Milford chronicle., 1939-03-03
HOUSE PASSES
HIGHWAY BILL
DESPITE VETO
CcOptinued .rOm First Page,

some Investigations to satisfy him
self that he was right.
This bill was not conceived for
the lowly purpose of gaining parti-
san advantage, as the Governor
charged in his veto message" Mr..
Benson said. There is no conspir-
! acy afoot to discharge in wholesale
fashion employees of,.the highway
department or Of any other depart
ment. The highway department is
too important; too vitality connected
with the safety of every citizen of
this State to permit politics to weak
en- its structure.
Would Free Department
1T is to restore the department to
division of government free from
the selfish ambitions of partisan
politicians, that this bill is Offer
ed.
Il know only too well that my
Democratic friends place little cred
ence to my remarks. They cannot
imagine political party having such
noble motives. In the short time
that they have had control of State
affairs, they have worked the So
called 'spoils system overtime and
naturally they know no other sys-
TEN. But permit me to point out |
to them and to the people of this /
State how their 'spoils system as |
operated in the highway depart /
ment threatens. if permitted to con- |
tinue. to destroy the efficiency of /
that department"
The Republican floor leader then
charged the Democratic members of
the commission with numerous ac-
tiOns declared to have weakened the
department. These included dis
charge of experienced employees,
large additions to the
personnel, increased maintenance
costs. and requiring highway en-
ployees to "kick-back" a portion of
their wages.
Cites Accident Board
Speaking of dangerous preced-
ents,' it seems that such a remark
comes with i'll grace from the Gov
ernor." Mr.. Benson continued. "Was
it setting a dangerous precedent
when he discharged the entire MEM
bership of the Industrial Accident
Board without rhyme or reason?
Didn't the statute provide that the
members thereof should hold office
for term of six years? Conceding,
however, that the Governor has the
power and authority to remove at
will Notwithstanding the express
term of Office as specified in the
statute, does it necessarily follow
hat the Governor should discharge
he members of board diligently
their duties on behalf of
he State without good cause or rea-
;On. Did not our Governor write the !
members of the board and
vas it not claimed generally by the !
oyal partisans of his own party
hat the reason was solely political |
md not incompetency on the part Of I
he members holding office? This !
Jingle act of the Governors, |
.harge, disqualifies our Chief Exec
tive from Incorporating the accu- d
ations to be found in his veto mes
age when he speaks of dangerous .
'recedents.'
Il could cite innumerable instan-
es of cheap politics played by the p
Democrats in this important de- Z
artment. Politics that tend to place II
he safety of travel upon the adher- IL
nee to a certain party's whims. II
uch condition is unbearable. "
uch a condition will soon ruin this
nportant department. The people d.
o not want it. The Republicans p
ill not stand for it. but will fight
18th everything within their power q
restore this department to the d
tandards of efficiency and econo- pl
~ that were maintained during the di
ing period that the Republicans al al
the commission" Ic
McGuigan Says "Whip Cracked"
Representative J. Carl McGuigan, X
emocratic floor leader, reminded
r. Benson that the Democrats die
0t discharge Chief Engineer w. w. .h
ack and that other Republicans th
ave been allowed to remain in the ;s %
apartment. He said he was sure .,
ere are some members who if left - -
the dictates of their own con- 81
ience and who did not have to re- ~
'ond to the crack of the party whip ~,
Ould not vote for the bill. a.,
Mr.. Benson denied that he or any -
her Republican member of the ~ -
'gislature has to respond to the NJ
ack of the party whip and that "a
ere is anyone of them who is sub A.
ct to anything but his own con- U''
ience and whose conviction is that -
e bill is right and proper. ~,
Harvey E. Moore. NJ NJ
said the act raises the ~ ~
estion of "Shall the executive be I ei
prived of the power vested in him S %
the constitution He said if there 81, uD
d been any Irregularities in the ''N
partment under Democratic con- NJ
u the chief engineer who has held c,l ce
IS position under Republicans and - -,
10 is well qualified, would have Nc m
an that they were corrected. He W W
ID statistics show the efficiency of 'iia
: department increased rather -.
IN decreased under Democratic o ooi
Ie. He said if the bill were passed 1ii'
: people of the State would have 10 70
ldled upon them the most gigantic eei
tronage dispensing machine ever ne nel
1ceiVed in Delaware. MAY God @ o.a
d your conscience be your guide a, liul
voting on this BILL" he conclud- s su'
Fred S. Bailey, I
Frank w. ThawIey, ah'
Representative Richard E. Pin .a oen