Evening journal., 1899-01-06

the Constitution. This subject received
the attention Of a large part OF nc
adjourned seeeion Of the last Leg,sla-
ture. but without the hoped Tor result
ol the enactment Of law And / now
desire TO impress upon you as did on
the last Legislature, the immediate and
urgent necessity of providing the state
with a fair, safe and comprehensive
aw under which companies may be-
come incorporated.
The law now in force is meagre in
its scope and entirely inadequate, and
few charters have been obtained under
It's provisions. Aggregation Of capital
in companies has proven the greatest
stimulant to industry and advance
ment From the lack of a proper cor
poration law the Industrial and com
mereial advancement OF the stale has
been hampered and retarded for near
ly three years, and the state has in
cidental,y been deprived Of much reve-
nue..
Il win probably be difficult to obtain
a perfect law or one that shall meet
with the unanimous approval of those
interested in its provisions, but future
experience and the test of its opera
tion will dictate proper and necessary
| changes fIom time TO time / would
recommend that the provisions Of such
a law be liberal enough to invite and
encourage the employment OF capital
in the building UP or our industries,
the broadening Of the opportunities 10
labor and the means of transpOrta-
tion Of the increasing products OF our
farms, yet with all proper and adequate
safe guards for the neceeeary protec-
tion of the rights and privileges Of the
individual and the existing interests.
Yon have all the advantages Of the ex-
perience of other states that have such
a law and guided by that light and
your knowledge of the needs of this
etate YOU should have no difficulty in
arriving at a proper conclusion. The
general corporation bills which were
prepared and considered at the last
session OF the General Assembly are
alFo in your possession and form a
bccts for your action.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
The management and control Of the
affairs Of our counties is a subject that
comes more closely home to our tax
payers than most other questions OF
governmental policy. II is there that
taxes are levied and collected directly
from us and expended. Our roads and
bridges, almshOuSCs. courts and jails
are there supported and maintained.
On the honest and careful performance
OF the duties Of our county governing
body, the Levy Court, depends the pub
lic conveniences and the safety OF our
people and their property. Extrava-
gance and acknowledgement not only
waste our substance but deprive US OF
the benefits and advantages Of safe and
easy means Of travel and the institu.
tions for the protection against the vi.
I cious and the maintenance OF the poor
b and afflicted.
b ROADS.
9 This subject has been referred to Of
q ten by my predecessors in message
10 the General Assembly. and ! fee
that IT'S importance scarcely need.
mention from me. But as our land.
are developed and the resources o
agriculture become more important w
J. are confronted with the need Of bette
. | highways as the means of easy ant
3 casnvenient accers to markets. OWN.
d to the even surface OF our land
, should not be difficult or expensive q
{ make and maintain good roads. In al
\ agricultural community nothing add
e more to the comfort and convenienc
g than well bept roads. and few thing
{ add more to the attractiveness am
u bcuuty. Liberal appropriations are an
u nunIy made for this purpose, and wit
careful management our roads shOuN
= be kept in good condition. But. eithe
= through ignorance Of the proper meth
< ods Of building and improving them O
: a settled custom Of inadequate patch
= ing and mending. they are far fron
a what the expenditures would Justify
s Much of the money is spent on un
+ necessary roads, laid out for the con
+ venience of individuals and of doubt
e fur public benefit. In many places the
e parallel each other in close proXimit
n while other sections are deprived q
-e the needed cOnveniencee. Then, to,
IN much of the money spent finds its wa
Il into the pockets of overseers in pay
20 ment of the per diem In overseeing tw
n or three men. / do not mean to refeC
on tue uDutnLg OA lut bNtlnttlbf uul =
e. condemn the system under which the
y act.
% In my judgment II would be in th
- interest Of economy 10 cause our road
y to be put in proper condition at ono
!" in accordance with the best methodi
- and then they could be kept in goo
- condition with a small annual Out,a.
n therefore recommend that proper r'
* ssrictions be provided for the layin
d out Of new roads; that the Levy Court
IN or other bodies having control OF I'll
IN highways be required to cause them
ia be generally repaired and put in gOc
n condition. that overseers be given
al iarger number of milec to work, be q
lg stricted as TO the season Of work an
is the smallest number Of men to be en-
n p-oyed and that the members Of Il
ls Levy Court be required to visit and il
\ spect the roads in their districts mo
y frequently.
III DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS.
NJ We all feel a just pride in the Del
be ware Regiment Of Volunteers Whi
g Il is a source Of regret to them and