Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-07


Maryland and Delaware. Pursuant TO the
authority conferred, the commissioners en-
tered upon their duties and have com
pleted the work. The report of their pro-
ceedings. together with plot, showing
the courses and distances of said dividing
line by them established and location of
the stones set is herewith submitted for
your approval. In my judgment, the work
has been satisfactorily and accurately per-
formed. |, therefore, recommend the ac-
ceptance and approval of the report, and
the payment to the commissioners and
surveyor of such compensation as you may
determine and allow.
STATE LIBRARY.
The General Assembly, at its last ses-
sion. appropriated sum not exceeding ten
thousand dollars for the erection of an ad-
dition to the State House for library pur-
poses. and appointed commissioners on the
part of the State, whose duty il was to
have such addition erected. In conform
ity to that authority, the commissioners
have completed the construction of an ad-
dition to the old Library forty feet long
and thirty-fve feet wide. The room com
municates with the old Library, and has
an estimated capacity of thirty-four thous-
and volumes. There are now in the State
Library about twenty-nine thousand vol
nmes. The Library will not be complete.
however, until an Office is provided for the
State Librarian, and reading room for
those who desire to consult the many valu-
able Volumes s
STATE HOUSE.
The apartments provided in the State
House for the different State officers are
wholly inadequate to the necessities of the
nj An r,f he
apartments now occupied by the State
Treasurer and State Auditor, particularly.
will reveal to you the necessity of enlarged
accommodations. 1t would seem that the
rooms formerly used for the State Lii
brary could now be utilized to the full re-
lief of all the State officers.
STATE MILITIA.
The report of the Adjutant General,
herewith submitted to your honorable
bodies is replete with valuable informa-
tion respecting the National Guard.
BY discreet provision of our organic
law, the military is kept, in all cases and
at all times, in strict subordination to the
civil power. The organization and main
tenance of such military force as may be
necessary to preserve the supremacy of
the civil authority is the part of wisdom.
The mere knowledge Of the existence of
military force capable of rendering i'm
mediate service has the effect of over
whelming insurrection and mob violence
in its incipiency. 1t is, therefore. an i'm
portant auxiliary to the adequacy of the
civil power.
The State of Delaware, being the first
to enter into the compact of States, should
be the last to forget the obligations as
sumed in consideration of the benefits ac-
cruing from perfect union. By the Con-
stitution of the United States there is
guaranteed to the State of Delaware Re-
publican form of government. and protec-
tion against invasion and domestic vo-
lence. We should be prepared in good
faith, at all times, to extend helping
hand to the Federal Union. !, therefore.
recommend that you give the subject of
| increased financial aid to the National
Guard of Delaware your most serious con
sideration.
- DETECTIVES.
desire to direct your attention to the
manner in which our detectives arc COM
pensated. 1t is manifestly unfair that the
City of Wilmington alone should lie
charged with the payment of officers who
are so freely called upon to render seryict
in all parts of the State, and who always
so cheerfully respond to such calls. Dy
statute these detectives are required to
serve all acquisitions, regardless of the
place where the offence is committed. A.
crime committed in the City of Whining
ton, is just as much a crime against the
peace and dignity of the State, as though
it were committed IN any other part of the
State. The expense, therefore. of bring
ing the offender to the bar of justice should
be paid by the State. / suggest that you
so amend Chapter AZ, Vol. 10. Laws of
Delaware, that these officers may he COM
pensated out of State funds.
EXPRESS COMPANIES.
Complaint has been freely made against
Express Companies doing business in this
State, charging them with the violation of
the statute prohibiting discrimination
of charges for the transportation of pack
ages. | recommend that you investigate
the charges and report the result Of your
inquiry to the Attorney General
TENNESSEE CENTENNIAL.
The people of Tennessee will celebrate
the one hundredth anniversary of the ad-
mission of their State into the Union, by
holding at Nashville. the capital, for a
period of six months, from the first day of
May. A. D., 1897, a Centennial and Inter
national Exposition. This State has been
invited by the Commissioner General to
participate in this celebration. My object
III UiukinS vi lHlS Is tlltl u may
receive whatever attention your judg-
ments may dictate.
REPORTS.
In addition to the reports heretofore
commented upon. I herewith submit the
report of the State Board of Health. to-
gether with a list of reprieves, pardons
and remissions, and my reasons for grant
ing the same.
ELECTIONS.
A matter still remains to which I must
call your attention, and have reserved it
until the last, not because 1t is less i'm
portant, but because il is more important
than all others with which have dealt in
this message. The subject is one which I
could not ignore if l would. and which
would press itself upon your attention
without suggestion from me.
refer 10 the matter of bribery and cor
ruption in the conduct of our elections. 1t
doubtless has existed in some degree for
many years, and has been practiced by
members of all parties in the heat of po-
litical contests. But the comparatively
limited extent to which il bad obtained
tended to prevent its awakening the pub
lie conscience as it should have done. and
though always condemned by thoughtful