Smyrna times., 1951-03-29
NEWS AND
COMMENTS
From the Delaware House of
Representatives
REP. CLARENCE S. COLLINS

The 5Oth day of the 116th Cen
eral Assembly has passed with
both houses to return on Tuesday
March 27, 1851. Although the
House met for only three days this
week, I believe there was more ac-
complished than in any week so
far. The 5Oth day, as you know.
was the last day for the introduc-
tion of new bills. BY 1000 pm.
Thursday, the House had read in
for that day 141 new bills, making
a grand total of $40 with the Sen
ate not far behind with a record
total of 460.
On Thursday, your representa-
tive submitted four bills; one to
liberalize the pension payments for
retired state police or their widows,
ETC., and a second one to lower the
voting age in Delaware from p to
Is years. The latter bill, if adopt
ed, would allow our young men
who are now apparently eligible to
fight and die to help keep our
country safe, to also vote to help
keep our country free. The law
would not in any way give an 18-
year old any other privileges or re-
sponsibilities. Most of the people
I have talked to during the past
three months agree with the above
proposal. 1 would like to hear
more on this if you please, particu-
larly from the Is to 21-year old
group.
Two other bills presented by
your representative on Thursday
were town bills. One would au-
thorize the town of Smyrna to
borrow up to S25O,OOO for sewage
disposal plant, and for extension
and improvement of the water,
sewer and electrical distribution
system. The other bill would au-
thorize the town off Smyrna to ac-
quire lands needed for a sewage
disposal plant, electrical substa-
ton, and for any other purpose de-
sirable for municipal services.
Of interest to this district, out
of the many bills introduced on
Thursday Rep. Hoey introduced a
bill which would prohibit the tax
ing of fish or crabs in certain Del
aware waters by nets operated
from power vessels.
Rep. Givens introduced a bill to
increase the rate of franchise taxes
paid by corporations, and to in
crease the maximum and minimum
amounts Of franchise taxes that
may be paid by corporations.
Rep. Cahall introduced bill to
increase the fees collected by the
Secretary Of State from corpora
tions.
Also a bill was introduced re
quiring school busses to be equip
ped with red light on the roof
and to have that light flashing
when the bus is halted.
A new budget appropriation bill
as compiled by the joint legislative
budget commission, a bill provid-
ing for a weight-distance, truck
tax on certain trucks, bill to es-
tablish the office of state fire mar
shall and establish an appropria-
tion therefor, and a bill providing
for payments to persons under the
state bonus act who enlisted in the
armed forces before September 10,
1StU were just q lew VI SAAS CAAA'
introduced in the House. Many
others far too numerous to men,
ton here covered everything from
the Delaware River Crossing, ap-
preparations to fire companies,
teachers and schools, state pen
sions, various miscellaneous ap-
preparations to trip traffic light re-
quests.
On Monday the bill requiring
compulsory insurance for school
busses passed in the House, and
now requires Senate approval and
Governors signature. Effective
date would be July 1, 1851.
A resolution inviting the Amer
lean Legion's Boys State to be the
guests of the 116th General AS
sembly on April 12, 13 and IA pass