Milford chronicle., 1955-07-01


one of the first items taken up at
the Senate session this afternoon.
AS he introduced the proposal.
Senator Nelson pointed out that
he had not discussed il with mem
bers of the majority. except in a
general way"
Those / did consult were IN
unanimous agreement that there
should be an investigation" he
said, sin view of the fact that the
Senator involved is a member of
the majority party, it was agreed
that the whole affair would look
better if it were conducted by a
bipartisan committee
Senator Nelson pointed out that
the resolution would not limit the
committees investigation to Sem
ator McCollough's charge. 1t spe-
cifically authorizes the panel ito
investigate any attempts at brib-
cry which may have taken place
during the current session of the
Senate of the 118th General AS
sembly and to make a full report
4
of it's investigation" The commit
tee would have full investigative
powers including authority to sub
poena witnesses and administer
Oaths.
Senator Nelson said he had
heard a radio commentator claim
this is not the first time a Sena-
tor has been bribed or offered a
bribe." He limited that persons
claiming knowledge of other brib-
cry cases might be called upon to
testify.
After this discussion by Sem
ator Nelson the bill was approved
without any audible dissent on a
voice vote. Senator Camper, how
ever. was absent at the time
The Senate recessed immediate
ly after passing the resolution and
the new committee held a half
hour parley in the air conditioned
office of Gov. ]. Caleb Boggs, who
was not in Dover at the time.
At the conclusion of this meet
ing it issued the following state
ment: 1.-The committee consisting
of Hoey, Harrison, Johnson and
Nelson, met at 3 p. m, Wednes-
day, June 29 and elected Senator
Hoey chairman. 1t was decided
that a hearing should be held on
Wednesday, July 6, commencing
at 10 a. m. for the express pur-
pose of determining whether or
not any member of the Senate has
been bribed or offered a bribe
within the meaning of Sect %,
Article of the Constitution of
the State of Delaware.
"Subpoenas will be issued to all
persons who the committee has
reason to believe may be able to
supply information pertaining to
the subject of the inquiry.
'The committee will also in
vite all interested citizens who are
prepared to testify. Such testi-
mony will be limited to informa-
tion regarding efforts or Attempts
to influence any Senator by
promises or rewards. 1t was fur
ther agreed that the meeting
would be open to the public"
When the committee conclave
had broken up the Senate. re-
turned to work and took up some
other business before Senator
Camper introduced his resolution.
The wording of this proposal is
similar to Senator Nelson's, ex-
cept for the motion to rescind the
previous resolution because 'the
majority of the Senators who
voted for ti) were of the mis-
taken impression that the pfesi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate
had been consulted and had ap-
pointed the committee named :"
Bi-Partisanship May End
By dropping the names and any
reference to the makeup of the
committee the Camper resolution
left the door open for appoint
ment of a committee that is some
thing less than bipartisan.
This was quickly noted by Sem
ator Clifford Pryor (D-Blackbird)
who said he couldn't vote for it
because provision for equal politi-
cal division of the committee was
not included. Senator Johnson inn
mediately moved for deferrment
"as gesture of courtesy TO the
senator from Brandywine Hun
dred (Melson), who left the cham
ber for the afternoon" Senator
Camper replied that nobody had
shown him (Camper) the courtesy
of consulting him before action on
the first resolution.
The roll call on Senator John
sons motion showed only three
of the nine affirmative votes
needed They were cast by Sem
ators Johnson, Pryor and Wilmer
F. Williams (R-Roselle). There
were eight nays (all Democratic),
while three members were re-