Milford chronicle., 1939-08-18
Third Highway Bill
Passed By Assembly
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tional by the Superior Court. except
that the word by increasing the
membership thereof have been
dropped from the title which now
reads: Senate Substitute for Senate
Bill No 243 An Act to amend Chapter
l66 of the Revised Code Of Della
ware. 1885, providing for reorganiza-
ton of the State Highway Depart
ment." The title of the old bill was
cause for the recent adverse court
ruling.
Minor change in the new measure
gives the Governor the right to ap-
point a successor to the represen-
tative from Kent county whose term
expired in May.
The bill increases the member
ship of the department by naming
three new members - Donald p.
Ross. Ralph w. Emerson. and Chas.
d. Abbott. Republicans. 1t elimi-
mates the Governor as an ex-officio
member. By this law. the depart
ment changes from Democratic to
Republican conrtOl.
The measure Ia the third present
ed on the subject. The first was pass
ed and vetoed, and the Legislature
was unable to override the veto. The
second bill. the one nullified by the
court last week. was presented by
Senator Alden p Short, passed, ve-
toed. and passed over the veto.
Republican Legislators apparently
made up their minds to introduce the
new bill during the afternoon as
there was little talk of 1t when the
House first convened at ii a. m. In
fact a concurrent resolution provid
ing for a recess until November q
was passed by the House before TAX
ing recess.
Conferences and caucuses devel-
oped during the afternoon. however.
and when the Senate reconvened late
in the afternoon after a recess Sen
ator Burton S. Heal presented the
bill on behalf of Senator d. w. Steele.
eutenant-Governor Edward W.
COoch, presiding in the Senate. ruled
the bill could not be accepted because
of so many erasures, but Senator
Heal appealed the decision of the
chair and was sustained.
Action Speeded
Action on the bill then was swift,
II was referred to the committee on
buildings and highways and Senate
George r. Clark. chairman. reported
favorably.
On the third and final reading
after two-paFagraphs had bees gead
Senator Heal moved that that be
sufficient but on objection of Sen
ator Earl Sylvester the bill was read
in full.
Passage of the new bill followed
the Republican party's acceptance
of the decision of the Superior Court
multiplying the former bill. a party
leader said. The appeal of Repub-
lican counsel to the State Supreme
Court from the Superior Courts de-
cision will be withdrawn. it was
learned
Police Operation ASsailed
Prior to consideration of the mea-
sure. Mr.. Benson, in statement read
in the House asserted inefficiency in
the management of the State Police |
is responsible for the recent increase
in fatal accidents. and declared that |
the divorcing of politics from the |
Department would be more |
effective in combating fatal accidents
than any new legislation
In a majority of the cases the per-
son causing the fatal accident has
been permitted to travel at break /
neck speed over miles of our high
ways before he finally crashes and i
snuffs out the lives of innocent per-
sons the statement said.
IF the highways were properly
patrolled this could not happen. The
State Police usually arrive on the
scene after they are called. There
are usually 10 or Is troopers loung-
ng around a State Police station
awaiting calls. but very few are to
le found on the highways to ap-
Drehend violators before they kill
themselves or other people using the
When the State Police
lrrive any traffic law is useless. A
aw cannot suspend the license of
II otherwise penalize a dead man"
Denies Force Inadequate
The statement declared that the
present State police force cannot be
allied inadequate as there are 104 !