Smyrna times., 1933-02-22
SENATE TALKS
RATIFICATION
Bill introduced at Dover To-
day to Provide For a Con-
ventiOn for Ratification
METHOD OF PROCEDURE

Ill
t. amendment bill passed by Coz
= gress and sent to the States fl
n ratification, Delaware took ster
T yesterday to adopt legislation NAL
ing Delaware the first State to RAJ
4 lfy the repeal of the Eighteent
t Amendment, but when legislatiy
{ attorneys were consulted about tn
steps they had planned to take |
: developed that they were uncon
stitutional, and the whole schem
was abandoned. Some of the mem
oers of the Legislature had been il
; communication with Washington
oy telephone yesterday morning
and it was understood they haC
been informed a joint resolution
adopted by the General Assembly
would be sufficient to exemplify
Delaware's ratification under the
repeal act of Congress. However
when attorneys were consulted all
of them agreed such resolution
and method of procedure would be
meaningless, and it was then decid-
ed to withhold the resolution, and
to proceed in a constitutional way.
Attorneys Draft Ratification Bill
In order to proceed in a proper
way with the ratification a bill was
introduced in the Senate to-day
providing ratification convention
1t has been prepared by commit
tee of attorneys who volunteered
their services. Under the provisions
OF this act IL delegates at large
would be chosen for the convention.
Seven of them would have to be
residents of New Castle County:
five would have to be residents of
Kent County, and five of Sussex
County. The bill would authorize
the Governor to issue a proclama-
tion fixing the date for the election
to choose the delegates to the rati-
hcation convention The election
would be held either as a special
election or during the next general
election. There would be at least
two registration days if the proc
lamation specified a special cleo
tion. Candidates for delegates
would have to be nominated by
petition. 1t would be necessary to
procure 100 signers to a petition, !
residing in the country of the can
didate. One petition could bear
the names of more than one candi-
date of county. Nominations
would be without party or political
designation, but the nominating
petitions would contain a state /
nent as to each nominee, to the ef- |
.ect that he favors or opposes rati-
lcation, or that he remains uncom-
nitted. The delegates would meet
n the Senate chamber on the
wenty-eighth day after their cleo
ion at noon and constitute the con
Tention to pass upon the question
# ratification. A majority vote Of
he delegates would be required
or ratification.
imperative If U. s. Acts
The bill contains a clause de-
laring its provisions imperative
Congress shall prescribe the
manner in which the conventions :
hall be held. The convention
'ould then be constituted and op-
rated according to the direction
Congress. No nominations would
e effective except those of the sew
1candidates from New Castle, the ]
We from Kent and the five from
ussex committed to each side of
lie question. Those having the :
rgest number of signers to their :
spective petitions would be con- :
dered the nominees for their side
Jerks of the Peace would becid
IS by drawing lots. Candidates r
ling at nomination would be con
1ered alternates in order of the
lmber of signatures they have re- +
ived. The election would be held
ballot, separate from any other
Hot, regardless of whether it is
general election. Such ballots if
ed at a general election, would be
closed in the same envelope as
e regular ballot The ballot
ould state the substance of the io
opposed amendment, followed by Y
instructions to the IS
ter. It would have columns ~
AIDED For Ratification, ,""Against -
ltification" and 'Uncommitted."
Ie names of the nominees would
placed in their respective col
ms in alphabetical order.