Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1923-04-20
LEGISLATURE QUITS
WITH AWFUL RECORD
Continued from first pagel

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; will probably make this session of the
legislature known for years as one
of the most inefficient and expensive
in the history of the State.
Ripper bills attacking the Secretary
of States office, the titling depart
ment, the State Highway Department,
the Board of Elections in the City of
Wilmington and the Income Tax De-
partment were passed by the legisla-
ture, but they died when the Cover
nor failed to approve them. In most
instances these bills were not passed
for the benefit of the people, but for
the expressed idea of getting" some
body who was holding office.
Have Clean Records
Both of Milford's representatives in
the House have clean records, and an
examination of their votes on the
many bills presented show that they
supported the more progressive meas
ures brought before that body. While
it was expected that Representative
Pettyjohn, Democrat, would vote with
his party on purely party measures,
he did not follow his party blindly
where the interests of the schools or
other important matters were at stake.
He consistently refused to sanction
the ripper bill originating in the Sen
ate which had for its idea the chang
ing of the State Police system. When
reported to his committee, he killed it
and it was never resurrected. While
the Chronicle does not agree with Mr.
Pettyjohn in politics, it gives him
credit for having made a creditable !
showing at Dover, and with having !
voted right on most of the real bills |
up for consideration. Nutter Marvel, |
Republican, who represented North |
Milford, also has a good clean record. |
While on the minority party, and |
therefore in a position to do but little |
in the matter of shaping legislation, |
Mr.. Marvel voted for the best interests
of the schools and other progressive
measures brought up in the House.
Both men have GOOD records.
Speaker Culver has a most unique
record. This was his second term as a
member of the House of Representa-
tives, and during both terms he never
failed to answer roll call or vote
on any bill. He was a good presid-
ing officer, and his friends are num-
bered from both sides of the house.
His rulings were generally fair.
The fact that the Governor has an
nounced that he will not sign the
school bill, which would abolish the
SO filing fee and the State Tax Depart
ment and provide for a $3.50 capita
ton tax, will continue the tax depart
ment and the filing fee for two more
years. The stand taken by some of the
Democratic leaders that all bills, in
Guiding the school revenue bill, which
were in the hands of the Governor
during the eleven day recess, become
laws whether the Governor signed
them or not, is not causing much con-
Germ to anyone. The Democrats made
a blunder by recessing for more than
ten days, and realizing that fact, the
above contention was the only thing :
left for them after they had gotten :
themselves into such an amusing sit
uation.
The fact that the House refused to
pass the Senate bill to change the vot-
ing place in the Third Election district :
of the Tenth Representative District :
Of Sussex county over the Governors
veto, demonstrated that the majority
party in the Senate, which had previ-
ously passed the bill over the veto, :
had little influence with the House
members.