Milford chronicle., 1893-01-13

BILE and conservative convention. but
also the subsequent ratification of its
work.
Having given this important mea-
sure my official approbrtiOn, because
q due regard for the general welfare,
a strict fidelity to public pledges and
a wise support of constitutional re-
forms seemed plainly to require its
adoption, l now earnestly commend
it to your early and favorable con-
sideration.
FREE SCHOOLS.
The recommendation which had
the honor to make in my last mes
sage, that required school books
should be supplied to the pupils free
of cost, having met the approval Of
the Legislature, has been productive
of the most gratifying results. From
the superintendents of each of the
counties it is learned that the at
tendance of scholars, since the law
went into operation, shows mark
ed increase, and at the same time
the school fund, which is derived
chiefly from license fees, has in
creased in proportion with the ex-
penditure necessary to furnish school
books free-the dividend for 1890
being SlO2,94S,65, and for 1892, af-
ter deducting the cost of text books,
being $l2l ,OSO.94.
The cost of free school books for
the year ending August, 1892, was
$22,9S4.lS.
As this was the first year, the
amount necessary to put the law
into practical operation was greatest.
and it will be diminished in future
years, so that very small portion OF
this amount will be expended here
after; but il is believed in view Of
the benefcent operation of the law
and Of the popular benefits derived
: em this assistance to the poorer
N~ community, that eN f
boiled, will receive the
irof all good citizens
Sion of the auditors
eund that at the
wEDNf~ s, year in June
IS on "Fungs t in the hand;
Dies" by DR.. Byron a, zoo 20
Jersey Experiment sle 81 800 80
Reports Of Committee paid seem tC
Sweet and Round POtagupts for school
ro,,,a1 MELONS, fayH,sT lei iqfy districts are il
! Asparagus. R Al amount required fol
ruhningsl te schools in such districts
and that the tax necessary to be lev
led as a condition upon which they
receive their proportionate share o
the school dividend is unnecessary
In view of these facts; 1 would rec
ommend that the law be so amended
as to reduce the amount of tax re
quired to be levied by the schoo
districts, and the people thus re
relieved of the unnecessary burden
A due regard for the protection o
the public funds demands that sucl
legislation should be enacted as will
prevent them from being held with
out ample security to the State.
CoLORED SCHOOLS.
While good results are reported
from the legislation for the benefi
of colored schools, I regret to say
that the progress made by the chill
dren of this class of our citizens hal
mot been commensurate with the ad
vantages offered. 1 am led to be
lieve, however, that this failure il
not entirely the fault of these citi
zens, but that it results very mucl
from the fact that the laws regulat
ing the schools of the colored peo
pie and the expidenture of the mon
eys appropriated for the benefit o
their schools are crude and impeI
feet. The several counties shoul,
be districted. / would again submi
for the consideration Of the Genera
Assembly the expedieney of Great
ling a State superintendent Of publ
schools.
THE JUDICIARY.
The requirements Of this occasio
constrain me to direct your earnes
attention to another subject of yer
urgent importance.