Milford chronicle., 1919-10-24
FRIENDS OF CODE
HOLD CONFERENCE
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE MEET
AT DOVER AND DISCUSS EDUCA-
TIONAL MATTERS.
SPEECHES FOLLOW DINNER
GOVERNOR WILL NOT CALL A SPECIAL
SESSION OF The LEGISLATURE TO
REPEAL THE SCHOOL CODE.

Governor John G. Townsend, Jr..
will not call a special session OF the
legislature to repeal the school code.
He is writing to every petitioner FOR
a special session to send reasons and
when all are received he will submit
them to the State Board OF Education.
Pierre S. duPOnt's brothers assisted
him in establishing scholarships at
Delaware College.
Governor Townsend has given $lO,-
600 to the clearing house Of the State
Board of Education, the State Board
Of Health. the State Highway Commits
sion and the Survey Commission for
publicity; Charles Warner has con-
tributed $1,000 and another friend,
whose name is withheld, has donated
$500
These facts were stated at dinner
and conference in the Odd Fellows
Temple. Dover, Saturday afternoon,
ana prediction was made that the man
who takes the school code for his plat
form will be elected next Governor
of Delaware.
One hundred and twenty-five persons
were present, including members OF
State. county and district Boards of
Education, county superintendents, SUI
pervisOrs and instructors.
Brief addresses followed the-dinner,
which was excellently served by the
Daughters of Rebekah, the women's
branch of Odd Fellowship.
George B. Miller. president Of. the
State Board of Education, acted as
toastmaster.
Governor Townsend said it did his
heart good to see so many friends OF
the school code present; he was glad
the code had so many friends He had
been told if he did not call special
session of the legislature to repeal the
code he would not have enough friends
to bury him; but, he stated, he would
rather be taken to the cemetery with
out friends, put in a pine box and
buried. after doing something for the
boys and girls, than receive 'Dou-
ouets" from the politicians of the
State. When he took the Office of gov
ernor his ambition was to do some
thing for schools and roads. Reve-
nue. had to be increased and he draft
ed the income tax law, when orought
S35O.OOO to the State Treasury the first
wear and has been declared constitu-
tional. He described the enactment of
the school code, saying it was not
passed violently, and praised Henry
Ridgelv's efforts to secure its passage.
He appointed the State Board of Edu-
cation, and Pierre S. DUPONT, one of
! the members. gave $2,500000 for new
school buildings. Since emancipation,
he said, negroes had not received any
thing more important that the $4,000
given by Mr.. dupont for their schools.
After referring to petitions for call
ing a special session of the legislature
to repeal the school code he gave as
surance that it would not be called.
He told the friends of the code to go
ahead and he would give them all pos
sible assistance.
Expenditures win Not Be Carried
Over from Year TO Year
Pierre S. dupont, vice president of
the State Board of Education, COM
mended the budget system in school
finances. He said accounting OF pub
lie money is often difficult, but it is
the solemn duty of the school officials
to account for money passing through
their hands. They must be particular
in detail. Had last years figures been
available during the past summer
there would have been some basis Tor
4 next years budget. The most import
ant part of the accounting relates 10
the budget; it tells what the money Is
to be spent for before cent IS col
lected. There is very little informa-
ton to guide this year. II the ofhclals
fall short on the budget it will not be
supplemented except by bond issue
Expenditures will not be carried over
from one year to another year he
asked all to come squarely TO the
front in accounting and said if they
got in trouble the State Board OF Edu-
cation would help them.
DR.. Joseph H. Odell, general director
Of the Service Citizens, announced the
new building program. The Delaware
Auxiliary School Association Will ad-
minister the funds given by Pierre D.
dupont. The association has been IN
corporated 1t does not seek to rival
any authority or function OF the state
Board of Education; il simply supple
ments and assists. The attitude OF the
State Board of Education is paeinc'
cOnciliatOry. thoughtful and gracious
1t does not seek to arbitrarily force
acceptance of the school code. II VIII
be the major factor in working out
problems in the State. The auxiliary
association Will not uO '4n54S tH-Ns
without the complete knowledge and
consent of the State. county and dis
trict Boards of Education. Practically
all the school houses will be rebuilt
Few have a rating of 500 to 1000 per
cent No one will force consolidation
of school districts. 1t will cost $780,
600 to rebuild the school houses, and
that means raising S5.O00,000 by bonds.
COlOred Schools VIII BE Built Free
Of Cost to County
The negro schools will be taken
care of without burdening counties or
special districts There is no reason
why the rebuilding Of negro schools
should not begin Immediately.
Special Districts TO Receive
Liberal Allowances
The auxiliary association will help
special districts more literally than
other districts. The purpose is not
merely to erect buildings. but to give
the children the best facilities for ed
ucation. Delaware has one school
Continued on tenth page)
EX.SHFRIFF MALONEY WEDS