Smyrna times., 1923-03-07
WOMEN ON DELAWARE JURIES
EXCUSED IF THEY 50 DESIRE
HOUSE CONCURS IN SENATE
BILL BY VOTE OF 29 TO 4
Becomes a Law If Governor Denney
Approves Same With His Sigma
ture-Other Bills Passed

ture-Other Bills Passed
After it had been advocated by
Representative Nelson and Mrs. Laura
Postles McCune, of Wyoming, the
House, Wednesday afternoon, by
vote of 29 to passed Senator Hop
kins' bill providing for women to be
excused from jury duty when they re-
quest it. Those voting against the
bill were Representative Alice, Car
Isle, McManus and Lednum. Repre-
sentatives Little and Mari were alb
sent. The House by unanimous vote
also passed Senator Hopkins bill to
provide separate quarters for women
jurors and women bailiffs when out
on a case overnight. Representative
Nelson called the bill up to excuse
women from jury duty on request and
explained the measure. He then asked
the privilege of the floor for Mrs.
McCune. Mrs. McCune said in advo
eating the passage of the bill she was
not only expressing her sentiments
but those of hundreds of other women
in the State. She said she had not
been an advocate of suffrage because
she foresaw the attending evils of suf-
frage for women and that it was
forced on Delaware by the action of
her sister States Mrs McCune said
there has been cases and will CON
tinue to be cases before juries that
reek of filth, and in a mixed assem-
bly, it would be embarrassing for wo-
men as well as men to sit in such
cases. She argued the bill does not
curtail the privileges of women as
they can serve on juries if they so de
sire. She declared the bill was an
Out-crOpping of an age old chivalry
which has always prompted man to
guard his woman folks. Representa-
tive Lord said he favored the bill but
questioned the legality of it because
women and men are equal before the
law and the constitution provides all
citizens must do jury duty. The bills
were then both passed.
Kill Highway Bill Right to be Sued
Representative Stockley's bill pro-
viding that the State Highway De-
partment may sue and be sued was
killed unanimously. Chief Engineer
Buck of the Highway Department,
said his department knew nothing
about the bill He said the depart
ment did not advocate it and it was
then killed. Senator Ridgely's bill
authorizing certain persons to sell and
give a clear title to land in Viola was
passed by the House. 1t was explain
ed the property had been bought by
religious sect for a church, but the
church was never erected and now
they want to dispose of the property.
Town Assessment Separate
Representative Little's bill provid-
/ ing for the New Castle County Board
of Assessment to keep the assessment
of property in incorporated towns in
that county separate from that out
side the towns was passed by the
House. Some of the towns get back
a certain amount of the tax for road
purposes and it is because of this fact
that a separate assessment is desired.
The bill was explained by Frank L.
Speakman, attorney for the Levy
Court. Senator Highfeld's bill pro-
viding for milk dealers to register the
marks on their bottles with the Sec
retary of State, was called up for
final action by Representative Little.
At the time Senator Highfeld was in
executive session and as several ques-
tiOns were asked Mr.. Little that he
could not explain, action on the bill
was deferred.