Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-28
MONDAY. MARCH 2S, 1921.
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

tmay be passed upon the session OF the
LEGISLATURE which practically came TO |
mn end AT $50 o'clock Saturday morn |
,inr--after hours of confusion. haste |
land reckless passing of final Judgment !
lupon many measures-is that II does |
mot appear ID have enacted any really |
vicious or injurious legislation. With re-
lspect to the quality of some OF the laws
that wero enacted. however. judgment
twill have TO be suspended until actual
b.xperience shall demonstrate their
working ability and their capacity for
,rooa or otherwise Especially will this
,npply TO the new School law and the
l.recial taxing provisions provided for
injecting the cost OF its administration,
(which were prepared and enacted prac-
ttically during the last two days of the
1session.
Yet school legislation was one Of the
lnost important the questions that
confronted the Legislature when the
session opened. the first week in Janu-
,arv. The school situation had been
lthre.hed over for n year or more be-
,,f thousands OF citizens especially in
Kent and Sussex counties, In many re-
spccts II was an issue in the political
carnpaign and figured effectively ar the
election for members OF the Legislature.
II was urged upon the members by the
retiring governor in his final message
and by Governor Denney in his inaugu-
raj address. II might have been sup
posed that thi. question would have
been the first taken up for serious con-
sidera.i lion. hut week. passed before it
was seriously brought forward. so that
the resultant contest between the con-
tending forces. and especially between
the senate and House OF Representa-
tiyes. was delayed until there was very
little left OF the time allotted TO the
daily sittines for which the members
arc allowed compensation. The natural
result was disagreement followed. dur
Ing the last two days. by the bringing
forward O, an entirely new measure.
which the House passed ny a partisan
vote. and which the Senate, 70 the sur
prise Of many. generously accepted
But how this new measure will Oper-
ate. how far il will serve the best in
terests Of our public schools, how ef-
'fectively the tax provisions will operate
.in bringing in revenue and refraining
from seriously affecting corporate and
other interests. TO the detriment OF the
state. remains TO be seen. Il will not be
.-.st1. - t,dra acc,,ra+el.- or evan in
teIIigently. until the law is under ad
ministration. probably not until after
-ne opening q the new school year. next
fall. as the time for the summer vaca-
ton IL near at hand. However. the pub
lie may be congratulated upon the fact
That those who had intended TO repeal
the new school laws and re-enact
taOse which prevailed previously were
Iot able to carry out their purpose.
The Legislature enacted a Law for
some kind Of a budget system. but time
and actual operation Will be necessary
70 test us merits. also. At any rate. this
was good move il the right direction.
But the earnest recommendations Of
Ex-Governor Townsend and Governor
Denney for legislation 10 co-ordinat te
and consolidate the numerous boards
and commissions that have been created
IN past years. with such thoughtless-
ness and lack Of system that they over
lap each other and cannot help vast
ang lot OF money. went unheeded. Here
was a fine opportunity lost.
II Will not be possible TO make just
estimate Of the general legislation with
out time to study the measures that
were passed. Some Of them no doubt
arc good: certainly. the passage Of the
biu for a seven-rnember Board Of Edu-
cation IN Wilmington is a distinct re-
form. But a great many Of the bills
enacted were purely local measures
and few of them of more than ordinary
Importance 10 the general public.
As plain matter Of fact, not much
new legislation was really demanded
% this session. AS set forth by Every
Evening at the outset, they were: Prop.
or and effective amendment OF the
School laws; establishment " the bulge
rystem; coordination and consolidation
~ the far too many boards and com.
missions; new city charter for viii.
mlngton; the regular appropriation bills
This brief program, however. has beer
but partially carried out in the enact
rlent OF new School saw Of yet unde
sermined value and Of budget system
with its merits yet 20 be revealed. TIL
appropriations will come next Wednes
DAY when there will be days session
,or rosr consideration. The Whining
ION cs,srr-r bin was basciy defeated
nes~ 0~vpuautunns and deep IN