Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-07
GOVERNOR MILLER
PERSONALLY URGES
ECONOMY IN STATE
Delaware's Executive in
Message to General AS
sembly Deplores System
Of Appropriations.

DOVER, Del, Jan. 7.-Members of the
Delaware Legislature assembled in Joint
session today to receive the biennial mes
sage of Governor Miller. The message was
ready for reading on Tuesday, when the
Legislature convened. but clash be-
tween the eight Democratic and nine Re-
publican members of the Senate, result
ing in two partisan Senate meetings
simultaneously in one chamber, delayed
It's transmission until ~ hours after the
time set by law.
1t was the first time in the history
of the State that O Governor personally
appeared before legislators and delivered
an executive report.
A rigid policy OF economy, enforced by
dwindling revenues. was advocated by the
Governor. He suggested an innovation in
the appointment of Joint committee to
confer with him over matters of appro-
priations.
Regarding legislative expenditures, he
said:
Under the practice now in force In
this State there exists no check upon
running expenses of the two branches,
neither is there any limit TO the
amount of money each House can ap-
propriate for its own contingent ex-
penses.
In this State there being no bud
get and no fixed appropriation made
for the contingent expenses of the
General Assembly. there is conse-
lures.
Governor Miller emphasized he was not
seeking to trespass upon legislative pre-
rogatives, but was prompt in making this
suggestion in the interest OF economy
for the present session and establish a
precedent for following ones.
Much of the message was devoted to a
discussion of educational progress In the
state. He favored consolidation OF rural
schools, in order to bring these districts
to maximum efficiency. The rural school
evil with its one-teacher system he
pointed out, was the root of Delaware's
hardness In education.
He advocated an appropriation Tor
care of indigents, an appropriation OF
$4,000 for Delaware exhibit at the
Panama-Paclfic Exposition; erection of a
tablet In Independence Hall In Philadel-
phit in commemoration of Caesar Rodney;
massage of uniform state laws; amend
ment of primary laws under which all
primaries would be held on the same day;
a legislative drafting and reference
bureau for drafting bills; increasing the
strength of the militia to War Depart
ment footing; laws providing for good
roads and their maintenance; general IN
corporation laws for towns, uniform In
surance and banking laws. and weights
and measures laws.
The Democratic Senators indicated they
still retained some OF the bitterness OF
the bipartisan clash when they returned
to their chamber after the reading OF
the message.
Senator Furnlss charged that some one
had tampered with Sergeant-at-arms
Gregg, causing the latter to disobey
orders OF the Senate. He explained that
Gregg failed TO return the ballot-boXes
Yesterday. The Democrats wished an
explanation from Gregg. but the Repub-
licans tabled the motion.
The Democrats were successful In nav
ing the Senate journal corrected, Clerk
bail, Republican. admitting he had
erred in conJecturing that eight Demo-
Gratis had voted when viva voce vote
had been taken.