Smyrna times., 1921-01-12
GOVERNER TOWNSEND GIVES
LAST MESSAGE FOR STATE
CALLS ATTENTION OF LEGIsLA-
TURE TO IrIrORTANT SUBJECTS
FavOrs Tax Commission and More
Rigid Tax Laws-Praises Work of
duPOnts for Schools and Roads

1
the past four years was contained in
--.e final message of Governor john
G. Townsend, Jr., delivered by him to
the joint session of the Senate and
.louse of Representatives Thursday
afternoon. The address, which will
rank with the most notable deliver
ances ever heard in the historical cap
tai, urged the members of the Gem
eral Assembly to look into the future,
to think in terms of the interests of
the whole state and to face squarely
.he responsibilities of the years un-
folding. Child welfare, educational
advancement, enlarged health safe
guards, the continuance OF the states
highway projects, revision of states
governmental machinery, the budget
system and enlightened financial leg
lslation were a few of the points
stressed in the message.
COmmends Contributions of duPOnt's |
The governor warmly commended |
the magnificent contributions to the |
progress of .me state by numbers of |
its private citizens. In this respect |
l
me American commonwealth. He
startled the assembled Legislators and
the assembled visitors when he stated
that more than $1OOOO,00O had been
! given the state during his administra-
\ ton through private citizens. In an
l eloquent plea on behalf of the school
! code, which he stated has not yet had
a fair trial, he. pointed out the large
R contributions of Pierre S. DUPONT, in
!, aid of the schools of the state amount
ing to $5,70O,000 and dwelling on the
program of the State Highway Com
\ mission he commended the civic spir-
4 itedness of General T. Coleman du-
v FONT, whose benefactions in behalf of
n new highways entailed gifts to $4,-
ri OS8,947. The governor took up the
W school code at length. He reviewed
~ the inception and progress of the
~ movement for better schools. He
81 stated that through the code Della
III wares schools would rank with those
N of the greatest states in the country.
W He urged the legislators to think of
N all the children of the state and to
w equip them through education 10 COM
~ pete with the children of other states.
n The school laws, he conuended, are not
clearly understood. The code has not
," been given fair Crial, he urged.
FavOrs Appointing Tax Commission
N The governor favors State Tax
N Commission and legislation to obtain
W for the state taxes from those who
W have lodged its present laws. he
m urges the establishment. of State
III Hublic Utility Board and the coordina-
XXI ton of the multiplicity of state de-
W partments and bureaus. The COVER
III nor devoted some time to a review Of
XIX the prominent part of the state had il
M the war effort of the nation. "Thest
~ four years have been hard, hare
W years." the governor said, in conclu
W sion. "With thought at high tension
W under the strain of war, criticism
W some fair, no doubt, and some unfair
N think-was often severe and hurt
rs No man, it seems to me, ever had TIL
W loyalty of friends that has been mine
M To-day 1, am dreaming Of the Della
W ware Of tomorrow" concluded the gov
W ernor, with tremor in his voice
" Facing the future, present its re
N sponsibilities to you." A brief sum
mary of the Governors recommends
III tions are as follows:
n Some of Governors Recommendation
III Urges Legislators not to permit cur
seen wealth" to escape the share 9
III taxes the farms are now bearing.
III Leaves changes in the school Law
up to the Legislature with the obsel
vation that "to me right is childre
III first"
III Continuance Of the Americanizatio
schools for the foreign born is adv
IN Gated.
Suggests Coleman dupont chair I
highway engineering at Delaware Co
lege as fitting tribute to good wol
done by General DUPONT.
Would abolish the Levy Court f
New Castle County and establish Il
commissioner form in vogue in Il
other counties.
Recommends that the depaftmel
- of history and government at Del
',ne ware College be strengthened to me-
.o needs.
Inc Immediate erection Of a Memori
Vltn Hall to soldiers of the World War
less building a north wing to the Sta
uai- Capitol.
men Would way men while in trainir
OBJ camps as a means of aiding the r
has organization of the State militia.
most Some sort Of police patrol o. Sta
,rld. highways is needed to prevent ro
Won berries in the rural districts.
! of Asks cooperation Of the rural mer
II az bers to give Wilmington legislation
- - A. ,.sxrsc' v.oo<1c