Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-18
GOVERNOR w. d. DENNEY
Con tinucd from page

|. crossing the leaSt supervision OF con-
| troll over tho details OF such expendi-
| lures. r. is not tho fault OF the
officer but the fault of the law creating
tho office. While tho office Ia created
by the constitution. the General AS
duties. would earnestly commend
this matter to your attention.
Economy Urged.
There is a strong feeling among our
people that the expense of maintaining
the government OF this State is far
greater than II should be. If there
are abuses or extravaRances the en-
actment Of n proper budget law and
the creation of proper and effective
State Auditors department would go
far toward preventing them In the
future.
Another thought prevalent among
the people is that there are too many
commissions clothed with power to
spend the public funds. Undoubtedly
is tho duty of the Legislature to cur
tail the number by abolshinC those
whose work do not justify their con-
tinued existence. and consolidating
others that Geek TO accomplish the
same object Independently and often
at cross purposes. The executives and
legislatures of other States have been
confronted with a like problem and the
solution seems to be the reduction of
the large number of commissions to a
few. co-ordinated so far as possible.
and all subject to some central au-
thoritv.
IL is quite possible that waste and
extravaganza in the expenditure of the
public moneys may be exaggerated I'm
tho minds Of the people but the gem
eral belief is perhaps not surprising.
In this connection permit me TO say
that in my opinion the governor should
not be member of any commission
that must spend the money of the
State lie should be at all times In a
position TO call any such commissions
20 account and have free hand In
dealing with Il In such manner as his
duty 10 the State requires. lie in the
representative Of the people. and must
conserve their interests 20 the full ex-
tent of his ability.
1t is more difficult for him TO do
his duty In this regard if he is himself
a member of commission that is sub
jeCt 10 criticism. My feeling about the
matter is so strong that lt will be graft
flying If the Legislature shall relieve
the governor Of membership on any
such commission.
For Good Educational Facilities.
During the past two years our citi.
zens have been giving an unusual de-
gree Of thought 10 the problem of
public education This is a healthy
sign We are more interested in the
welfare of our children than I'm any
thing else am willing TO believe that
e
Code Of 1919 and the School Law pass
cd at the special session OF the General
Assembly in 1920 were honestly Of
fered II is not sign that the people
OF Delaware are opposed to good eNi-
cation. IL simply means that they want
a system Of education which they can
nd. which will fit the peculiar
needs of the State and which will not
impose too great a tax-burden upon
any class or section of the population
would recommend that we all for
get past differences of opinion and that
we bury any ill-feeling which may
have grown up during the past two
years Let US get together and study
the situation in a calm and patriotic
spirit
Whatever has proved TO have been
Of value in the much discussed School
Code let US keep. whatever has failed
10 produce good results let us change.
If / understand Alright the report
which the State Board Of Education has /
made to this Legislature some notable /
results have been achieved but even /
this does not prove that we cannot do /
better tn the future
May / point out that practically !
every state in the Union is in a similar
condition of unrest about public edu-
cation And everywhere the problem /
is the same-the high cost Of main !
a modern system Of schools |
In Delaware we want our children TO I
have educational advantages equal 20 /
those enjoyed by the children OF other !
states. The chief question We have to |
answer is how we can finance such /
system. You. tho representatives OF 4
the people, are called upon 20 find a I
answer to that question /
feel convinced that if we can obtain /
the money necessary for running our
schools without placing an unwarrant- /
"a burden of taxation upon any group 1
or class of our taxpayers. all Of the
1ther difficulties in connection with our
school laws will be quickly and salts
'actorily settled. j ask YOU therefore
70 give the closest possible attention
% the financial aspect of this problem.
But ] think it only right TO appraise
he Legislature that I cannot con-
approve any repeal of the
3resent School Laws unless a just and
satisfactory substitute bin is passed
,y the 4s1eneral Assembly
For Good Roads.
No /one can ride over the beautiful |
md substantial concrete roads that
iave been constructed ir our State
Without experiencing a feeling OF
,leasure and wish that the mileage
vas greater than IL is. We would all
ike TO see such highways continuous.
lorth and south. east and west, both
or purposes OF personal pleasure and
BUSINESS profit. Too much credit and
,raise cannot be given to those gener-.
'us and public spirited citizens who
AVE been instrumental in making such
conditions possible. We know their
forts are fully appreciated and trust
heir good work and interest in better
Dads will continue. The State would
,ladly continue to supplement their
work. If it was financially able to do
%. but how long can the State and
ounties stand the great expense in
'iew OF the present high cost of con-
truction?
Economy must be practiced and
money saved along this and other
Ines or much more viii have to be