Evening journal., 1899-01-06

IDENTITY was not intended by the la6l
Legislature, when $l00,000.00 was ap-
me pnsted to the School Fund and the
license lces were diverted TO lhe Gen
ral tund. But as no authouty wac
given Tie State Treasurer to use this
money as q part OF the General Fund
OF OF the school Fund, be has retained
Il In the SS hcol Fund for your dispCsai
l recomI-Crd that this money be d.
yeryed TO the General Fund a. once.
as il is badly needed to meet present
demands on that fund.
cal. your attention to the excellent
showing Il the Oyster Revenue, which
constitutes cur Sinking Fund White
this fund fell short of meeting the ex.
penses in 1895 and 1885, under the
present excellent management a sur
plus appears to the credit This is
the result OF the Enforcement of the
laws and the careful collection Of n.
cense fees and the economical manage
ment Of the fund.
ELECTIONS
/ congratulate the people Of the
State on the success of the provisions
In the new Constitution re.ating to
elections. Tie open and scandalOue
use OF money for the influence Of vOt.
els had assumed such proportions as
to threaten the peace and stability OF
our institutions. aud no work Of the
Constitutional Convention washvatcheO
with keener Interest than that looking
TO the suppression of bribery. Thei.
came the test cf an exciting election
with all the old attempts to evade the
law and continue the shameful practi-
tlees that had become sueh a factor In
the decision of the important questions
which cur voters have been called
upon to decide. IL has been demon.
strated that political offenders can be
punished in a trial by Court, and it
the law-abiding citizens. who love their
State more than party and her well
fare more than political advantage
VIII do their duty, we have good rea-
son to lo5k forward to- honest and
fair elections. While there is little
doubt THAT the law was violated in
many instances at the last election. Il
is manifest that it is not the faut Of
the law nor Of the means of it's execu-
tion A healthier and more deter
mined sentiment in favor Of its strin-
gent enforcement is the need NJ the
hour "A united effort OF the homes;
men of all parties can rid Delaware OF
this evil. and ii Is vOur duty as repre-
sentativeS CT the best interests Of the
State to do nothing thai will dlscour.
age this sentiment or interfere witt
the safeguards so carefully placed
around the ballot
The fact that there were so many
spoiled ballots at the last election hae
brought into disfavcr the use Of inl
in marking the ballot. and I recon,
mend that some safer and better
means be provided In doing so, how
ever, I caution you against the adop
ton cf any method that would de
stroy the secrecy OF the ballot or II
anv manner open the way TO corrup
ton or fraud.
! Frequent and radical changes q
late in cur election laws have made 8
j, diffiCu.t to familiarize ourselves witi
the requirements. and it would be il
the interest of intelligent voting Il
avoid all unnecessary legislation Oi
J this subject.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
There Is no subjscs IN which on
people have a deeper interest than on
free schools. One of the greatest oh
b jects and importance Of a free govern
merit e TO AFFORD the greatest oppor
b tunlties and advantages for the de
velopment OF the individual on III
D lines Of industry and intelligence. an
Z is now automatic that the most use
, ful citizen IL the most inteiiigen-
Whatever nav be the native capaclt
OF man untK the animal instincts ar
suhdugd and the mind hy 'rainin
and enl' Ehtenment is BROUGHT 20 Sc
the nQhlpr and hetter possibilities c
the race. g cd citizenship. industris
suCcess and the higher civiizatior
n which has been the hope Of the think
\ ers and workers through all the age:
are but a dream that is forgotten Will
we sleep. The veil of ignorance shu'
q ting out the fairer visions OF nature
promises, dwaring the arm of man
q p-Wer. feeding the lower instincts {
self love. envy and passion, make
q citizens the phant tools and ready in
struments Of designing and unscrupJ
q lcus leaders who place self abOy
State, and party and creed above oh
a general good. Recognizing the gre;
Importance OF god schools. laws hhy
been enacted for their establishment
q all paris of the State. and the stat
funds have been literally devoted I
their maintenance. Unfortunately Ol
public revenues Will not justify a mol
liberal appropriation for this purpOs
n and we must look to the liberalit
care and interest which have bee
e awakened in the minds of our peOp
5 for a proper and adequate support
q schools in each district. BY the la
: providing text books out OF the schc'
3 fund parents have been relieved OF
y considerable expenditure. and it is Il
! duty Of the people in each district
o rise to the level Of their Opportuniti
e and by puper means Of taxation rai'
u enough money. which added TO the
portion Of the SCHOOL fund will ri
II the schools at least eight months
L. the year Owing to the increased nun
u ber ~ Ccrrred schools and the equ
Is distritution of the school fund amor
n them. each districts share is ,ees IN
e year than last. hut when it is co
d sidersd that the state is still payiI
e. more than tbree-fouTths Of the e
ie penses cf cur schools We can readl
AZ appreciate the necessitv If the peop
$ In each district doing their duty
e. rs sing more money for school pu
q poses. AS this will probably not
"a dcne unlces required by law, I su