Smyrna times., 1923-03-07
SENATE FAVORS BILL TO SAVE
PROPERTY OF HUSBAND OR WIFE
WOULD EXEMPT FROM EXECU-
TION THE EFFECTS OF EITHER
Only One Vote Against it-Bill De-
signed to Prevent the Breaking
Up OF a Home

bucu u IItNCnl the breaking
Up Of a Home
The Senate, Thursday morning, pass
ed Senator Ridgely's bill exempting
from attachment household effects and
other property belonging exclusively
to the wife or husband. Senator
Ridgely explained that under the pres
ent law the 'head of the family" is
generally construed to mean the hus-
band. This act would prevent a cred
itor from coming in and prOmiscuous-
ly depicting a household, without re-
gard to the equity either the husband
and wife may have in certain proper
ty, by virtue of it's having been ac-
cumulated through their individual eff
forts. The bill, he explained, would
make the husband responsible only
for the actual necessities of food,
clothing and shelter; and if either the
husband or wife should become in
volved in lawsuit, the property which
is exclusively his or hers could not be
attached. Senator Cam voted against
the bill.
BellefOnte- MOntrOse Merger
Representative Little's House bill,
permitting the town of Bellefonte to
extend its corporate limits to take in
the suburb of MOntrose also was pass
ed by the Senate. This bill, it is un-
derstOod, meets with the approval of
the residents of both communities.
Representative McManus' bill grant
ing to the cities and towns of the
State authority to adopt zoning regu-
latiOns if they desire them was passed
by the House Thursday morning, with
a substitute. The vote was 30 in fav-
or and 3 against. Representatives
Lord and Nelson and Speaker Culver.
The original bill provided that in case
of an appeal the same board making
the zoning districts would hear the
appeal. The substitute changes this
and provides that an appeal may be
heard by board of adjustment, which
in Wilmington would consist of the
mayor and the city solicitor. Mr.. Nc
Manus explained that this is simply
an enabling act, and is not compuls-
ory upon any city or town. 1t pro-
vides that there shall be a zoning
commission of three members, not
more than two of whom shall be from
the same political party, who will be
appointed by the city OF town council.
They will serve for a term of six
years. He said zoning restrictions
are desired and cited numerous in
stances where garages have been put
up in strictly residential sections,
where property owners in block of
porch houses build out to the build
ing line, shutting off the view of the
rest Of the houses in the row, and how
other undesirable buildings have de
preciated properties in the localities
in which they are erected. He said
the mayor and City Council of Will
mingtOn favor the bill.
To Enforce Payment of Fines
An unusual condition of affairs in
the town of Newark was revealed
when Representative Collins called up
for final action, his bill to give the
Town Council of that town the right
to enforce the ordinances it passes.
He stated that under a present law
an alderman or justice of the peace
there may impose a fine for any in
fraction of the ordinances, but now
there is no law to compel payment of
this fine if the persons fined do not
desire to do so. This bill provides
that where fines are not paid a prison
term may be imposed. The bill was
passed without opposition.
To Prohibit Fortune Telling
Representative Little's bill provid-
ing that fortune tellers must pay a
license fee of $10O a year to carry on
their business was called up, but re-
committed when it was found there
is now law on the books making il
a misdemeanor to practice fortune
telling.
Mr. Little claimed the existing Law
has "no teeth" and is not enforced
He claimed his bill makes the licenst
fee so high that no one would want t.
pay that much to tell fortunes, and i
would therefore drive such people Ou
Of business, which is the purpose o
the bill. The advisability of passing
one law to license people to do wha
another law forbids them to do wa
questioned. Representative Collin
suggested the Little bill be recon
mitted and that the present law b
amended to make it possible to enforc
it, and Mr.. Little agreed to do this.
More MnneY For Kenfnn