Evening journal., 1898-02-04
BLIND LEADING TINE BLIND.

DLlANlJ LEAlJiANA Di<AAN'bt
And now the Dover Delawarean fol-
lows in the lead OF the Dover Index,
which declared that the Constitutional
Convention provided for the raising Of
100000 for school purposes in addi-
tion to the revenue already derived
from the investments and from the fees
on marriage and tavern licenses. II
reminds one OF the story of the blind
leading the blind. Like the Index, II
holds that the license fees are part Of
the income on investments and that the
licenses are an investment. Fortu-
nately for the state, and unfortunately
for the two newspapers in question, the
members OF the Constitutional Conven-
tion knew full we'll what they were do
ing when they drew that section, and
they are willing to defend it against
all comers.
When the matter OF school support
was considered by them they first as
certained what income was derived
from the investments constituting the
school fund That settled, they pro-
ceeded to ascertain what the schools
received from the license fees. Not
wishing to render the school system
liable TO impairment by unwlse legis-
lation, they made provision that, in ad-
dition to the income OF the school fund
investments, the General Assembly
should appropriate not less than $780,
600 for the support Of the free schools
OF the state. This sum was designated
because It was found that the license
feesreceivede each year for application to
the support Of the schools aggregated
about $104,O 900. It was the desire OF
all the members OF the Constitutional
Convention to keep the schools at their
present standard, and, at the same
time, to make It possible TO elevate that
standard from time to time as the A.
nances OF the state would allow.
This is a statement OF facts. There is
no speculation in 1t. Hence, II the In
tent Of that section OF the new Consti-
tuition is ever tested in the courts It
will be interpreted to mean that $780,
600 shall be appropriated annually to
the public schools to augment the
money derived from the state money
invested in stocks and bonds and
placed to the credit of the school fund
as permanent investment for public
school purposes.
The Index may endeavor to extricate
itself, and the Delawarean may hope
to assist It in doing so. but their strug-
giles in that behalf can only result IN
making their contention the more RI
diculous without In any sense convinc-
ing the people that the delegates we're
not fully aware OF what they were do
ing when they enacted that section.
We agree with the Dover Delawar-
can that detailed legislation is a dan
gerous thing in Constitution" but il
is not half so dangerous as the inter-
probation OF such detailed legislation
by those who know little or nothing
about Il, and who are so contentious
that they are unwilling to concede thai
such men as Judge Bradford, Judge
Spruance, ex-Attorney General Johr
Biggs and their colleagues in the Con-
stitutional Convention did not know
perfectly well what they meant wher
they framed and enacted a section pro
viding that, in addition to the income
OF the investments OF the school fun,
the sum OF 500 900 or more should b.
appropriated annually for the mainte
nance Of free public schools. Personi
who hold that liquor licenses and mar
riage licenses are investments" mus
be hard pressed for argument. TIL
DeIawarean further declares that fact
cannot be changed or brushed aside,
yet it is endeavoring to aid the Inde,
in doing the very thing which it assert
cannot be done.
IL does not matter what monies az
appropriated to make up this sum c
100000. The fact remains that 1t ha
to be made up and added to the incom
Of the school fund investments. II tn
license fees continue to supply $4,000
or more, they can still be used, but
they fall short OF that amount the ds
fciency must be made good by the al
propriatfon OF other money from oth'
sources. That is the plain English {
II, and we may rest assured that th'
is what will be done, regardless OF Ii
two journalistic branches Of the Coz
stitutional Convention still in sessio
at Dover
"a non, cnl,y ,,eu,aips fo,. tho nep,,