Middletown transcript., 1899-01-14

i protection against the vicious and the
maintance.o of the poor and afflicted.
Whatever has been the political poW-
er Of the levy courts ID the past. they
are now rightly deprived of 1t and are
purely business bodies sent TO represent
the taxpayers In The management Of the
| affaiis Of the county. Honest and cap
able business men should be charged
with these duties and each commits
sioner SHOULD be elected in bis district
and held responsible for his official con
duct by his constituency. The election
Of members of the Levy Court in their
districts, either Levy Court districts as
| in New Castle county, or Representative
districts as in Kent county, seems
to meet with general approval and I
recommend that a law similar to one
Of tho5e be enacted for Sussex county.
ROADS.
This subject has been referred to Of
ten by my predecessors in messages to
the General Assembly, and | feel that
its importance scarcely needs mention
from me. But as our lands are devel-
oped and the resources of agriculture
become more important we are con-
| fronted with the need of better high
ways as the means Of easy and convep-
lent access to markets. Owing to the
even surface OF our land it should not
be difficult CT expensive to make and
maintain good roads. Imam agricultural
community nothing adds more to the
comfort and convenience than well
kept roads, and few things adl more
to the attractiveness and beauty. Lib
eral appropriations are annually made
for this purpose, and with careful man.
agement our roads should be kept in
good condition. But, either through
ignorance ofproper methods of build
ing and improving them or settled
custom of inadequate patching and
mending, they are far from what the
expenditures would justify. Much of
the money is spent on unnecessary
roads, laid out for the convenience of
individuals and of doubtful public ben
eft. In many places they parallel each
other in close proximity, while other
sections are deprived of needed conven-
ieEces. Then, too, much Of the money
spent finds its way into the pockets of
overseers in payment of per diem in
overseeing two or three men. / do not
mean to reflect on the honesty of over
seers, but to condemn the system under
which they act.
In my judgment it would be in the
interest of economy to cause our roads
to be pat in proper condition at once in
accordance with the best methods, and
then they could be Kept in good condi-
tion. with a small annual outlay. l
theI efore recommend that proper re-
strictions be provided for the laying
out Of new roads; that the levy courts
or other bodies having control Of high
ways be required to cause then to be
generally repaired and put in good con-
dition, that overseers be given larger
number of miles to work, be restricted
as to the season of work and the small
est number of men to Re employed, and
that the members of Levy Court be re-
quired to visit and inspect the roads in
in their districts more frequently.
DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS.
We all feel just pride in the Della
ware Regiment of volunteers. While
it is source of regret to them and to
us that they were not called into active
service in the war, yet their ready
response to their country's call, their
devotion to duty and their record for
military efficiency won them the CON-
mendation of their commanders and
demonstrated that the splendid record
of DelaWare's soldiery in the past is
mainta ined in the present generation.
Wien the call for troops came. Della
wa bad less than half full regiment
of National Guard, poorly equipped and
much disorganized, and to meet the
pressing emergency I asked the Legis-
lature for an appropriation of $50, 900
to cover the expense of an encampment
believing that the best means of mobiliz
ing our troops and ineulcating proper
enthusiasm in our people. From this
movements we'll equipped and efficient
| regiment Of more than one thousand
men was organized and responded to
the calls FOR troops. S22, ,265.56 of this
appropriation has been expended. This
small amount was the contribution of
| those who remained at home tc the
proper equipping and comfort of the
brave men who offered their lives in
thecause Of their country. We are assur-
ed, however, that all of this money will
be refunded by the Federal government
REPETEvEs, PARDoNs, REMIssToNs.
In accordance with the provisions of
the constitution also Big leave to lay
before you list of reprieves, pardon
and remissions granted by me since the
last session Of the General Assembly,
with the grounds thereof fully set fsrth.
take this occasion of commending
the action of the constitutional conven-
{ on in creating board of pardons. ]
have found the work of the board not
only great assistance in the perfor-
nance OF my duties, but their careful
investigation of the many applications
brought before them insures the public
against the many mistakes and errors
which it was difficult for the executive.
acting alone, to avoid.
EBE w. TUNNEL.
| Dover, January 8, 1899.
4 -
L c<1,s