Evening journal., 1921-03-28
WAIT VERDICT
OF PEOPLE ON
SCHOOL BILL

was completed on the school bill
which was passed by a vote Of ~ to
s, the tax bill having been previous
~ passed unanimously.
Senator Short In a fight for an
amendment offered by him to have
the members Of the State Board OF
Education elected instead OF APP
pointed made one Of the strongest
arguments heard in the Senate dur
ing the entire session. In plain Ian
guago he accused Democratic House
members Of betraying a trust in vot-
ing for a bill that provides for ap-
pointive State board members. when
It was we'll known that the matter
OF a more Democratic board, one
that could be reached by the people
was an issue in most districts at the
last election and the members re-
ferred 10 were elected on that issue.
Senator Shorts strong plea, how
ever, failed TO bring the votes as
only four Senators voted for his
amendment. After the vote was an
nounced both members and specta-
tors crowded about Senator Short 10
congratulate him on his speech. The
Milford Senator laughingly remark
ed: II never received so many con-
gratulations and so few votes in my
life"
The fact OF the Senate accepting
and passing the two House bills. one
providing for the administration OF
school affairs and the other TO raise
the funds to carry out the admins
tration was a surprise to many per-
sons. While Il had been rumored
about the corridors all day that the
Senate would concur should the
House pass the two bills there were
many who refused TO believe H.
Most OF the Republican Senators
argued Il was incumbent upon this
Legislature to pass some school bill.
They pointed out that the House had
two bills before Il sent there by the
Senate and had refused to act on
either, neither OF them ever getting
out OF committee and therefor the
only way possible to get a school
measure through seemed to be to
pass the House bills one OF the
Senate bills was practically identical
with the one prepared by the citizens
committee and defeated by the
House several weeks ago, except for
some changes in the tax provisions.
The other Senate bill repealed the
present school laws. re-enacted the
old school laws Of previous to 1919
and carried tax provisions indentical
with the other Senate bill.
To justify their action in voting
for the House bills, some OF the Re-
publican Senators explained that the
bill was practically n copy OF the tai
provisions in the Senate bill. and
that the alcohol bill did not diffei
great deal from the citizens com
mittee bill. except that State boar,
members will be appointed instead
Of being elected and the abolishinl
Of the county boards. Republican
Senators accused Democrats Of play,
ing politics, and In turn some Of tn,
Democrats made a similar charge.
The House Friday afternoon
passed the two bills by a strict party
vote, following a caucus OF Demo.
cratic members, when IL was decided
to support the two bills. The caucus
from what has since leaked out, wal
a memorable one. James II. Hughes
Democratic attorney OF Dover, whit
assisted in drawing the first bill
which was defeated by the House
and Attorney r.. r. Kenney are sal,
to have urged that the House no
pass the two new bills. Charles i
Curley, who drew the bills passed, 4
said TO have argued for the two bills
and he won out.
Some OF the Democratic member
are said TO have only agreed 10 sup
port the House bills because the,
felt positive the Senate would neve
J accept the two measures, because o
-, the action OF the House In refusing
. 20 act on either Of the two sent owe
. by the Senate.
3 When Il became whispered arounl
I after supper that the Senate wouli
, likely pass both bills. some OF tn
3 Democratic House members are sal
= TO have become greatly frightened
Z Those who became so much con
! cerned were members who wer
elected on the plain issue OF votin
to repeal the present school law
and re-enacting the old laws, an
tine A1Ourt nAANr nN AAWh w AAAANs AAA'A
= was talk OF trying TO get the senai
e to return the bills to the House, an
n a petition is said 10 have been Pre-
\ pared. hoping to get eighteen men
d bers TO sign # for the purpose Of r.
= calling the school bill, but the net
!, essary signatures could not be 81
4 cured.
shortly after returning from SUI
n per, the Republican Senators wei
Is into caucus. Sometime later, Senate
II Alice left the caucus room. He we
to the Senate chamber, reported 4
vorably the tax bill and asked that
be placed on final reading, whis
was done. II was sometime lat
that the other Republican Senate
returned and unanimously pass
\ the bill with only a little discussio
/ THE Republicans pulled one ov
I on them" This expression could
i heard around the corridors all nig1
4 referring to action OF the Senate
1 passing the two House bills Dem
! cratic leaders claimed TO be in
way concerned and replied that
the bills passed are not satisfacto
TO the people, the Republican Sc
ate is surely equally responsil
with the Democratic House. Repu
/ lican leaders. however, point {
that the Senate made every eff
10 get through a bill that they 4
would have been more acceptable
the people than the House bill,
their efforts were turned down a
E there was nothing left 70 do but I
rapl The Hnuaa bfl1a which -
argue, were better than the pres