Middletown transcript., 1899-01-14

GluAtIg lNHus SotAuHkEN 1EGG1pbu--
Oyster revenue, $500. Estimated ex.
pendilures salaries, expense Of guard
boat, fish ard oyster police, food fist
aud commissions, SS41O.
Owing to the unusual demands OF
the general fund for paying the expense
Of the Constitutional Convention and
the adjourned session ..of the Leglsla,
tuge, held for the purpose Of making
changes In the laws made necessary by
the adoption Of the new constitution,
the state treasurer, In addition to the
$50, 900 derived from the extra number
Of bonds OF the issue of 1897, was COM
PEELED to obtain temporary loan from
the Farmers Bank at Dover Of $50. .00(
at 81 per cent. TEis was done under
authority of chapter II of volume 81 Of
the Laws CT Delaware. This loan has
not been paid and I recommend that
you take into consideration the best
means of paying it.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
There Is no subject in which our peo-
pie have 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 deyelopement Of the
individual on the lines of industry and
intelligence and it is now automatic
that the most useful citizen is the most
intelligent. Whatever may be the ma
tive capacity of man until the animal
instincts are subdued, and the mind by
training and enlightenment is brought
to see the nobler and better possibilities
of the race, good citizenship, industrial
success and the higher civilization,
which has been the hope of the thinkers
and workers through all ages, are but
dream that is forgotten while we
sleep. The veil Of ignorance shutting
out the fairer visions of natures prom
ises, dwarfiDg the arm Of mans power,
feeding the lower instincts Of self love,
envy and passion, makes citizens the
plant tool, and ready instruments of
designing end INSCRIPTIONS leaders,
who place self above STATE, and party
and creed above the general good.
Recognizing the great Importance of
good schools, laws have been enacted
FOR their establishment 10 all parts of our
state, and the state funds have been lib
orally devoted to their maintance. IN
fortunately our public revenues will
not justify more liberal appropriation
for this purpose, and we must look to
the liberality, care and interest which
have been awakened in the minds of
our people for proper and adequate
support of schools in each district. By
the law providing text books out of the
school fund parents have been relieved
of considerable expenditure, and it is
the duty of the people in each district
to rise to the level Of their opportuni-
ties and by the proper means Of taxa
tion aise enough MONEY, which added
to their portion of the school fund will
run the school at least eight months in
the year. Owing to the increased num-
Der of colored schools and the equal
distribution of the school fund among
them, each districts share is less this
year than last, but when it is consider
ed that the state is still paying more
than three-fourths Of the expenses Of
our schools we can readily appreciate
the necessity of the people in each dis
trict doing their duty by raising more
money for school purposes. As this
will probably not be done unless requir-
ed by law, suggest for your consider
alton the advisability Of increasing the
amount to be raised by taxation in or
der to entitle districts to their portion
Of The dividend.
Section of the new school law re-
qGires the State Board Of Education to
make report to the General Assembly
and, while the law now in force has
been in operation less than year, the
state board has made report contain
ing much valuable information and
will submit to you later in your session.
CORPORATIONS.
earnestly urge your careful consid-
GRAFTON Of he subject Of a general cor
poration bill, as contemplated by the
constitution. The subject received the
attention Of large part Of the adjourn
ed session Of the last Legislature, but
without the hoped for result of the en-
actment of law. And / now desire
to impress upon you, as | did on the
last Legislature. the immediate and ur-
gent necessitv Of providing the state
with fair, safe and comprehensive Law
under which companies may become
incorporated.
The law now in force is meagre in
its scope and entirely inadequate, aud
few charters have been obtained under
its provisions. Aggregation Of capital
In companies has proven the greatest
stimulant to industry and advance
ment. From the lack of proper cor
poration law the industrial and com.
mercial advancement of the state has
been hampered and retarded for nearly
three years aud the state has incident.
ally been deprived OF much revenue.
It will probably be difficult to obtain
perfect law or one that shall meet
with the unanimous approval of those
interested in its provisions, but future
exy erienceAud the test of it's operation
will dictate proper and necessary chan
ges from time to time. would recon-
mend that the provisions of such law
be liberal enough to invite and enconr-
age the employment Ct capital in the
l