Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-03

d s5 ldgl(| ssS'!1l
81 Dll1 Delaware has been OF slow
gowth. Ignorance, selhshn "A and q
lack of appreciation OF the great btuc-
tits derived from higher ,eduoatirn,
Have earded Its progress and eriEpled
ts u ,efulness. The IHcK of enthusiasm
for education peculiar TO most aRricul-
tural communities has made the efforts
OF teaohers and educators alike lees
effective. The State considering It's
revenues, has been most liberal. the
dividend from that source amounting
this year to 1874, 296. 30, but the people
OF the districts have not dtne their
share, raising by taxation less than
rhree-f ourtha OF that amount. The
great need Of Our schools is more
money. Last year many schools were
unable to- keep open the required one
hundred and forty days. without rum
ming In debt or raising extrn money by
contribution. This Is decided draw
back In two important particulars.
Seven months Of school is not sufficient
to give the children the necessary i'd
vantaees and Is too short time to
permit teachers to earn living salary.
The result Is that many children re-
main at home at that senson Of the yenr
Wlltu hubg COuld niUSb ull1uA
school and good teachers are unable TO
earn a livelihood in their profession IN
ID short a school year and are driven
from our State or compelled to sock
other means of livelihood. Under the
present most excellent law and efficient
school management, the textbook list
has been revised, giving to the schools
the very best books published and the
standard OF teachers has been raised 80
that our schools with adequate salaries
can be supplied with we'll trained and
progressive teachers.
would recommend that the appro-
priation for schools be increased but
that the amount required to be raised
by taxation in each district be Fro
portionately Increased The States
liberality springing from desire TO
increase the intelligence of her citizens
should not relieve the districts from
their share Of the burden. making them
less keenly interested in the careful
management OF their schools f
| Under the act passed at the last sss.
sion Of the Legislature authorizing the
Farmers Bank to reduce its capital
stock, there was paid to the State
Treasurer, for stock held as part of
| the Investment Of the Sohoul Fund,
S22, OBS. This sum has not been rein-
vested for the benefit of the School
Fund and | recommend that 1t be SO
| invested.
herewith submit the report OF the
State Board. Of Education which
will find most interesting. The statis-
tics thereto appended are the FIRST com.
plete and accurate statistics OF our
schools that have ever been obtained,
and form a basis Of Information OF
great value In dealing with the school
| question.
II heartily concur IN the boards
eromm endation of different system
| In my Judgment you will have before
you no more important measure than
the bill to carry out such recommenda.
tion.
ELECTIONS.
| Purity of the ballot and freedom of
| the voter to cast his ballot without In
fuenoe by money or, intimidation has
been the aim OF good citizens In Dela.
ware for generation, and when the
Constitutional provisions containing
the most stringent safeguards were
adopted 1t was sincerely hoped and
confidently believed that elections In
| Delaware would be again the free and
| uninfluenced expression OF the wishes
| of the voters. Such il not the case.
Bribery, corruption and intimidation
walked brazenly through our State at
the last election, and the only barrier
in the way Of the shameless and open
violation Of law and deosnoy WAS our
present system Of voting. / an, aware
that the present ballot law is criticised
by many voters aud few careful
changes may be beneficial, but / wish
| to warn you against tho clamor OF the
vote buyer and oorruptor of the franz
chise, for its repeal. 1t is the most
successful guarantee OF good order and
decency ut tile polls. aud gives every
| voter chance to go alone and undis-
turbed and prepare his ballot and de-
posit it without the surging mob at his
back Oh the prying eye or interfering
hand OF the corruptor or intimidator.
The system is now familiar to the
voters and even slight changes would
puzzle more than mid them. The
ascertainment of the qualifications Of
voters by registration and the present
ballot law make our elections at least
orderly and we must await quicken
ing OF the public conscience and a
higher intelligence to enforce the law
and secure the free and unintiuenced
expression of the voter
II 81 FISH.
For people blessed as we are with
such natural advantages of sea !oonsb
and stream supplying us with an
abundance of valuable food fish. we do
not show proper appreciation OF these
advantages. Our laws protecting fish
CONTINUED on fifth rase.l