changes
DOUBT VALIDITY OF
SUCH ENACTMENT
Stan Correspondent.

Stan Correspondent.
DOVER. Del. April i5.-By a vote 5
yeas 70 s nays. the Senate this morning
defeated Senator Gormley's bill proyid-
ing that before the Legislature ratiles
any amendment TO the constitution or
the United states there be referendum
on the subject. The vote was as fol-
lows:
Yess-Brown, Gormely. HoIlett, Latta
and Murphy.
Nays-Allee, Bennett. Handy, Palmer.
Price, Richards. Robertson and walker.
Not Notlng-Long and Pool.
Absent-Short and Highfleld.
Senator Gormley said the purpose
was TO give the people a chance TO ex-
press their approval or disapproval.
''This blll's need" he said. was shown
during this special session For the hrst
two weeks pandemonium reigned, and
there was chaos, with men being pulled
here and there. The voters should be
given a chance 10 express themselves.
II is purely democracy under which we
are supposed TO live
s,ua,ur =. al er doubled the efflciency
OF a referendum in cid ng pubic
uuestions and feared that the people
might be swayed by propagandists. lie
thought IL should be part or educa-
lion 10 Insiill into minds or the young
a proper respect for the institution or
governm Mt. 'It's a hard thing to go
against the will Of your constituents.
he said. but when thal VIII /strlKes
al the fundamentals OF government, u
Is your duty to combat II | don't
believe there is any honest demand Tor
a change In government"
In rply 10 Senator Walker, Hr.
Gormley asserted that TIE bill In no
way would take away any powers now
held by dhe Legislature. He leaned TO
The idea that lczis' atOrs were as sus-
cepiible TO propaganda as IN people.
senator Walker said: ~ don't believe
we want this I'm Delaware. don't be-
lieye Il is an honest demand OF the peo-
ple. whose interests are at stake
Senator Gormley said the bill would
give the Legislators the advantage OF
learinq the sentiment OF the people.
Senator Alice held that the bill IS so-
solutely unconstitutional as Il refers 10
The people something which Is delegat~
es 10 the LEGISLATURE.
Senator Gormley again explained the
hill. and said II was only method OF
obt1fBlng the sentiment OF the people
senator Alice said the same thing Is
secured through the planks OF the politi
cal partles II the subject is an import
ant one and this bill would be no more
binding than that
Senator Bennett said ne saw no use
enacting law that rs not gong W
amount to anything.
Senator Robertson held that the con-
stitution Of the State practically pre-
ciudes the submitting OF anything 70
the people To get such sentiment, ne
held. an amendment 10 the State con-
stitutlon must be adopted. He thought
the bill clearly unconstitutional
Senator Palmer doubted that the Dnl
was constitutional but thought the
people should have some say as to
whether or not the Federal constitution
be torn UP. "If something Is not done.
no said. ''ii WI not be long before you
will have 10 get magnifying glass 10
find the original federal constitution.
Senator GOrmley inquired " the
nineteenth amendment is ratified " u
would not automatically amend the
State constitution Senator Alice re-
nl'ed that Il would Senator Robertson
SAID the constitution and laws OF any
state are subject to the constitution
Of the United States. and that he was
glad OF u.
Senator Gormley said ne agreed with
Senator Palmer that the people should
have something TO say shout these
amendments 10 The constitution OF the
United sta es. IF they keep on. In 20
years the constitution will look like
crazy quilt" Senator Gormley remark
ed. He regretted the rush thai Is be-
ing made 10 put through federal consti-
tutional amendments.
Senator Walker declared the CORN
ley bin was an entering wedge for the
initiative and referendum and attack
on the present form Of government.
The vote was then taken.
Andrew C. Gray and John Biggs OF
Wilmington and w. Watson Harrington
OF Dover, are busy today against Repre-
sentative Quigley's bill passed by the
House yesterday, which provides for
abolishing a trolley bridge over the Del
aware Railroad near New Castle and
establishing a grade crossing there.
Senator Robertson's home rule bill for
Wilmington. which would give council
authority TO license businesses. Is sched-
uled to come up for flnal action Ia the
House this afternoon. Councilmen For
wood. Murray and Mearns are here In
the interests OF the bill.
Senator Gormley has received q re-
quest from the Retail Grocers' Ex-
change OF Wilmington 10 try and defer
action on the bill until they can have a
hearing on t. The House, however,
may refuse TO defer action any longer
as the bill has been on the calendar all
session.
The House committee on labor this
afternoon reported favorsbly with sub
stitute Representative McNabb's bill TO
compel all corporations in the State 10
nay their employees at least semi
monthly starting July 4. The original
provided that all WAGES be paid in cash
which provision the substitute elm
mates