Milford chronicle., 1953-07-17
THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS AFTER
A LONG DRAWN OUT SESSION

"A LOINI PhAWN OUI SESSION
After months of wrangling and indecision
the 117th Biennial Session of the Delaware
General Assembly adjourned sine die short
ly after five o'clock last Saturday afternoon.
The session will go down in history for MANY
reasons, and argument and discussion of its
merits and demerits will linger long.
The causes for the lengthy session were
many. From daily observance on the scene
we are thoroughly convinced that the main
cause was that the House of Representatives
through the insiStence of the majority floor
leader, Mrs. Vera G. Davis, failed to incor-
pOrate IN its rules prohibition against the
introduction of new bills after an established
deadllne. That one mistake, in our opinion
and the expressed view of many House mem
bers who fell for the arguments advanced
against deadline, was more than any other
factor direct cause of the six month long
session.
1t depends pretty much upon the view
point OF the individual as to the many con-
trlbutlng causes. Certainly there was medd-
ling OF a serious nature on the part of some
having no official capacity with the Legis-
lature. Several members of the House in par
tlcular seemed to be stirred up at times by
these influences. Then there was the neces-
slty Tor holding long budget hearings in order
that the Appropriation Bills might be pre-
pared. This consumed weeks of valuable
time. In the latter part of the session one of
the main contributing troubles was a battle
IN the House between two factions of the
Democratic Party. This reached a DOint
where at times both factions could not be
found IN attendance at the same time when
the House was. in session. This held up
action on all bills requiring two-thirds or
thfee-tOurthS vote for passage. City Charter
bills were delayed and defeated because of
this. These are very few of the causes for
the lengthy session.
AS the legislators departed from Dover.
tney lett behind them many worthy accom-
pllshments While none of us like to be tax
ed, we must admire the members for their
honest approach to the financial problems
confronting the state. After months of
Wrangllng, Governor Gale Boggs was given
the necessary funds with which to carry on
State Government activities. Criticism is ex-
pressed about the size of the appropriations
out they were necessary to meet commit
ments made in part by the outgoing Carvel
administration. Governor BOggs found this
ugly duckling in his lap when he assumed
Office.
The Legislature provided for the contin-
uanee OF our highway building prOgram-an-
OCner costly but necessary expenditure of
FUNDS. Our State institutions required reye-
nues for their continued efficient operation.
They got them. Changes were needed in nnanv
boafdS and Commissions. They were made
At the Senate end of the Legislative
6ulldlng Things moved comparatively smooth
the entire session. In the Senate both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans approached their work
IN cOnclllatOry manner, and the Wrangling
Which characterized the House debates were
noticeably absent.
The General Assembly when it adjourned
left behind much of which the members can
be proud. They are also open to criticism.
MAILING DOWN THE FACTS
Statistics are sometimes tricky and con-
fuslng but they can help us keep our feet
on the ground by mailing down facts as con-
trasted with falacious notions.
For example, do you still think beef
prices are sky high?
II so, some factual data released by the
American Meat Institute should prove both
surprising and interesting.
PRODUCTION workers in manufacturing in
duStTy are now able to.purchase nearly twice
as much round steak and rib roast for the
wages earned for one hours work as thew
could during the heights of the great 1929
boom.
Furthermore, except for the period from
May II, 1912 to October Is, 1916, when OPA
ceilings resulted in such widespread black
market operations that it was impossible to
quote reliable and realistic national aver
age prices or consumption figures, beef
prices today in respect to wages are the
lowest in history
10 make concrete comparison, the typi-
cal factory worker in 1914 had to work about
an hour to earn enough money to buy one
pound OF round steak. Now, figures devel-
oped from official government sources show,
ms hourly earnings will buy him 1/5 lbs.
The situation is similar with other popular
cuts of beef.
Beef prices have gone up-certainly. But
wages have gone up faster. And, Of late.
beef prices have been dropping while wages
have continued to rise.