Middletown transcript., 1899-01-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

| GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
1T WAS READ BEFORE BOTH HOUSES
OF THE LEGISLATURE FRIDAY
OF LAST WEEK.
Governor Tunnell's message Wai
read in both houses Of the Genera
Assembly Friday afternoon. The
message follows in part:
| STATE OF DELAWARE, EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House o
Representatives:
You have the distinction IF being
the first Legislature elected under tbt
new constitution of this State and con
sequentIy the first elected from senator,
ial and representative district. As re.
presentatiyes of districts your individu-
al responsibility toyour constituency is
confined to smaller territory; but, whit
this is the case there is no such limit tC
your duty as the lawmakers of the
state, for your duty cannot be circum-
scribed by such narrow limits, but Ii
coextensive with the needs and general
welfare of all parts of the state. Your
increased numbers should bring to the
the body more diversified and COM
plete information of the needs and re-
quirements Of all interests of the state
and should give you a more efficient
membership.
Under the new constitution your
powers and duties differ from those OF
Legislatures under our former consti-
tuition. Among these essential differ
ences are the restrictions upon special
legislation, and consequently the TAX
ing away of the power to legislate on
divorces, special corporations, roads,
bitches ard kindred subjects which
heretofore took so much of the time of
legislative sessions, and deprived the
state Of that careful and undivided at
tention to the general needs which is the
proper and legitimate functions Of leg
islative bodies.
In view of these changes you are linn.
tied to session of sixty DAYS, unless
the public interest so demands your at
tention as to induce you to remain lon
ger without compensation. You, will
therefore, readily appreciate the neces-
sity of immediate aud prompt attention
to the work which shall come before
/ you. Your session must necessarily
be busy one If You are ta give to the
subjects on which you will be called tc
act that careful consideration which
the public interest demands. Every
interest to be affected by proposed leg
islation and the public generally, who
are interested in all legislation, should
be given ample opportunity to b.
heard.
| The constitution guarantees to al
citizens the right of petition, remon
STRANGE or address to persons entrusted
with the powers Of government, and
there is no surer way to avoid hasty
and iIl-advised legislation thar
full and free hearings in committee
You will find this impossible to do dur
ing your daily sessions, when your du
ties call you to the body. You cal
greatly expediate your business ant
more satisfactorily perform your dutie
by remaining at the capital at night
where committee bearings can be hell
and information obtained which is 81
necessary for your intelligent action.
! As the Executive, whose duty it |
to pass upon proposed laws, I assur
you that / shall eudeavor to act a
promptly as careful and conscientiou
performance Of my duties will permit
Whatever may be o1f affiliations WI
represent the same people, and our act
whether good or bad affect all alike.
STATE FINANCE.
| | call your attention to the crafty
ing condition of the finances of tn
state. The able and careful manage
ment Of the past has. bor fruit 10
small public debt and reasonable taxes
While the report Of the state treasure
which will come to your hands later
will give you full Information on th
subject, deem it advisable to cal
your attention briefly to the condition
of the treasurer and the more import
ant matters relating to the public fund
which will need your attention at thi
session.
i Governor Tunnell then gave tabu
lated statement Of the assets and liabil
| tiles of the state. The total assets, in
cluding bonds and other inyestment
and state buildings, are placed at 81,
1859, 4l916. Tie bonded liability an
a temporary loan make the liabilitie
$S19, ,750. The excess Of assets over Tia
bilities is placed at $549 $3.50.
From the estimates of the state tres
surer Of the receipts aid expenditur
for the fiscal year of 1899. Ii appears q
follows:
General fund Receipts, S3SS, 3l9, ,2(
estimated expenditures, S504 $50.
School fund. estimated receipts--I
come from investments, S3l los; ap
preparation from general fund. 500,