Evening journal., 1921-01-18


William ID. Denney, in mis- inaugural
address today, said.
Members OF the General Assembly |
and Fellow Citizens:
"In view OF the able and exhaustive
message OF my predecessor to the
General Assembly ] deem II unreces-
sary at this time 10 do more than
refer briefly TO certain matters OF
Government and public concern TO
which | think your attention should
be called. Later in the session l may
address the General Assembly more
specifically and at greater length upon
some subjects respecting which leg
islation might be advantageous to the
state.
in connection with the State and
-lOcal government there has been
much discussion OF the budget sys-
tenn, and ! am heartily in favor OF It's
adoption. II would undoubtedly in
sure the conduct OF government along
business lines, and result In greater
economy on the part of public ser
wants, as well as the reduction OF eX-
tpenses and elimination Of waste. II
W'Sely and faithfully carried out there
caN'be no doubt OF It's success. But II
must not be forgotten that the best
\ system will be Disappointing IN the
n officials who spend the money are not
careful, economical and efficient An
up-to-date fiscal system Is highly i'm
portant. but not more than the char
acter OF public servants. hope TO be
controlled by this thought in making
appointments TO Offlce, and trust no
lone Will expect me TO be influenced
by. any consideration other than the
public good
zone Of the most serious defects in
our system OF State Government Is
the limited authority vested in the
state Auditor. Under the present sys-
Nmw. - IL
troll as fully as II should have the
power TO do. while. as the name i'm
piles. II was intended as a check on
the various departments, officers and
other agencies spending moneys OF the
state appropriated by the Legislature,
II does not perform that function The
result is that thousands OF dollars are
spent every year without the State ex-
ercising the least supervision or con-
troll over The details OF suhc expendi-
tures. This Is not the fault OF the
officer. but the fault OF the law Great
ing the ONCE. While the ONCE Is Gre
ated by the Constitution. the General
Assembly may define It's powers and
duties. I would earnestly commend
this matter TO your attention.
DECLARES FOR ECONOMY.
There is a strong feeling among
-'our people that the expense Of main
tanning the government OF this STATE
Is far greater than Il should be. n
n there are abuses or extrayagances
the enactment OF proper budget law
and the creation Of a proper and ef-
fective State Auditors department
would go far toward preventing them
in the future.
4 Another thought prevalent among
1 the people is that there are too
many commissions clothed with
power TO spend the public funds.
Undoubtedly this thought is well
n founded. and Il is the duty OF the
Legislature TO curtail the number by
n -abolishing those whose work does
4 not justify their continued existence,
Il and consolidating others that seek
TO accomplish the same object indie
pendently and often at Cross pur-
a poses. The executives and legislatures
vOf other States have been confronted
with a like problem and the solution
seems TO be reduction OF the large
-number Of commissions 10 a few, CO.
ordnated so far as possible, and all
subject TO some central authority.
IT Is quite possible that waste and
i extravaganza in the expenditure OF
The public moneys may be exagger-
ated in the minds OF the people, but
a the general belief Is perhaps not sur
prisins.
I'm this connection permit me Il
say that in my opinion the Governor
should not be a member OF any com
mission that must spend the none,
-of the State. He should be at al
times in a position TO call any suci
commission TO account and have fre'
hand in dealing with II In such man
ner as his duty to the State requires
He Is the representative or the people
and must conserve their interests 4
the full extent Of his ability.
1T is more diflcult for him to d.
his duty in this regard II he himsel
lis a member OF a commission mat ]
subject 10 criticism. My feeling abou
the matter is so strong that 1t vii
he gratifying II the Legislature shal
relieve the Governor OF memDershl
on any such commission.
FAVORS GOOD SCHOOLS.
During the past two years on
citizens have been giving an unusua
degree Of thought to the problem o
public education. This is a health
SIGN We are more interested in IN
welfare OF our children than in any
thing else. am willing to believ
that the many criticisms OF IN
.srhool code OF 1919 and the schoo
-# law passed at the special session o
the General Assembly In 1920 wer
.h6ncslly offered. II is not sign Una
the people are opposed to good eedu
81. cation. u Simply Nltdhc tidt ~
.Nant systemc o feducation whic
they can understand. which Will 4
the neculiar needs OF the State an
s. which will not impose too great
n tax-bunden upon any class or sec
tion OF the population.
u would recommend that we, a
-fogst past differences OF opinion an
that we bury any ill-feeling. Whic
may have grown up during the pas
Il t,vo wears Let us get together an
study the situation in a calm an
patriotic spirit.
" Whatever has proved to have pee
OF value in the discussed sonoi
code. lei us keep; Whatever mas idl
ed 10 produce good results let
change.
"If I understand Alright the repo
which the State Board OF Educatio
has made 10 this Legislature; son
notabie results have been achieve
but even this does not prove hlat
cannot do better In the future. -,
MAY ] point out that PRACTICAL
every State in the Union Is In sim
lar condition OF unrest about publ
oducafion. And everywhere the prol
lem Is the same-the high cost
maintaining a modern system
schools. In Delaware we want OF
children 10 have educational adva
tares equal TO those enjoyed by U
children of other States. The chi
question we have 10 answer Is no
We can finance such a system. 70
The representatives OF the people, a
called unon TO ind a satisfactory al