Milford chronicle., 1959-12-04
Assembly Did Not Listen
TO B0ggs' Message
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Democratic caucus with Garrett
E. Lyons, state chairman, and
Elisha Dukes, vice chairman.
When the Senate reconvened at
4:45, Mr.. Buckson handed a copy
of the message to j. Earl Pepper,
reading clerk. Mr.. Pepper began
reading.
Senator Curtis w. Steen Cd
Dagsboro), moved to table read
ing of the message until the Gov
ernor could deliver it in person.
Mr.. Buckson ruled the motion out
of order, and Mr.. Pepper began
again.
Up jumped Senator John E. Reil-
ly,, Sr. (D-Wilmington), the ma
jority leader
''Mr. President, he said, 81 move
that so much be considered the
reading of the governors mes
sage. This is device generally
employed to avoid wasting time
reading all of lengthy documents.
Mr.. Buckson ruled the motion
out of order.
Senator Reilly moved to over
rule the ruling of the chair. This
was done on vote of to 6, with
two Democrats (Mayhew and Nc
Cullough) absent.
Senator James H. Snowden (R-
Wilmington the minority leader
expressed regret at the action of
the Democrats, saying that sit had
been the hope that today as we
sat here representing the people
of Delaware that we could take a
truly bipartisan action" on the
question of governmental reform
and revenues.
Senator Reilly explained that
''the messages were discussed in
the Democratic caucus, and we
didn't understand them. With all
due respect to the Governor, we
feel that it would be better if he
were here to explain it."
Mr.. BucksOn observed that if
the Governor got the same recep-
ton accorded past messages, he
has delivered in person, ''there'd
be nothing DONE"
He then informed Senator Reilly
that the Governor could be con-
tacted by telephone, and could fly
back from West Virginia in two
hours, and asked if it were the
wish of the majority party that he
do this. There was a whispering
On-the-fioOr caucus among the
Democrats, and Senator Reilly an
nounced that 1T doesn't look as il
they want to do it."
Later, Mr.. Buckson reiterated
that Il want it clearly understood
that the Governor is available if
it is to be said that his absence
is responsible for taking no action
on the program.
At the end of the session, Mr..
Buckson commented:
Today, have had the dubious
honor of presiding over a Senate
which has reached the lowest ebh
of disrespect for the office of the
GovernOr-regardless of who may
be in the Governors chair-that
can ever recall If it ever hits a
point any lower, l hope / am not
presiding"
He turned the chair over to Sen
ator Cook and stalked from the
/ Senate chamber.
The House of Representatives
did not listen to the Governor's
message either, but used a smooth
er method of avoiding it. What had
apparently been Democratic
caucus decision on dealing with
the message was put into action
when Rep. Margaret r. Manning
(R-Mill Greek Hundred) arose and
requested that the House s'hea1
the Governors message which was
delivered about three hours ago.
Speaker Sherman w. Tribbitt
replied it is his perrogative to say
when the message is read, unless
directed to do otherwise by ma
jority of the members. At that
point Rep. Paul E. Shockley ID
Wilmington declared the House
should extend the courtesy to the
Governor to permit him to deliver
the message in person." He moved
the message be laid on the table
until the Governor can deliver il
in person.
The motion was passed on a
voice vote with the big Democratic
majority uttering the yeas which
outdid the Republican nays.
Mrs. Manning later made this
comment in statement: "This is
a blatant and gross lack of cour-
tesy to the Governor of the State
of Delaware. When he sends a
message to the General Assembly
it seems to me that it should be
heard Immediately. On the one
hand the Democratic majority in
the House accuses the Governor
of lack of leadership while at the
same time they refuse to hear him.
For shamei"
The message arrived early in
the sessions, brought in by F. Ed
ward Ewell, the secretary to the
Governor. Displaying the usual
courtesy to the Governors mes
senger, the House members all
stood up as he was admitted to
the chamber and remained stand
ing until he left. Copies ofthe
message were in a pile on the
speakers desk and were not. dis
tributed, as such documents usual
ly are.
BOggs' Statement
The Democratic majorities in
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