Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08

l AbbEIbs
The semi-annual interest bearing. invest.
ments applicable to the general fund, are aa
| follows, to wit
Mortgages on the Junction h Break.
water and Breakwater A Frankford
railroads, now consolidated under the
name Of the Delaware Maryland
one t6onsand tSo and seventy. oO
per 6s.7booC
aware stock at 1916 per ahhre........... $4,000
ss7s.oOoOu
Aggregate Investments for the benefit OF
the school fund as follows;
Five thousand ahares Farmers Bank
Two thousand Jour hundred and thirty ''''O"OO
nine shares Farmers Bank stock, at 49,
One 6undred and icIrt;cn shares :"
Smyrna Bank stool, - $50 per share. $4,000
delaware stoch, at S4e5 per share;..... i7.so5Oo
Union NATIONAL Bank stock at s56 per
share; ..;....""............,... 914iOO
Loan to Sussex county '................ 5OV.OO
Total. ,l6s 7aaOO
DeductlnY deDt, january list, lbo5...-. H97bO. w
Difference shows the assets in excess Of
hhDlnueb' S29O49UO
desire to call your attention to the fact
that on the first day Of July, 1885, of the out
standing bohDs OF the State, one hundred
hlu tuhlJruNb Gtyuuu DDuuB 1hll que AND are
payable. II will therefore become the duty
of the present Legislature to provide for the
payment of the same.
Upon the receipt Of the State Treasurer's
report, which owing to the illness OF the
treasurer has been delayed, full information
will be given you, gentlemen, as to the
finances Of the State.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The General Assembly, at the last session,
with great unanimity, agreed upon what
were deemed, after mature and deliberate
consideration, proper amendments, three In
number, to the Constitution of the State.
These amendments having been approved
by me, and published as the Constitution re-
quires, are now before you for ratification, IL
you should adjudge It wise that they become
part OF the organic law. 1t is hoped that
the consideration of these important and rad
ical changes In our fundamental law will not
be postponed to 80 late period In the session
that other business shall intervene to inter-
rupt your deliberations.
The first proposed amendment is provi-
sion for General Incorporation act, with ex-
ception of railroads and canals. AS the pro-
priety Of this amendment seerns to be con-
ceded by all parties, as far as public discus
sion Is concerned, or, may say, by silent ac-
quiescence, your attention Is directed to it
without further comment, except to recon-
prove beneficial to the industrial interests of
the State.
The second proposed amendment is pro-
position for increased representation. This
amendment received general discussion In the
county Of New Castle, whose interests are
more closely connected and affected than
either of the other counties. think IL fair
to accept the popular verdict, as rendered at
at the last election throughout the State, but
especially in the county Of New Castle, where
the great manufacturing interests conferred in
the city OF Wilmington, and the large an in
huential body of voters representing and
yoicing the agricultural interests OF the
county, united in proolaiming the assent Of
the people TO the change. The Democratic
party wisely adopted and proclaimed in their
platform, presented at the State convention,
their acceptance and endorsement of the
amendment, as right, proper, and Just, and
taking the verdict Of the entire State upon
this and other importantant questions sub
mitted for the approval of the people, there
L. no room for doubt as to the popular sane
ton in all three Of the counties. gave my
approval, believing the proposed change
fair, equal and just recognition Of all the in
terests affecting both county and State con-
sider1ng that whatever concerns the legisla-
ton and representation Of a county or SEQ
ton must be subordinate TO the general wei
fare Of the entire State. I believe the pro-
Poetd oAu0uuuicub rs ubluhuuGu ny lu6 tA6-
gencies OF the times. Al ia well known to
you, this question is no new one in the his
tory OF the State. The discussions of many
years ago, in New Castle county, and before
tho General Assembly, as to the division OF
that county, brought out many interesting
facts, aud gives me pleasure TO refer to the
presentation OF the case by one Of my
worthy predecessors Cochran-in
his inaugural address, and afterwards more
fully in his second biennial message, to which
| refer you for valuable information touching
your present deliberations. Referring to the
increase of the population of the city of
Wilmington, as having at that day overthrown
the numerical equality which previously ey-
isted between the several counties, and thus
necessitated change in the apportionment, 1
most cheerfully adopt and present the views
OF that eminent citizen of our State, and then
executive, and native OF New Castle county,
as applicable and of controlling force in this
emergency Of state policy.
The governor, among other things, said:
whether this change shall be upon the
basis OF population alone, and to the full ex-
tent Of that principle, is worthy Of grave
consideration. To my mind, in view OF all
the peculiar circumstances surrounding the
question in this State, the adoption Of ouch q
rule, particularly for both branches of the
Legislature, would be as unsound in principle
as ii would prove detrimental in practice.
Whoh Chiif COnhhltuliOuhI IorOBulAluk
population as the basis OF repreeention, were
adopted, no great centre Of population
existed in our State But with the rapid growth
of Wilmington in recent years, this is no
longer the case It We uld be exceedingly
unwise, in small State like ours, to accord
representation in full proportion to popula-
ton TO a growing city whose inhabitants
might quickly outnumber all the other people
Of the State. To do so, would be to enable
city to overshadow and control not only the
county In which It might be situated but
also the entire State, and through its par
ticular representatives, to favor and foster itg
special and local interests at the expense Of
all other loca tiles. Besides, it would dsre-
gard that distinction between an urban and
rural population which has always been
recognized by all practical statesmen in pre-
soriblng just rule of representation. So
well settled is this distinction that it may be
safely asserted that in no state legislature in
the Union is representation accorded in full
proportion to urban population. It would
therefore seem that the rule in question, II
adopted in this State, should be applied with
such wholesome notifications and limitations
as would not butfer any city, or indeed any
county, to overshAdow and control the rest of
the State. With these considerations borne
In mind there appears no sufficient reason
why fair and reasonable increase Of repre-
sentation should not be accorded to New
Castle county"
These valuable suggestions were in sub
stance formulated in the proposed amend
ment now before you. believe the recogni-
ton OF the interests Of the important and
growing city Of Wilmington, In the proposed
increased representation for that city, is in
keeping with a sound state policy, and will
meet the long expressed wish OF the people in
the city and rural portions OF the county, and
will constitute, il ratified, wholesome check
on class legislation and perpetuate the name
Of Delaware as synonym of good, just and
well-ordered government. would not for
one instant urge the adoption Of this amend
ment from any party standpoint or advan-
tage, but solely upon its merits as just and
honorable measure, beneficial alike 10 all.
In the matter CT the third and last pro-
posed amendment, the reform OF the Judiciary
system of the State, would advise that You
take into consideration the fact that 1t has
been approved by almost the united bar OF
the State. Certain it is that there must be a
change in our present system in its Rdapta-
ton at least to the wants of the people of
New Castle county. This seems to be gen.
orally conceded, and many changes have,
from time TO time, been suggested to meet
the emergencies OF the case, but none OF
them met with general favor. / believe
uader the present system it is admitted that,
by reason Of the additional labor AMI expense
attending the sessions Of the courts, increased
by number and length of term in New Castle
county, an increase of the salaries ia impera-
lively demanded and must be acceded to, or
this important branch Of the public service
must suffer and become weakened. HEARTH =
believing that the adoption OF this last
amendment will prove q public benefit, ]
commend its ratification by your honorable
bodies.
FREE SCHOOLS.
At tie last session, the Legislature, appre.
oiating the Importance OF the educ ational