Smyrna times., 1921-03-30
STATE LEGISLATURE COMES
TO CLOSE AFTER z WEEKS
SMYRNA GOT ALL 1T WAS AFTER
so FAR AS BILLS PRESENTED
Outside of School Bill, Which the
Acid Test of Future Will Decide,
There Was Disappointment.

AcId lest OF fuLure VIII Declde,
There Was Disappointment.
After twelve weeks of practically
continuous work, the Legislature adj
ioulned at 6.25 Saturday morning.
Both Houses are meeting again today
to go over the claim bills, &C., and
when this work is done adjournment
will be sine die. Smyrna got all that
it was after so far as bills having to
do with the town was concerned,
namely the right to borrow $4,000
and the changing of the charter to al
low women to vote. Some of our cit
liens were sorry effort was not made
to do away with election districts in
Smyrna and let councilmen be elected
at large with the terms of members
expiring at different years instead of
all at one time. Not a few would
like to have seen a bill passed giving
Smyrna a commission form of govern
ment. These questions, however, can
come up at another Legislature but
so far as the two Smyrna bills pre-
sented by Senator L. M. Price was
concerned, each passed without oppo-
sition. The bill to borrow $4,000 to
meet the deficit on street work already
completed and to do new work, name
ly to resurface Mt. Vernon, South
and Delaware streets, carries with it
a referendum vote, which means an
other bond election, the date for
which Council will fix shortly.
Road Bill Passes But Not as Desired.
Of Statewide interest other than
the school bill about the only measure
passed by the Legislature that stands
out prominently, is the Bennet high
way bill, which shon considerably,
passed both Houses. This bill pro-
vides for S150,000 annually to care
for a bond issue of S2,10O,0O0 instead
of an appropriation of S250,000, which
amount would have completed the
highway project and the State laid
roads in the counties. This means that
the proposed concrete roads from
/ Smyrna to Kenton and Maryland line
and roads to Flemings and Leipsic will
have to wait indefinitely along with
other county roads of Kent, New Cas-
tie and Sussex. The taking of finan-
cial care of the two colleges now
known as the University of Delaware
at Newark, was gratifying to alumni
and friends of education.
/ Hurt Over Child Welfare Defeat.
The drastic cut from $4,000 to $25.
600 in the Child Welfare Commission
bill was a great disappointment tt
women. The women of both partie:
had asked that this bill practically a!
the most important from the woman!
point of view. 1t did not get by the
shears of the House appropriation
committee in spite of its strong en-
dorsement.
New Castle County Fared Very Well
New Castle county Jared we'll at thu
hands of the Legislature. Two import
ant bills of interest to the county tina
passed both Houses were the meas
ures authorizing the county to Dor
row 100000 for bridge repairs an,
the bill authorizing bond issue o
S5O0,OO0 for county road work. TIL
important bridge bill authorizing tn
New Castle County Levy Court t
, borrow 100000 for new bridges a
Market and Eleventh street bridge, i
Wilmington, over the Brandywin
passed the House but failed in tn
Senate. Keen disappointment wa
felt among Wilmingtonians in the dc
feat of the charter bills. An earl
i, movement looking toward campaig
= for new charter is expected to re
= suit from the failure of the bill.