Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-20
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Fine Opcninx for = Great Reform.

Al noon on Monday thc>GcnerA As
s.nbly Will convene in the State House At
Dover in extraordinary session called by
Governor Townsend for the purpose OF
rvinS attention TO certain matters spect-
fed bv him In the call In addition to
these matters, no doubt, a considerable
ssro,rnt of other business viii be brought
forward. so that there will be plenty OF
work TO occupy the members during the
anssion. which is expected to continue Tor
a. least thirty working DAYS. This IS the
extent 10 which the Constitution allows
compensation to members for attendance
at eperiaI sessions. so il j. not likely the
legislature will remain much longer after
the pay is shut off, The thirty working
lays. however, viii cszTy the special 80
sion bevond the middle Of April
This special session, no matter what
NAV be its outcome in other respects, will
afford the members of the General AS
sembly an opportunity for inaugIrating
!, very important reform-the elimination
if a most discreditsblc evil thst has af-
1icted our legislative sessions and greatlv
impaired their practical working capacity
for many wears And that Is, 20 STAY IN
Dover continuously from Mondays to
FRIDAYS Of each week. instead Of running
avav on the early afternoon trans each
dav and returning 70 tho Capital the next
morning.
How seriously this reprehensible and
lsyv habit interferes with the work OF the
Iexis ature all may see. The sessions Will
open at 10 O'Clock in the morning, rr-
ces. for at least two hours at noon, and
close. as a rule. by four O'Clock Then the
members will fee To their homes The
result is there arc no evening hours dcvot~
ed 70 the important and valuable work
of committee meetings for the consldera-
ton of bills and to giving hearings TO dele
cations for or against pending measures
These important matters, inseparably
connected with the regular progress of
legislative work, must be attended 10
during the few hours Of the day that the
members condescend to devote TO their
hours in the day time are not sufficient for
the proper transaction of regular routine
business, much less full discussion and
consideration Of important measures be-
fore taking final action thereon.
II is already assured that much time
will be demanded for hearings Of deiega-
ticns for and against certain measures
that will come before the Legislature.
The School Code Will be the most import
ant. and all citizens will admit the neces-
sity Of giving TO the proper amending this
measure full and intelligent considera-
ton. that the interests Of our State educa-
tional system may not be impaired, but
strengthened and improved. This de-
sired result will not be possible if the MEM
bers insist upon the absurd and reprehen-
sible practice of hurrying away from
Dover each afternoon. returning next
morning.
No one can predict, at this time. the
amount Of time that will be consumed
in giving hearing 10 contesting delega-
tions on the important question of ratifv-
ing or rejecting the Equal Suffrage Amend
ment to the Federal Constitution. The !
interest In this issue extends all over the /
country Men and women OF national /
standing and reputation in the fight for |
and against votes for women will be at /
hand, earnestly contending for the cause |
they represent. Advocates and opponents |
Of Woman's Suffrage already have opened /
headquarters in Dover, and numerous
workers will besiege members of the Legis- /
lature with great assiduity and earnest |
purpose All this work will take time. and /
un.ess the members of the Legislature re-
main n Dover ST nights the time de-
manded for these contesting hearings and
arguments win heavily encroach upon the
limited time allotted 70 legislative bust.
ness.
It should be . matter Of pride, OF self
respect, of duty 10 the State and the
people, with members of the Legislature
TO eradicate this great evil that has so
stubbornly attached itself to our legisla-
tive session for years, making them q
farce and continual danger They
should remember they are not really |
earning their per diem compensation
when they deliberately shorten the legis-
IstlVe dsv IN such an indefensible manner. |
Their course from this point Of vie" was |