Smyrna times., 1923-01-10
LEGISLATIVE BILL CAUSES
WOMEN TO CO TO DOVER
MOTHERS PENSION FUND WITH
OTHER MEASURES IN DANGER
WOmen's Ire Aroused By Plan To
Combine Three Welfare Bodies
Into One Organization

lnIO OHe organization
Governor Denney's proposal to COM
bine the State Board of Health, Child
Welfare Cmmi ission, Delaware State
tuberculosis Commission and Mothers
Pension Commission, has aroused a
storm of protest from these organiza-
tions: A delegation of women visited
the State House Thursday afternoon
and exercised their persuasive powers
on the Senators and Representatives
against the measure Among those
present were, Mrs. Julia H. Ashbrook,
Mrs. Henry Ridgley, Mrs. F. Bring
hurst, Mrs. Mabel S. Derby, Miss
Clara Southwick, Mrs. S. S. Pennewill,
Miss Marie Lockwood, and others re-
presenting various welfare and politi-
cal organizations. The organizations
represented included the Delaware
Federation of Women's Clubs, Wom-
ems Christian Temperance Union, the
Anti-Tuberculosis Commission, Lea
que of Women Voters, women of the
Democratic State Committee, the Con-
sumers' League of Delaware, women
of the State Grange, the Delaware
State Teachers Association and the
Visiting Nurses Association. As the
Democratic members of the Legisla-
ture at the special session three years
ago were largely responsible for the
defeat of the suffrage amendment,
Mrs. Hilles thinks it would now be the
courteous thing for some Democratic
member to have ratification resolu-
tiOn introduced and for the Democra-
tic members to put it through. The
Constitution as it now stands, speci-
fies as qualified voters "every free
white male citizen of the age of 21
years, although the national suffrage
amendment accords women over 21 the
voting privilege.
May ReOrganize School Board
1t was reported Wednesday, last,
that bill will probably be introduced
in the Legislature to effect a reorgani-
zation of the State Board of Educa-
tion and revision of the oft-revised |
school law. The State Board of Edu-
cation has drafted twenty three pro-
posed amendments, but it is under
stood other amendments will be offer
ed. Several members of the Legisla-
ture are said to be of the opinion that
the agricultural course offered in most
OF the rural high schools fails to ac-
complish much for the cost. Many of
the rural schools make only a faint
effort at teaching agriculture, horti-
culture or the kindred subjects of most
vital Importance to the agricultural in
terests of the State. Some of the
members believe more could be accom-
plished by a two-year agricultural |
course at the University of Delaware,
with the State offering a number of
scholarships. At the present time |
there does not seem to be any serious
effort on the part of anyone to boost |
the measure for a new city charter for
Wilmington. Members from the low
er end of the State do not seem favor
ably inclined to get back of measure
on which there appears to be a di-
vision of sentiment on the part of the
Wilmington delegation. Two years
ago the Democrats were the most ur-
gent in demanding a new form of gov
eminent for the city, but the Demo
cratic majority in the Legislature ap-
pears to be very apathetic, if not OPP
posed to anything other than amend
ments to the existing charter.