Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-05
THE GorERSoR,s MESSAGE.
The PillIng Amendment Heartily En-
dorsed and Other Affairs of state Fully
Discussed,

dorsed and Other Affairs of state Fully
Discussed.
DOVER, Jan. 3.-The governors mes
sage was presented to both branches of
the General Assembly to-day and read
IL is as follows:
Gentlemen Of he Senate and HouSc of
Representatives.: You have assembled for
the transaction of such business as may
be necessary to the welfare of the people
whom you represent Within the domain
of legislative authority your will is SUI
preme. The duty Of the executive i'll re-
spect to legislation is merely advisory, rs
he can only make such recommendations
or suggestions as he may deem expedicnt.
Upon you devolves grave responsibility,
and It behooYcs you to proceed with the
utmost caution in the execution of the
public trust committed to your custody.
Your action during this session of the
General Assembly will provoke praise,or
censure rs Vt approaches to or recedes from
the principles of right and justice. The
promotion ot the common good should be
the sole aim of your patient endeayors
and any proposed legislation that will
not be conducive to that end should
receive your prompt and emphatic CON
demnation. You bear yullr commissions
from brave, honest, intelligent and
sturdy people. which should inspire yOu
with IA determination to execute their will
in fearless and faithful manner. The
acceptance or rejection of any measure
that may be submitted for your con-
sidcratiOn should be preceded by the most
careful thought and analysis. so that your
action III that respect shall command the
sanction of the public conscience. IIasty
legislation is one of the growing evils of
legislative bodies, and should be StudiOuSly
avoided In order that no ill-advised laws
may creep into the body of our statutes
| you shoIld proceed at once TO the con-
| sderation of those subjects which concern
| the public. and to which your attention
has in some degree been already invited
| 1t IS common fault with legislative
| bodies to defer the most important sub
| iects for their consideration to the last o.
the session and then dispose of them in
scenes of hurry and confusion. Most of
the uncertainty as to the meaning of
| statutes, and their incOngruities, may he
| traced to this source. No measure should
| be passed and allowed to become law
! Until it has been fully considered and
clearly understood To this end your
committees, which will be charged with
the duty of formulating and investigating
bills of apubllc nature, should begin their
work without delay. This would save
you from the annoyance of either having
To defeat or rush through your respective
bodies measures without the thought their
importance deserves, and the public many
times from the veNatiOus consequences Of
crude and imperfect laws. and will also
save You from the criticism of unduly
protracting your session, and unnecessarily
increasing the expense. There is no
reason why the last days of the session
should be crowded with business requir-
ing your attention If, at the beginning
thereof you would promptly address
yourselves To the performance OF your
several duties.
| Np;.l, ,l,n.n ,,,aF,tor,, ror,o,i-, I ,.,;II
now, in accordance with the precedents Of
my official duty, lay before you a review
of the public events of the last two years,
which have bearing upon the interest
and welfare of the people of Delaware,
and to connect Herewith certain recon-
lnendations which are submitted for your
consideration and favorable action.
FINANCES.
The financial condition of the State con-
tinues to maintain the healthful and graft
fying position which intelligent, frugal
and honest administration of its resources
have served to establish.
The report of the State treasurer is
herewith submitted, which exhibits in de
tail the operations of his department.
The most important feature therein IS the
reduction of the debt of the junction n
Brealiwater railroad to the State from
S4OO01O TO SlS500n, and the consequent re
duction of our interest bearing debt OF
S2l5.U00. Each reduction of our public
debt results in relief to the taxpayers,
and the gratifying condition is reported of
an excess of State assets over all state liza
bilitie5 of S34f,0 US is shown by the fol-
lowing statement
ASSETS.
Investments, benefit OF General Fund.
i,255 shares Of Farmers Bank stock
at SGG per share, ...............s 16,500.0 0(
20 shnres Of National Bank OF Della
ware stock, mt $3.50 Inr shnre...... l5,66GCt
Mortgage on tho junction ~ Brcak-
watsr railroad Company At 49,. 1s5,OOoOt
| Mortgage on tho breRkwHter IS
FrInkford Railroad Company at
aso aso.."...................... aON,OOO.OC
| Mortgage on Troop u AtmOry at3 "a, ll,OJO ",
8 iS7,lOJUt
Investments, benefit of School Fuud.
5000 shares Farmers Bank stock, at
SO per share. .........,........... lsO,OOO.Ot
2,43l shares Farmers Bank stock, at
$40 per snare. lid,3tUOt
81 shares National Bank of Dea-
ware stock, $50 per snaro......... as,sdO0i
ia shares Sitonal banG OF smyrna
stock, at 80 per share. ..,.....:,... c,sSO.0
95i shatos Union National BANK
stock, Mt s7s per share .,........, 1852 q
One bond state Of Delaware, At So. l5G,1 500
One bond Sussex County, ut 69c..., so OF
Total assets. .....,.."Sl,O3l, ,Sia.GI
LIABILITIES.
100 bonds, 81 900 euch, issue OF 1855,
payable June LIST. 1906, at 10 in-
terest. ............;..;...... si2O,OOO.ot
tsrgst. ........... e5n,Oog.O(
One bond, duo school fund issued
in 1881, payable July LIST. laJJ, at