Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-05


hasty alterations OF that instrument. The
ratification, however, of the proposed
amendment will certainly avert such re-
suit and satisfactorily settle the protracted
agitation of the question of calling the
convention. For, whilst providing for the
desired vote at general instead of a special
election, it also, with the object Of reInov-
ing all ground for uncertainty and contro-
yersy regarding the proper construction of
Article IN, makes express and precise
provision for the specific mode by which
every stage Of the proceedings for the call
ing and election Of q convention shall be
conducted.
promise between the conflicting views of
those who have sought to secure a tonven-
tion and early constitutional changes by
hasty methods and an ultra-liberal con-
struction OF Article IX., and those who
have favored more deliberate methods and
a strictly conservative construction there
Of. BY it the former may secure the ex-
press authority to have the vote respect
ing q convention taken at a general cleo
ton, whilst the latter may obtain the
specific and deliberate mode by which the
proceedings for the calling and election
thereof shall be conducted. If ratified, it
will therefore insure the cooperation of
both sides in behalf of judicious, delib-
crate and safe means Of procuring not
only a capable and conservative conven-
ton, but also the subsequent ratification
of its work.
Having given this important measure
my official appreciation because Il due re-
gard for the general welfare, strict
fidelity to public pledges, and a wise sup
port of constitutional reforms seemed
plainly to require its adoption, Inow earn
estly commend it to your early and favora-
BILE consideration.
FREE SCHOOLS
The recommendation which 1 had the
honor TO make in my last message, that the
required school books should be supplied to
the pupils free of cost, having met the ap-
proval of the Legislature, has been pro-
duCtive Of the most gratifying results.
From the superintendents OF each of the
counties it is learned that the attendance
of scholars, since the law went into opera
ton, shows marked increase, and ut the
same time the school fund, which Is derived
| chiefly from license fees. has increased in
proportion with the expenditure necessary
| to furnish school books free-the dividend
for 1880 being SlO29iS.65 and for 1892,
| after deduCting the cost of text books,
| being Si2l ,DS0.gi.
The cost of free school books for the
year ending August, 1892 was:
| In New Castle county............ 81, $40 5s
| In Kent county. y................,. 6,31SSS
| In Sussex county. ty................ 10, 256 ~
| Being total for the State of :. So, ,9s5 Is
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 eX-
| pended hereafter; but it is believed in
view of the beneiicent operation ofthe law
| and of the popular benefits derived from
| this assistance to the poorer classes of our
| community, that every dollar so expended
will receive the hearty approval OF all good
| citizens.
Upon examination of the auditors re-
| port it will be found that at the close of
| the school year in June, 1892, the follow
| ing amounts were in the hands of the
clerks of the school districts in the several
! countless
In New Castle county y...........S23 ,6i3.H
| in Kent county,. t............ lU,D52.1S
| In Sussex county y................ l6,S37.26
Total amount in the hands of
| school clerks. s.............. SOL ,i33. 46
This statement would seem to show that
the receipts for school purposes in manv
| districts are in excess of the amount re-
| qliired for running the schools in such dis
tricts, and that the tax necessary to be
| levied as a condition upon which they re
ceive their propurtiolate share of the
81
sE"'"t u',ltul'' 10 "a 1850, - M tieM
~ tIe@e avs muu.u IN. .Ii
tle iHM pS ~ "itiei.pJv - ~ ic','toe t ttie
atiouttl ~ m ie'iu, q W " teNieu " tLc
lieved of the unnecessary burden. The
| rapid growth of the school fund will soon
be sufficient for all school purposes, and
there VIII no longer " lieresaty Ior any
t1A oIHeL ln"'i , Ionu, N"uhas l. an plpIt
taxes ~ ihcI' IL ptcoliles YOU 10 seriously
e~oii9i.'S' ~ Miiu'.iIt ~ ' ~ ',,ue nna ~. NV
"IlINcu "he'i ths a'itpoitv ~. " t"A icl9're'l
Y pt Iaseu " sG1looi S'lstllcts silo'llli not
nc coilIieu W .tie iie1ess"iS eAPo'SeS 'h-
ueleiliuellt ol Union:
= ,! tlt'c regard lor tne l,roteGtiph ol the
phlllG lu',ta |u'nuliin |uin tilnI .t stell Iestala-
tlol suotlIl pe ~, eIaete,s US VIII lreYent tnelll
rom otils uel' NNilout "lliPle aeCutH! 70
tne STATE ~ IN. thc ilaiilaeeliteht ul lhe
sehool moneys u u ls Geetneu 100 great a
purdeh upon schoot clefks, VINO serve
WlthouI lecni,,ary reWafG, 70 re- lure .henl
70 ppnui t'ieil aiioW ths iuii4s 10 remain
~ thS minus y q uohucu ol'iccI' aiu tel
an ollls LOT Iutloii pe paiu " cheGks OF
drafts upon that ollicer. lnls Wpuiu Sc
cure more proiillI paS ilieilt Oh tile sala-
rleS ol teaciets, anu u rue saine tiille pre-
Vent tilr lioSs. pllitS ot '"sS ol iulus py al
uhpoiidea oilcer'
coLohEp Schools
Whlle sopa results are reported from INC
leHlslalloh LOT the De'iG.iI ai pl soloreu
scn9ois, / LesleGn 10 say INV @ the pI95resS
iiuue Ny thc cit''Hleu VI lllis clt9s VI OUT
cltl1ehs lias lloC peHa GoiiiileiSul'lte WIN
the advantages oItcleq. aih ieu 70 c nc'
iieYe, however, tna. tiils lniiure IS ny et..
ttrely Tue lt.i't VI t'tse o'itiH',s ~. t.iat
u results EerE Li4ch from tlln l,tGt tiiiil tlig
Jaws rrSliatilS tlie seihool5 OF ihe colore'i
people ana we eAPeiaiture q Ihe moneys
approllrlale@ loF the DrneHt ui t;iSll ~