Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1955-05-13
Democrats Pass
Highway Ripper
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Mr.. Nechay said, Il think the
date was 1899"
Mr.. Wolf asked that the date be
fixed by an amendment. He said.
~ his is an Important matter for
posterity.'
A bit later sdr Wolf asked if any,
one would enlighten him as to
whether one of the purposes of the
bill is to reduce expenditures.
Mr.. Nechay SAID, This General
Assembly will be charged with the
responsibility for the money we ap-
p1opriate. That is one of the rea-
SONS why we believe that the con-
troll of this department should be
placed under Democratic admins
tration."
Mr.. Wolf said, THAT is fine po-
litical speech, but it does not an
swer my question.
Mr.. Nechay replied, q am not ac-
complished enough TO say whether
any money will be saved or not. If
the department is operated efficient
ly money will be saved; if it is not
operated efficiently, money will not
be saved"
Rep. William E. Lester (R-St.
Ge0rges) said, "This seems like a
very important bill to me. | would
like to have someone explain this
bill and all of its contents
still think this is ripper and moth
ing else but ripper"
Rep. George T. Macklin (D-Mil-
ford), majority leader, said, There
has been a lot of beating around
the bush here. This bill is to take
control of the State Highway De-
partment because of the feeling
that the department has been run
inefficiently. The Democratic Party
feels it can be maintained better
under Democratic leadership.
Ripper is an old word to the Re
publican Party. Whenever the Re
publican Party has had the majori-
ty here it has taken things away
from the Democrats. Call it any
name you want to call it, we're call
ing it a transfer of something to
better hands"
Rep. Leon e.. Donovan (D-Har-
rington) said briefly. Maybe this
will eliminate some of the double
salaries" His reference was to in
formation being circulated among
The legislators that some of the en-
ployes of The State Highway De-
partment receive additional COM
pensatiOn from the Memorial Bridge
revenues.
Rep. James Fl. Snowden (R-Wil-
mingtOn) said that as a member of
the Legislature from New Castle
County he was very conscious of
the highway problems. He added
that people keep running into traf-
fic problems because of the high
volume of cars and trucks from
neighboring states. He said that he
even finds the problem in moving
in his own locality in such a small
thing as going to a motion picture
theatre.
New Castle County Stepped On
The Wilmington Republican said
that, 1.-THE people of New Castle
County are getting a short deal
when we are getting only one men,
Der of the five. We are being step
ped on but good"
Mr.. Snowden added that the bill
certainly does not give New Castle
County the representation it de-
serves and he said that the MAORI
ty side had presented no evidence
Of how the efficiency of the depart
Elent was to be improved. AS tax
payer, Il citizen, and a motorist, Mr..
Snowden said he was very much
concerned.
The bill was co-sponsored in the
Senate by Senators Walter ]. Hoey
(D-Milford) Charles G. Moore ID
Hartly), and Eugene Lammot, ID
Wilmington. 1t passed the Senate
on March 81 with the Republicans
in the upper chamber making a
strong fight against it.
The members of the proposed
five-member commission are: Ben
jamin F. Shaw, II, the lone repre-
sentative from New Castle County;
j. Gordon Smith and Francis Geb-
hart, for Kent County; and Thur
man Adams and former Rep. Carey
d. Sapp for Sussex County.
This new board would serve UNI
til July 1, 1861. After that the Gov
ernor would appoint the commits
sion, each member for term of
four years.