The daily gazette., 1875-01-06

/
sustained the constitutionality of the
law aforesaid and the right of the State
70 tax the corporation, and, upon an
appeal from said decree, taken by
complaint, was affirmed by the Su.
preme Court.
1t would be difficult to overestimate
the value Of this decision to the State.
1t disposcs effectually Of the claim on
the part of the principal railroad cor
poration existing within our limits to
exemption from taxntion, and by
maintaining the constitufionality of
The law referred to, relieves the State
from any possible liability for the
amount of taxes paid by said company
under protest The State Treasurer,
against whom the proceedings were
instituted, engaged the services of
| counsel to represent the State 1 IAN
| informed that the gentlemen employed
! have uotbeen paid for their services
either in the Circuit or Supreme
| Courts, and recommend that the State
| Treasurer be authorized to pay them
proper compensation. 'i''-'i
h. FREE SCHOOLS. ...
The subject of education is one Of
great importance, and Is receiving at
the present day much attention in
every part OF the country. Our Com.
mon School System, established more
than forty years ago, has been of in
calcuable advantage in furnishing the
means OF primary education to the
youth OF the State. These advanta-
ges have been gradually impaired by
the multiplication of school districts
In every county and the consequent
division of the School Fund among a
greater number of schools. More
than double the number of school
districts originally established now
exist in the State, and in some locali-
ties 1t Is difficult to maintain good
schools for any great period of the
year owing to the small number of
pupils living in the districts.
II Is not easy te determine a remedy
that will obyiate the difficulty sugges-
ted especially as those now convenient
to schools would reluctantly consent,
by redistricting the State, to be placed
at greater distances from schools
| II the public debt of the State shall
In q few years be paid, or so materially
reduced as to relieve the necessity of
iappropriating the revenues to that pur.
pose, doubt not that measures will be
taken to increase the School Fund aud
furnish the means requisite for main
tanning good schools in every neigh
borhood without regard to the number
of scholars therein. With existing de-
mands upon the Treasury any largo In.
crease eff the School Fund, for the pre-
III sauf of loaof oaa,x,a n hn ;,v, ,1ro kioahIa
The efficiency Of any school system will
depend In very great degree upon the
interest felt by parents, and those hay
ing the guardianship Of children, in
maintaining proper schools. Without
such interest no system, however per-
feet, and no appropriation, however
nunidcient, win give to the youth of
the State the full educational advan-
tages which they ought to enjoy.
II hi PUBLIC BUILDINGS. y
The repairs and alterations made in
. the State House since. the last session
, of the Legislature will doubtless bs
brought to your attention by the Com
. mittee appointed by the last Legisla-
ture to contract for the same. II is
believed that the new Senate Chamber
and Hall Of the House of Representa-
tives, with the rooms appropriated tc
committees of the respective Houses
are better adapted to the purposes Of
legislation. than those which have been
superseded. The rooms set apart TO
J the Governor and for the office of Sc
cretary of State are convenientand ap
propriate, and ample accommodation
: for the books now or likely soon to By
in the Library have been provided.
Il The improvement of the Public Bull
dings was SO obviously necessary tina,
for several years past the matter had
engaged public attention and had beet
I recommended not only in my last bien
nial message, but several times also bt
my immediate predecessor. The ex
! penditure authorized for this purpos'
! ! at the last session will obviate furtheI
: outlay upon the public buildings fo
several years. |
REPRIEvEs, PARDoNs, AND REWARD
herewith transmit s-list. Of the par
! dons, reprieves and remissions grantef
; since the. commencement of the lns
! session of the General Assembly, wit
3 the reasons inducing me TO grant til
= same. i -.' t.. - -''.' l'-.-i'
ell I1htluS Dccu AutOiLuS0 thae SSltah
3 Robert A. Mackey had been murder O
q within the jurisdiction of this State
Il and that one Joseph II. Taylor ws
= charged with being guilty of the mut
= der Of said Mackey, / issued a procls
:. nation on the 18th day of August 1877
:, offering reward Of $500 for the arres
' and delivery into the custody Of th
/, Sheriff. Of New Castle County Of th
: said Joseph 81. Taylor, who was sub
q fsequently apprehended in the State .
! Ohio, and brought into this State an
3 tried for the offense. recommen
y that an allowance to the amount ofth
reward offered be made to the parti'
making the arrest. '...,.. -..'
l. Il II AFTAeFMRNT LAws.a eua. |
It Irenew the Recommendations cor
It tanned In my last Biennial Message
q reference to the attachment laws (
I this State. 'ty D., LIZ - !
CONSTITUTIONAL AMEN DMENT. /
/ The amendment to the Constitute
I lof this State, proposed by the Ia