The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-16

luulrecUy TO duNduce the uoii'ir ioi INC
registration Of any other person. Clearly
upon reasons, the requirement to pay
this fee is restriction upon the freedom
of the elective franchise, which should,
of right, be attended with the greatest
possible degree OF freedom.
True it is that the expense OF elections
must be paid, but the elections being for
the benefit of all the inhabitants Of the
State, the expense thereof should be
borne by tax which would fall upon all
alike and not upon those who are EMIT
led to become qualified and who qualify
themselves to vote. Again such pro-
vision vastly increases the opportunities
for political corruption and itself invites
violation of the laws to prevent bribery
and corrupt practice. Not only is the
latter true upon reason but the opera
ton Of our registration law has, we fear,
demonstrated its truth in practice. /
would suggest that the law providing
for the registration Of qualified voters be
amended by abolishing any registration
fee whatever.
Our election laws, which have been
improved upon several times since the
adoption of the Australian ballot sys-
TEN and which in very wholesome and
effective manner provides for the secrecy
Of the ballot, still seems to be defective
in the manner of voting prescribed. I'm
der the law the voter is required to de
signate the ticket that he wishes to vote
by stamping the square containing the
device at the head thereof, with a rubber
stamp provided by the election officers
and to do this an ink pad is required
The law further provides that any ballot
that is defaced or smeared with ink or
containing any mark, other than the
said stamp, properly impressed, that
could be considered distinguishing
mark. shall not be counted. Clearly I'M
der such system applied to the average
voters of any State, it is practically i'm
possible to prevent many ballots from
being accidentlly so spoiled as to be nee
cSsarily rejected in the counting, and ex-
perience has demonstrated this to be q
fact. Indeed we believe there have been
instances in our State where the real
will Of the voters has been frustrated in
this way. While all care and caution
should be exercised to secure n fair and
honest vote, the method of voting should
be made as simple as possible and
snare should not be set to catch the
unskilfull and unwary or to deprive any
elector of his vote.
Permit me to suggest that the election
law be amended by providing some meth
cd of designating the ticket to be voted
without any ink of any kind being in the
voting booth or any other material that
can accidentally mark or deface the bal
lot.
FEES OF COUNTY OFFICERS.
Consideration of the county offices of
the several counties makes it apparent
that under the present system OF pro-
ridng for the remuneration of the Of
iiccrS by the fees of the office great in
equality exists in the emouments of the
several offices. 1t appears in some in
stances that the emouments Of Offices
where large volume of important work
Is required to be done are much less than
the cmoluments of other offices where
the labor required is comparatively much
less and much simpler. We believe that
such an inequitable system is unfair and
certainly the fee system of providing re-
Enumeration for officers is out of accord
with modern ideas. In other States gen
orally such officers are paid salaries and
made responsible to the State or county
Tor the collection of the fees of the Office
and the proper accounting therefor. which
fees are paid over to the proper author
ltleS. Such system would be much |
more desirable and satisfactory than the |
one in present use in this State, and | |
would recommend the General Assembly |
70 pass an Act adopting such n system
bearing in mind, Of course, that the diff |
ferences OF conditions in the different |
counties would require that the salaries |
Of the same Office must necessarily be |
different in each county.
Permit me to suggest that every means |
should he adopted and every opportunity |
embraced by the General Assembly as |
well ms by every other branch of our |
state Government to foster and encour- |
Agc the manufacturing and, commercial |
interests of the State.
FOR INDUSTRY.
situated as we are on one of the |
largest navigable rivers in the country, |
On one of the most beautiful BAYS and in
deed on the very rim of the broad At
lahtic, we have unusual opportunities to
become II great manufacturing and com
mcrclal community. Activity in these
ines would as well benefit our agricul-
turll interests, would stimulate demand
by making greater market at home
ana make it the easier to find markets
abroad. Every branch of the State Gov
eIiment should keep these things con
SANITY in mind and remember that upon
lrNelupments III these directions the
tufllre of our State depends.
Pubiic officers are incident to govern
ment. Under the Constitution and laws
~ III" State il is the duty Of the Execu-
,Ne 70 MI certain offices by appointment.
~ me performance of my duty in this
o"iialf | shall insist upon honesty, com
potency and fitness in the applicant, re-
hemberlng always that in this particular
am responsible for the character of the
pubic service, the efficient character of
winch means much for the convenience
md welfare Of the whole people.
MY Fellow Citizens, not only must the
Inherent departments of the State Gov
'lllment work tremendously to secure n
'uccesSlul administration Of the affairs
u the State but to accomplish this the
l"art% cooperation of all the people re-
tardless of political utilization is neces-
AIRY. The people, the State and the
executive are under reciprocal oblga-
ions 70 each other to see to it that the
''ahdard of honor, of happiness and of
prosperity set for our State by those
Sho have gone before us shall not only
remain lmmpaired but shall be ad-
'anccd.
| earnestly ask your assistance and
cooperation. and revcrently invoke the
M Of the Divine Creator of all things
hat Inc affairs of the State nav he