Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-17


of elections must be paid, but the
elections being for the benefit of all
the Inhabitants of the State, the ey-
pense thereof, should be borne by
tax which would fall upon all alike
and not upon those who are entitled TO
become qualified and who qualify
themselves to vote, Again such
provision vastly increases the oppor.
tunities for political corruption and
itself invites violation of the laws to
prevent bribery aud corrupt practice.
Not only is the matter true upon reason
but the operation of our registration
law has We fsar demonstrated its truth
in practice. | would suggest that the
law providing for the registration of
qualified voters be amended by abolish
ing any registration fee whatever.
Our election laws, which have been
improved upon several times since the
adoption of the Australian ballot sys-
tenn and which in very wholesome
and effective manner provide for the
secrecy of the ballot, still seems to be
defective in the manner Of voting pre-
soribed. Under the law the voter is
required to designate the ticket that
he wishes to vote by stamping the
square containing the device at the
head thereof, with arubber stap.p p pro
vided by the election officers and to do
this an ink pad is required. The
law further provides that any ballet
that is defaced or smeared with ink or
containing any mark, other than the
said STAMP, properly impressed, tnaS
could be considered distinguishing
mark, shall not be counted. Clearly
under such a system, applied to the
,1 Of anua1tufo III q mrs
ticaly Impossible tc prevent many
ballots from being accidentally SO
spoiled as to be necessarily rejected in
| tho counting, and experience has
deponstr ated this to be fact. In
deed, we believe there have heen in
stances in our State where the real
will OF the voters has been frustrated
| 10 this way. While all care and
caution should be exercised TO secure
"a fair and honest vote, the method of
| voting should be made as simple as
| possible and Il snare should not be set
! TO catch the unskilful and unwary or
J to deprive any elector of his vote.
Permit me to suggest that the
| election law be amended by providing
some methcd of designating the ticket
! to be voted without any ink of any
| kind being in toe voting booth or anY
other material that can accidentally
mark or deface the ballot.
SALARIES FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS.
4 Consideration of tine county officers
Of the several counties makes it ap-
| parent that under the present system
/ of providing for the remuneration OF
4 the officers by the fees of the office
great inequality exists in the emoln-
ments of the several offices. Itappears
in some instances that the emolumenie
of offices where a large volume Of inn
portant work is required 10 be done
are much less than the emoluments oil
other offices where the labor required
is comparatively much less ana much
simpler. We believe that such an
4 ineuuitabla system is unfair and Ger.
tainly the fee system Of providing
Z remuneration for officers is out ol
4 accord with modern ideas. In other
States generally such officers are pait
salaries and made responsible to tht
State or county for the collection Of
the fees OF the office and the proper
accounting therefor which fees are
paid over to the proper authorities
Such system would be much more
desirable aud satisfactory than the ont
in present use in this State, and
would recommend the General Assembl.
to pass an act adopting such system
bearing in mind, of course, that thu
differences OF conditions, in thu
different counties would require tina
the salaries of the same office mus
necessarily be different in each county
MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL
INTERESTS
Permit me to suggest that ever,
, means should be adopted and every op
portunlty embraced by the General As
sembly as we'll as by every other brancl
of our State government to foster ant
encourage the manufacturing and ccm
mercial interests of the State.
Situate as we are on one OF th
largest navigable rivers in the country
, on one of the most beautiful bays AM
indeed on the very rim OF the broa'
Atlantic, we have unusual OPT ortuni
ties to become great manufacturin.
J and commercial community. Activit
in these lines would as we'll bench
our agricultural interests. woul'
stimulate demand by making create
market at home and make 1t the easie
, to find markets abroad Every branc
of the State government should kee
, these things constantly in mind al
remember that upon development il
/ these directions the future of our Stat
! depends.
HONESTY IN TIE PUBLIC SERVICE.
Public officers are incident to govern
: ment. Under the Constitution an
laws Of this State it is the duty Of tn
executive to fill certain Offices by az
pointment. In the performance of m
, duty in this behalf shall insist upo
? honesty, competency and fitness in tn
,, applicant, remembering always that j
this particular, am responsible for tn
! character of the public service, tn
| efficient character of which means muc
! for the convenience and welfare Of tn
whole people
ANAPPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
My fellow citizens, not only must th
, different departments OF the Stat
!. government work harmoniously to s,
cure a successful administration Of th
: affairs of the State, but to accomplis
. this the hearty cooperation of all tn
!, people, regardless OF political aliiliatio
, il necessary. The people, the Stat
aud the executive are under reciEroci
. obligations to each other, TO see to
i, that the standard Of homer, of happ
ness and Of prosperity set for our Stat
: by those who have gone before us sha
= not only remain unimpaired but sha
] be advanced.
| earnestly ask your assistance an
, cooperation, and reyerently invoke th
aid Of the Divine Creator of all thins
I that the affairs of our State may
4 administered wisely and happily an
| A. q ast