Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-08

tAnce. to what he considers the e1igencles
Of the situation, Governor Townsend has
called a special session OF the General
Assembly of Delaware, to convene az
Dover on Monday, March %, at noon.
TO consider various pressing matters OF
legislation. These specific matters,
as set forth by the governor in his procla-
nation, are
To provide for diversion of funds from
the States General Fund to public
school purposes, in order to avert an
undue increase OF taxation on real estate
TO meet the new conditions of education
in Delaware.
To Impart authority to the commits
sioners for the erection of the new bridge
across the Brandywine river, in Whining
ton, TO raise money to meet the cost
OF the structure for which contract has
been awarded.
To pass upon the Equal Suffrage
Amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States.
Possibly the most important-cer-
tainly the most practical so far as the
interests of the people are concerned
subject mentioned by the governor in
his proclamation is that relating to the
employment of the State s General Fund
TO sufficient extent for the benefit OF our
educational interests under the new
School Code. The new conditions have
led to sn increase IN school taxes, and
the governor, well aware OF the demands
made upon holders of real estate by tax
assessments, has very proper concern
in seeing that these burdens are not made
too onerous. The State having ample
revenues from other sources, it seems
rational and appropriate that some OF
the money derived from these sources
should be diverted to the righteous and
valuable purpose of advancing the inter
ests OF our public schools and improving
the facilities for general education, with
out imposing unduiv heavy burdens OF
taxation upon the people
1t is known that for several months
Governor Townsend has been studying
the tax situation IN It's relation 10 public
schools. For some weeks. he has been
delving into State finances and ha.
solved the plan, VIII ch seems not only
plausible, but practicable, of trans
ferring money from the Geneal Fund to
the School Fund, IN order to relieve this
situation. With more than 81 100000
already in the State treasury, the State
is richer than ever before, and more able
to give relief where relief is most needed.
BY transferring portion OF this fund, II
will relieve the tax situation, which repre-
sents probably 90 per cent of the opposi-
ton to the School Code, and may operate
to avert a wild scramble for appropria-
tions at the regular session Of the General
Assembly. Also, by this plan, every sec
ton of the State would get share of the
States money, not certain favored sec
tions-
While the financing OF the new Brandy
wine bridge project is OF, of itself. of
sufficient Importance TO warrant special
session, it will he well TO have it disposed
Of, now that the special session has been
called. 1t is not wise To depend upon
private generosity for meeting the finan-
cial requirements, even temporarily, of
any public project.
AS To the Suffrage Amendment, the
governor has passed the matter up to the |
members of the General Assembly, with |
whom it properly belongs. They will now
be required to show how they stand on
this leading question.
Special sessions are not desirable at any /
time, and whether the people viii consider
the purposes specified by Governor |
Townsend as sufficient warrant for his |
action remains to be seen.
1t is hoped, however. the members of |
the Legislature Will have full sense of |
their responsibility and of their obligations |
t, the people. Thev may carefully consider
the propositions set forth by the governor /
and act intelligently upon them in short |
time A week ought to be sufficient for |
this purpose. But If the doors are opened |
for all kinds of legislation-and there is /
no legal bar TO such a condition there |
is no doubt the session will spread over |
the thirty days for which compensation |
Will be allowed the members, and possibly /