Middletown transcript., 1893-01-07
MUTIIATED PAGES


comes you to seriously consider wheth-
er the time has not now arrived when
the amount of tax required to be raised
by school districts should not be con-
fined to the necessary expenses inde-
pendent of tuition.
A due regard for the protection OF
tile public funds demands that sucn
legislation should be enacted as VIII
prevent them from being held without
ample security to the State. In the
management of the school moneys, II
it is deemed too great a burden upon
school clerks who serve without pecu-
nary reward, to require them to bond,
then allow the funds % remain in the
hands of bonded officer, and let all
bills for tuition be paid by checks or
drafts upon that officer. This would
secure more prompt payment OF the
salaries of teachers and at the same
time prevent the possibility Of loss Of
funds by an unbonded officer.
THE JUDICIARY.
1.-THE requirements of this occasion
constrain me to direct your earnest at
tention to another subject Of very ur-
gent Importance.
"At the last legislative session Dill
was introduced providing retirement
salary for the members of the State
judiciary, who, having reached the age
Of 70 years, and having held their com
missions for 10 years or more. shall re-
tire from the bench. The object OF
this bill was to provide the means OF
immediate retirement for those who,
owing to the infrmities of advanced
age, shall be no longer able to bear the
burden of arduous judicial labors. Al
though this measure was passed by the
Senate, yet it failed in the House be-
cause the gravity of the situation was
| not then fully realized.
"Since then, for more than year
past. the actual transaction of Judicial
business in each county has entirely de-
pended upon two only of the four law
| Judges of the State. The inability q
either judge. by reason of illness Of
other casual disability, to attend his re-
spective courts during this period
would have absolutely suspended tnt
administration of justice througout the
State, and left its people without pro
lection or redress by either criminal ol
| civil proceeding. So great has been the
anxiety concerning this grave situation
| especially in New Castle county, that
more than six months ago, an organized
| effort was made to induce me 20 con
vene the General Assembly in exlraor
binary session to make suitable irovis
| ion to meet so serious an emergency.
IF similar bill, providing an ade
quate retirement salary for the aget
and honored members of the bench
who have long devoted the best year
and efforts of their lives to the abl'
and faithful administration Of justic'
in this State, shall promptly be enacted
il is believed that all which at presen
is really needed will be accomplished
That such a measure will generally b
regarded as eminently just now seem
mai ifest. No other course seems s,
wen adapted to the attainment Of 81
desirable result, and TO the urgenc.
of the existing situation.
sThe only approximate alte' native
| woald be resort to constitutions
amendment by the legislative mode
with view to some change Of oul
present judicial system. But the rati
fication Of such an amendment 10y th'
requisite three-fourths of each branch
of the next Legislature-of which thert
can now be no certainty-would re
quire now at least two years;whilsr th'
present exigency and the public safet.
demand an immediate remedy and vii
| admit of no such delay =,
Governor Reynolds also made men
tion of many other reforms, which ht
thought should have the consideration
| of the Legislature at this time.