Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-01-21

fiuto TOT tue establishment ana MAUI
tcnance in each state of an agricul-
tural extension department in institu-
tions designated as Land Grant Col
leges.
The benefits which it is possible
for the farmers Of this country to &c
rive under the operation Of such an
Act can scarcely be estimated The
effect of this law, if passed. will be
to bring directly home TO the farmer
actual information, demonstrating the
most advanced methods of farming.
When this measure becomes opera
tive, our State should be prepared to
pass such legislation as will enable
the farmers TO obtain fun benefit ex-
tended by the National Government,
under this Act.
STATE LIBRARIES.
Consideration OF larger subjects
seem to have brushed aside and OBJ
structed from the view of our citizens
the splendid work being accomplished
by the State Library Commission. The
men and women composing this Com
mission have been working for some
years quietly. but effectively, among
the rural districts, distributing small
Libraries where formerly there was
practically no opportunity to obtain
any reading matter While the mem
bers of this Commission serve with
out compensation. their interest in
the work they have been appointed
to perform. is no less diligently and
! successfully prosecuted. AS the work
is being continually developed upon
broader grounds and a larger per-
centage of the population Of the State
is being reached this Commission
should receive favorable consider
alton.
REVISION or MARRIAGE LAWS.
Our present marriage laws ought
to receive the immediate attention of
the Legislature, and the undesirable
features should be promptly elimin-
ated. The laws enacted at a former
session Of the General Assembly were
designed TO restrain youthful impetu-
osity, check hasty marriages and
prevent Opponents into our State
from other sections Of the country;
but these laws have utterly failed in
their purpose The present marriage
laws should be amended forthwith. so
as TO require a residence within the
State, say. for six (6l days. by one Of
the parties to the marriage A dec
laration. setting forth the fact OF the
residence. as required. should be filed
at the time of the application for the
marriage license. and the facts set
forth in said declaration should be
supported by the sworn affidavit of a
responsible citizen, resident of the
State. of legal age
The passage of an Act containing
provisions as above set forth. should
have the effect of preventing entirely,
or at least largely reducing, the great
number of ill-timed and hasty mar
riages which take place daily within
our State The existence of laws
which permit such conditions reflect
I discredt upon our institutions ana
upon our people
! EXPEDITIONS TRIAL or CIVIL
CAUSES IL COURTS.
There has been a tendency for
some time past to criticise the Courts
( Of our country for alleged slowness
/ i'm disposing of litigation Little il
any cause for such criticism is either
mcrited or deserved. Business of the
Courts. however. could be FASTENED
81 the Legislature would pass an Act
requiring the filing of the first papers
in the cause on the return day of the
original writ. and each subsequent
I pleading within 10 days. and after the
adoption of the constitutional amend
ment now pending that there shall be
term Of the Superior Court in New
/ Castle county every month of the year
except the month OF August and that
the number of terms in Kent and Sus-
sex counties be increased
DISCRETION AND N0N-SUPPORT.
"Our present laws on the above SUBJ
iect fail to give adequate relief to the
I increasing number of wives who are
deserted by their husbands. and to
children whom parents neglect to
support, so that the evil has become
moro public than q private matter.
Society is now more than ever OBLIGED
uo care for these unfortunates de-
serted aud in want The lack OF
proper support breaks up the home.
domcralizes the children and destroys
their future opportunity for develops
/ ing into good citizens. causing them
to draft into the ways Of the shiftiess.
hayward and abandoned, which
course generally leads to vice and
crime and eventually to the prison.
A law should be enacted, just and
fair to all, granting to our Courts
more discretion and broader powers
: in cases of desertion and non-support,
which would treat the case as con-
tinuing oifense. The Courts should
, have power either before or after a
conviction, to make an order for the
payment Of certain amount weekly
NOT monthly-tO the wife and the
person or Society having custody of
I the children, and to release the hus-
: band on probation. upon his giving
bond or take such other course as
/ the circumstances of the case may
warrant. If the husband fails to COM
ply with the order Of the Court he
should then be committed to the
Workhouse and his earnings applied
as heroinbefore suggested. All cases OF
this character should be looked after
7 by a Probation officer who could. by
personal visits, ascertain and report
whether the orders OF the Court are
being obeyed and the wife protected
and the children being cared for by
proper persons.
These abandoned and deserted
people have need of the laws assist
ance and protection, and the Legisla-
ture of our State should amend the
present law, in order that justice may
be done and a proper remedy effec-
lively applied.
ROADS.
Nothing will develop and strength
aADDOA,