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History from News Journal archives, June 1-7: Delaware Bible law, plans for nuclear plant
"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at
June 1, 1925, The Evening Journal
A legal test of the Delaware law providing compulsory reading of the Bible 'without comment' in public schools and colleges is being sought by the American Civil Liberties Union, according to Prof. Clarence R. Skinner of Tuft's College, chairman of the Union's Committee on Academic Freedom.
Prof. Skinner states that 'the Delaware law, like the Tennessee anti-evolution law, which the Civil Liberties Union is fighting, strikes so serious a blow at academic freedom that we cannot let the issue rest until it has been passed upon by the courts.'
The Delaware Bible law, which was first passed by the Legislature in March 1923, has recently been amended to impose a fine upon any teacher who shall fail to obey this act, and providing that such teacher shall forfeit his or her certificates. ...
The law provides that 'no religious service or exercise except the reading of the Bible and the repeating of the Lord's prayer shall be held in any school receiving any portion of the moneys appropriated for the support of public schools.'
It is believed that the Bible law and its amendments violate the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and the Delaware Bill of Rights, according to the Civil Liberties Union….
Recent school news: DE state rep working with expired teaching license removed from House Education Committee
June 5, 1975, The Morning News
Delmarva Power & Light Co. already has awarded the construction contract for its proposed nuclear power plant near Summit, the General Assembly learned yesterday.
DP&L confirmed last night that parts of the contract – worth an estimated $1.1 billion – were awarded in 1972 and last year to United Engineers and Contractors Inc. of Philadelphia.
A spokesman said no announcements were made because 'we didn't think it was news.'
Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt told a meeting of legislative leaders he had learned that the general contract had been awarded and was unhappy because none of the subcontractors were from Delaware. ...
Rep. Joseph P. (Jody) Ambrosino Jr., R - Edgemoor Terrace, took to the House floor to criticize DP&L for advancing to this stage without all the required government permits. In response, DP&L said the contract was awarded because it takes awhile to do all the preliminary work necessary before construction can begin.
Ambrosino said he would introduce a bill today that would impose a two-year moratorium on construction. He said questions about the plant's safety, efficiency, cost and disposal of radioactive waste haven't been answered adequately.
The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the construction of this power plant in February, although it said more information would be necessary before construction permits were issued.
The two 766-megawatt nuclear generators will be built on the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, just north of Summit, and are scheduled for completion in 1984….
There have been several public hearings and there is strong opposition to the project on the grounds that safety standards are inadequate both for construction and operation.
DP&L says the plant is needed to meet the rising demand for electricity. It also says the project would boost Delaware's economy by providing hundreds of construction jobs….
Recent Delmarva Power news: How lawmakers are trying to reduce energy bills, protect ratepayers in Delaware
June 7, 2000, The News Journal
By Adam Taylor, staff reporter
The Rev. Jesse Jackson vowed Tuesday to push MBNA Corp. to put minorities on its all-white board of directors.
Jackson said he would organize protests against the credit card company and would research its record on hiring and promoting minorities. ...
MBNA – the state's second-largest private employer with 10,000 workers – has faced criticism about the lack of diversity on its board before. Bank shareholders in April voted down a proposal from a religious group for MBNA to consider adding women and minorities to the board.
Jackson was in Wilmington on Tuesday to attend General Motors' annual stockholders meeting at the Hotel du Pont. He said he wants the automaker to increase its diversity efforts. Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition owns GM stock.
He was meeting with about 30 city political and religious leaders at the Wyndham Garden Hotel when someone handed him a newspaper article about the MBNA shareholders vote.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: History from News Journal, June 1-7: Bible law, nuclear plant plans
