Newark post., 1915-01-13

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PRIMARY ELECTION LAWS
The statute passed at the last
session of the General Assembly
extending the Primary law to Kent
and Sussex counties, received its
first trial at the primaries held pre-
vious to the last general election.
There were many instances where
the spirit Of the Primary law was
violated by over-zealous people in
both parties, which resulted in
members Of both parties partici-
pating in the primaries of the op-
posite party. Such practices vio-
late the intent Of the law and do
not conform with the principles of
honesty and fairness. If the law
could be amended so as to provide
for holding party primaries on the
same day in each county, the con-
ditions cited above would be reduc-
ed to a minimum and the spirit Of
the law upheld.
STATE MILITIA
1t has been demonstrated that
the Militia Organization of your
State has attained high degree of
efficiency. 1t took part in the In
augural parade at Washington on
March 4th, 1913, and received high
commentator from the authori-
ties for it's military bearing and
excellent department. In July 1914
d test Of the organizations eff
cheney was fully illustrated by a
practice march, which was begun
at the State Rifle Range, New Cas-
tie, on July 10Th and ended at
Milford on July 26ht, covering a
distance of about eighty miles.
During this march the officers and
men were subjected to the same SER
vice conditions they would have
experienced if called into active
service within or without the State.
This march gave the citizens
throughout the State an opportun-
ity to observe the personnel, equip
ment, and discipline of the organ
ization. Having accompanied the
troops during this time, l can bear
personal testimony as to the bene-
fit of this character of service to
our citizen soldiery.
AS at present organized, our
State Militia consists Of a regiment
of eight companies Of infantry,
which under a recent ruling of the
War Department, the Federal au-
thorities claim, does not conform
with the United States militia reg
ulations. In order to comply with
this ruling, it will be necessary to
organize four additional compan-
les or change our present regi-
mental organizatio to that Of an
organization consisting of two sep
arate battalions of four companies
each. In view of these conditions
| submit this matter to your for
your consideration and determina-
ton.
STATE HIGHWAYS
Concerning this important sub
ject so much has been spoken and
written, that any extended discus
sion of the matter at this time
seems unnecessary. The General
in 1913 ratified an
am ndment to the Constitution so
that now, under certain circum-
stances, state aid may be legally
obtained for highway construction.
The growing tendency to issue
long time bonds for construction
OF new roads serves to increase the
road mileage beyond the ability of
the counties to properly maintain
them in good condition. This ap-
peals to me as being wasteful and
We had better have
a reasonable mileage Of good roads,
than large mileage of inferior
roads. The patrol system which
has been adopted by most of the
New Entiland states has reduced
the cost Of maintenance and pro-
longed the life of the initial con-
struction. Wider tires would have
& very beneficial effect upon our
roads and materially reduce the
cost of their maintenance.
Light on vehicles are now re-
qulred in many states, their use
serving to prevent accidents at |
night. With the growing popular
ity of the automobile, travel on the !
highways increases every year,
making the need for the adoption
of such a precautionary measure
as to lights more apparent. 1t
would seem that the part of wis
dom for our State to provide some
legislation which would reduce the
possibility of this character of ac-
cidents.