Evening journal., 1901-01-15

that claim the support OF a State there
are none more deserving than those which
ment for the INDECENT insane persons Of
the State. We, OF Delaware, feel a just
pride IN our State Hospital at Farnhurst
This institution Is thoroughly equipped In
all departments for the work required OF
IT, and skilled physicians and nurses are
IN constant attendance upon these poor
unfortunates who are confined there. The
efficiency of the institution has been
gradually increasing. and Il Is under the
control OF a board Of trustees, composed
Of competent physicians and laymen
chosen from the whole State. During the
past few years the record shows that the
demands upon the institution by reason
OF the increasing number Of inmates have
been much greater than heretofore, and
that the amount Of money appropriated
thereto IS now inadequate TO meet the In
creased needs. While In an departments
OF state government proper economy
should be exercised, the efficiency OF such
an institution as our state Hospital
should not be impaired by the failure OF
the General Assembly to make approp "a
tions adequate 20 the needs Of the insti-
tuition.
Another public institution OF which
Delaware should be able TO feel proud Is
our State College at Newark The educn-
ton OF the citizens Is matter OF supr' me
Importance 70 every state While, m
this day We believe the tounoguons ei
education are best secured 20 the people
by an efficient public school system, sun
every state should foster one institution
al least where those OF its youth who de-
sire can secure the higher education ny
as small an expense as possible nhu
within the confines OF their native state
While no reelection Is attempted TO be
made upon the management OF Delaware
College. the institution does not seem 20
have met with the measure OF success Ia
the past that we should hope Tor II. We
find constantly a larger number or hela-
ware students attending coleBeA anu
HuI IaH
our own college In a State or the =, pu-
lation OF Delaware this should not be the
case. Many Of the students who attend
outside institutions are from the CITY OF
Wilmington, Permit me 70 suggest mat
perhaps the removal of the college TO the
city OF Wilmington, where there IL "A
large population TO draw from, where the
railroad facilities are much superior go
Newark and where the general contact
with the outside world is much closer
might attract many students from WIZ
mingt0n who now attend other sehoo.s
and might enable the institution pN COM
tact with "A more energetic atmosphere &c
take the rank among similar institutions
that properly belongs 70 H. the CITY o
Wilmington to secure the advantages ol
such a removal should offer 60 pay TO Tho
college a reasonable amount TOT tn'
buildings and property now belonging t'
it, or should erect proper buildings lot IL
! would suggest that the Legislature con
slider the matter and. N they deem ans
action with respect thereto proper or pos
sibo take such action.
Referring 10 the public schools of th'
State think we may congratulate our
selves upon the efficient basis upon whicl
the system has been placed by the recen
public school law. ! agree entirely VIII
my distinguished predecessor in office
and recall 10 your attention the remarl
made hy him IN that part Of his messnE
which treats OF this question. While "a
Legislature should not fail TO make ade
Uuatc appropriation for the public schools
IL should be seen TO that the amounts ne
uuNodf TO be raised by each school dis
trict actually are raised and any increaa
IN State appropriation should be accom-
panied by an increase OF the amount q
be raised by the school districts.
The splendid body Of men who com
posed the First Regiment oi Delawar
Volunteers, with whom Delaware ne
sponded 20 the call OF the nation az th
beginning OF the late war with Spain
caused Delawareans 70 feel proud tina
the glorious military record OF the stat
In the past Is not forgotten and that
while our State furnished more than n
quota OF troops I'm the civil warit furnish
ed more than three times IFS quota forth
Spanish war. Much has been said I'm re
cent years I'm favor OF and against a Stat
militia. but Il certainly seems that tn
State should see that az least one regi
ment of militia Is provided for and main
tanned in the State. This can be done q
a comparatively small expense. and
would recommend that the General As
sembly make suitable appropriation 70
that purpose
The operation OF the present regstra
ton and election laws has demonstrate
that they are a great Improvement owe
the old election law. The opportunlue
for bribery and corruption have bee
greatly lessened and the chances Tor al,
honest practices In voting and cOuntin
the votes have been very much reduce,
In government such as ours wheI
the viii of the people Is supreme ever
possible opportunity should be given fc
the ful and free expression OF that wi
ana every safeguard should be throw
about the method Of its expression to 81
cure the honesty thereof.
While the present laws concerning elo,
tlons have gone Tar toward attainin
these Ideals there seem TO be two II
spects at least, In which they should I
amended. The registration law require
that every citizen shall pay TO the regi
trauon officers OF the district IN viii,
ne Is otherwise entitled TO be registere
the sum OF 81 before he shall be Qualih,
10 be registered. The law further an
most properly makes it a misdemean
Tor any person directly or indirectly
advance the dollar for the registration
any other person. Clearly, upon rcaso
the requirement to pay this fee, Is r
strlcuon upcn the freedom Of the elect
franchise. which should, OF right. be q
tenoeo With ne greatest possible dcgr
oi freedom. True IL IS that the expens
Of elections must be paid but the ele
tion being for the heneht Of an the
habitants Of the State. the expense theI
va rlANnAA Ar NNlllr nN a NHA MMlIn Won
fall upon all alike and not upon tho
only who are entitled 20 become Quaun
and who qualify themselves 10 vo
Again such a provision vastly increas
The opportunities for political corrupt
and itself invites violation of the laws
prevent bribery and corrupt practl
Not only is the latter true upon reaet
but the operation Of our registration 1.
has, we fear, demonstrated it's truth
practice. would suggest that the ].
providing for the registration OF quann
voters be amended by abolishing any r,
lstration fee whatever.
Our election laws, which have been q
proved upon several times since the adj
tton Of the Australian ballot system a
which On n very wholesome and effect
manner provide for the secresy OF
ballot, sun seem 10 be defective In
manner OF voting prescribed. Under
law the voter Is required TO designate
ticket that he wishes 10 vote by stamp.
the square containing the device az
head thereof with rubber stamp pl
rlced by the election Officers and 10
this an ink pad Is required The law Il
ther provides that any ballot that is ,
faced or smeared with ink OF containi
any mark other than the said stan
properly Impressed. that could be cons