Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-17
GOV. HUM TO THE PEOPLE
inaugural Address of the New
Chief Executive.
NOTES THE STATES HIGH CREDIT
Says Every Effort Should be
Made to Maintain 1t.


Dover, Jan. Is. Following is the
full text of the inaugural address of
Gov. John Hum, delivered at mis- in
auguration today:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
Of Representatives, and my fellow
citizens:
assume the duties, OF the offioe of
governor of our State with full gnowl
edge that the responsibility attached
thereto are many and great. As the
chief executive ! have become trustee
for the people TO perform faithfully and
well those things witch the Constitu-
| tion and the laws of the State have
| imposed as duties upon the office OF
| governor. During my incumbency of
| office my highest endearnrs shall be to
thoroughly understand the duties of my
| office and to discharge them with
fidelity. In dealing with the many
questions and perpIexities that shall
doubtless present themselves to me dur
4 ing my term of office, my policy will
be: First, to use every means of in
formation and advice at my command
to determine the right of the matter,
and then, fearleesly to do the right as
IL appears, recognizing only my re-
sponsibility to the whole reople.
| recognize the great honor conferred
upon me by my fellow -citizens in elect
ing me to the office that now assume
and l appreciate profoundly the con-
fidence which they have reposed in me.
| No words of mine could adequately ex-
press my feeling of gratitude to the
people and / can but nope that by my
acts. as their servant, shall be able
to dsmonstiate to them that my greatest
desire is to administer my tfust In
their interest and for their welfars.
4 My immediate predecessor in offiue
i has transmitted to you, gentlemen OF
i the Senate, and House of Representa-
tIves, his. biennial message, treating
largely of the conditions of our State
during the past two years. From his
message and from the report of the
State Treasurer it is apparent to all
that, IL many respnets, the economic
and financial conditions of the State
are most gratifying. The credit OF the
State among our own citizens and
among our sister States is second to
none, and the statement Of our finances
shows a large excess of Investments and
Other assets over the States liabilities.
i Every effort should be made to main
tain and strengthen this splendid
record, and every means, not inconsist
ent with the dignity of the State,
should be adopted to apply economic
business method to the management o.
the financial affairs Of the State.
! 1t Is not my purpose, gentlemen, tt
refer in great detail to the conditions
that exist in our State today, but
deem it to be my duty, and in aocort
with established custom, to call you
attention briefly to certain thing
which the public welfare seems tt
demand should he considered by you
who have been chosen by the peopl
to compose their law-making bodies
Permit me to suggest that forming
as you do for the present, the legisla
tive department of oui State govern
ment, the most important, perhaps, o
the three coordinate parts composing
tine American plan of government, ther
have been delegated to you by tn
people great powers and with then
, grave responsibilities. The value O
the Legislature to the people of th
State is measured not by the number q
I new laws placed by it upon the statut
! books but by the intelligent considera
: tion given by the individual member
,, to the various resolutions presente,
! during the term and by the amount q
honest work done by them in the gen
eral business OF their Office.
STATE FINANcEs.
The report of the State Treasure
shows that the State has decreased II
liabilities during the past two years b
b the payment of $50, 600, loan held b
: the Farmers Bank, and has now sur
in the neighborhnod cf 100000 o
: deposit subject to the draft of the Stat
, Treasurer. The General Inoorporatio
: law, passed by the Legislature In 1895
is, in q large measure, responsible fo
this improved financial condition of ou
! State, and fIom the operation Of th
said law thus far we are justified i
stating that the State will in th
future, under normal conditions, deriy
! a constantly increasing revenue from il
r Such prospect is most gratifying an
I brings within the realm of possibilit
! desideratum which has perhaps bee
1 the dream of public spirited men G
= every generation since Delaware ha
Q been a State. | refer to system {
mecadamized roads throughout tn
9 State. M public work could confer 8
I great and lasting benefit upln th
s people as such a system Of roads.
GOOD ROADS.
= Especially would it benefit th
farmers of the State and persons get
orally living outside the towns.
would improve the farms and enhanc
I. their value. 1t would improve th
stock, increase the profits of farmin
i by rendering hauling easier and by SAY
n ing time, OF course such compleI
4 system would require years for oonstru'
/; tion and large sums of money, but
could be and should be begun at ono
Q and when each road or section of road
built it would be permanent and tt
: system could be gradually extende
!. year by year. Such WORK could nj
J be successfully accomplished except
. be placed under the supervision
4 someone, who, by education and pra'
Il tical experience, is thoroughly con
petent TO direct it in the most econom
> cal manner. | would suggest that Il
q General Assembly pass an act appoin
i ing committee and making such 9
, appropriation as it should deem I'll
" finances of tine State warrant for II
purpose OF undertaking this work und
the direct supervision of the State.
81 In speaking upon the subject
* roads, l am reminded OF the very il
j, adequate and inefficient methods whit
.e are in use at the present time in I'll
D several counties of keeping uD and in
j. proving the public roads of the sever
\, | cnuntiee Not oply does ipaded1ai