Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-12

we have good reason to look forward to
honest and fair elections. While there
is little doubt that the law was violated
in many instances ut the lust election,
it is manifest that it is not the fault
of the law nor of The means of its exc
cution. 4 healthier md more deter
mined sentiment in favor of its strin-
gent enforcement is the need of the
hour. A united effort OF the honest
men of all parties can rid Delaware Of
this evil, and it is your duty as repre-
sentatives of the best interests of tho
State to do nothing that will dis
courage this sentiment or interfere
with the safeguards SO carefully placed
around the ballot.
The fact that there were SO many
spoiled ballots at the last election haSt
brought into disfavor the use OF ink in
marking tho ballot, and recommend
that some safer and better means be
provided. In doing so, however, |
caution you ayainst the adoption of |
any method that would destroy the |
secrecy of the ballot or in any manner
open the way to corruption or fraud
frequent and radical changes of late
| in our election laws have made it diff |
cult 10 fatniliarize ourselves with the
requirements, and it would be in the 1
| interest of intelligent Voting to avoid
oil unnecessary legislation on this sub
| ioct.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
There is no SUBJECT in which our
people hare deeper interest than our
free schools. One Of the great objects
and Importance of free government
is to afford the greatest opportunities
and advantages for the development of
the individual on the linss of industry
and intelligence, and it is now axio-
matte that the most useful citizen is
tho most intelligent. Whatever may
be the native capacity of man until the
animal instincts are subdued and tho
mind by training and enlightment is
brought to 500 the nobler aud better
possibilities of the race, good citizen
ship, industrial success and the higher
civilization, which has been the hope
of the thinkers and workers through
all the ages, are but q dream that is
forgotten while we sleep. The veil
of ignorance shutting out the fairer
visions of natures promises, dwarfing
the arm of mans power, feeding the
lower instincts of self love, envy and
passion, makes citizens the plant tools
and ready Instruments of designing and
INSCRIPTIONS leaders who place self
, above State, and party and creed above
tho general good. recognizing the
great importance of good schools, laws
have been enacted for their establish
, ment in all parts Of our State, and the
State funds have been literally devoted
to their maintenance. Unfortunately
our public revenues will not justify
q more liberal appropriation for this
n purpose, and we must look to the
o liberality, care and interest which
have been awakened in the minds of
our people for proper and adequate
0 support of schools in each district
: BY the law providing text books out Of
the school fund parents have been re-
a lieved of u considerable expenditure,
and it is the duty of the people in each
% district to rise to the level of their
o opportunities and by proper means OF
taxation raise enough money, which
= added to their portion of the school
" fund will run the schools at least eight
months in the year. Owing to the in
creased number of colored schools and
% the equal distribution of the school
=, fund among them, each districts share
u is less this year than last, but when
it is considered that the State is still
paying more than three-fourths of the
,s expenses of our schools We can readily
= appreciate the necessity of the people
y, in each district doing their duty by
" raising more money for school purposes
- AS this will probably not be done uniess
~ required by law, l suggest for yonl
70 consideration the ACCESSIBILITY of in
- creasin5 the amount to be raised b,
=; ~ taxation in order to entitle districts tc
80 ~ their portion of the dividend.
o. Section Of the new School Law re
= quires the State Board of Education {,
80 make report to the General Assembly
u | and xuhila tho Inu in frro hu
u been in operation less than a year, tn
a. State Board has made report contain
~, ing much valuable information, an,
=, will submit it TO you later in you
~ session.
o. The new school law, with its man,
h. new and modern provisions, seems +
~ be we'll adapted to our needs, and W
~, 40 have every reason TO believe that fey
~ years of its operation will demonstrate
at its many good features and MATERIAL
cf improve the condition of our schools
No request for it fair trial, and be
~ lieve that the progress and growth c
~ interest in education will bear testi
90 mony to its merits. There are fer
~ amendments which il will be necessar
~ for you to enact, and your attention
he called TO them in the report above re
he ferred to.
III CORPORATIONS.
20 | earnestly urge your careful cor
Try sideration of the subject of a Generi
m Corporation bill, as contemplated b
ng the Constitution. This subject receive
ost the attention of q large part of the az
as journed session of the last Legislator,
in but without the hoped for result OF I'll
st. enactment Of - law. And l now desil
ept to impress upon you, as l did on I'll
ich last Legislature, the immediate an
ow urgent necessity of providing the Sta
with "a fair, safe and comprehend,
dit law under which companies may b,
red come Incorporated.
ted The law now in force is meager in j
in scope and entirely inadequate, and fe
the charters have been obtained under /
vas provisions. Aggregation of capital
re, companies has proven the greater
the stimulant to industry and advancement
ere From the lack of proper corporatio
rs law tho industrial and commercial az
AS vanceinent of the State has been har
the pered aud retarded for nearly thr
he years and tho State has incident
for been deprived of much revenue.
his 1t will probably be difficult to obta
ind u perfect law or one that shall me
Ieet with the unanimous approval Of tho
interested in its provisions, but futu
ont experience and the test of its operati,
ich will dictate proper and necessa
lille changes from time to time. l Won
ex- recommend that the provisions of su,
the u law be liberal enough TO invite al
illus encourage tho employment Of capt.