Milford chronicle., 1935-01-04
Governor Bucks Message 10 Gener6
Members Of the One Hundred and
Fifth General Assembly Of the
State Of Delaware:

AZ cUmply WIN q mandate OF tn
Constitution of Delaware, I submit
this message showing the needs AM
condition of the State with recon
mendations of such measures as ar
thought to be expedient at this time
Grave responsibilities rest upol
you and real problems of state con
front MS. They cannot be avoided
They must be solved, and solved
without delay. Cognizant of thi
fact, l appear before you to place
my time and energy at your com
mand whenever needed.
Let me say, particularly to those
Of you who have taken the oath OF
otiice as a member of the General
Assembly for the first time, that we
are likely to be beset on the one
hand by the insistent demand of
well meaning groups to extend gov
ernmental activities and increase ap-
preparations, and besieged on the
other hand by the no less insistent
demand of far-sighted citizens that
taxes shall not be increased. The
two demands are incompatible. We
cannot extend the scope of govern
ment and at the same time reduce
the cost of government Further
more, as you know, the States pres
ent commitments are such that the
cost of maintaining the various in
stitutions, departments and agen-
Cies, together with the contributions
heretofore allotted private charities,
is well in excess of revenues receiv-
ed. It would seem the time has ar
rived to call halt to added de-
mands upon the treasury. If these
demands are not stopped, and the
State is to play the part of fairy
gOdmOther TO the whims and fancies
Of devoted but uper-enthusiastic
citizens, an increase in taxes is in
eVitable.
Since January 8. 1888. when l last
had the honor to address a regular !
session of the General Assembly. the /
ship of state has encountered heavy |
gales on the financial sea. Although |
Wrenched and battered by two dang
erous storms, l am able to report
that happily by neither has she suf-
fered serious damage.
During four consecutive years,
and particularly the last two, the
forces of the economic depression
have weighed heavily upon the State
Treasury. With revenues from every
source falling rapidly. and with
emergency expenditures for unem-
ployment relief of nearly two and
half million dollars supplied from
cash reserves, it is with a feeling of
qualification that l am able to say
to you today that although the Cen
eral Fund at the end of the first half
of the fiscal year was depleted, the
cash surplus as a whole
amounted to moro than $4,000. 900.
To the men and women of Delaware.
In and out of public office, who are
for this condition of the
treasury. / wish to say that I ami
deeply grateful for the loyal and pa
triotic sacrifices they have made.
As a corollary I would mention
some of the imnortant questions that
demand voUr attention. with s,g-
gestions and recommendations of
ways to meet them. Notwithstanding
he cash surplus in hand, you, as
Members of the General Assembly,
ire faced with a number of difficult
iscal problems created chiefly by
eclining revenues and the existing
ta"tOrv ALLEGATION of income. S
1934-35 General Fund Deficit G
On July l, 1894. the beginning of o
lie present fiscal year. the surplus !!
/ the General Fund was less than D
$4,000. Owing TO the customary D
emand for payment OF legislative al
as early as due. it be-
lme necessary for the State, act
% with authority granted under tn
'otion , Of Article VIII of the Con- b'
Tuition, to borrow funds with pl
hich to meet its current expenses. in
/ all, 100000 was borrowed and "
nee repaid from moneys received al
rough the retirement of two rail-
ad mortgages owned by the State.
Today the General Fund is again VI
'pleted, and the first demand upon us
'ur time will be the request for en- nj
tment of a law TO provide suffi- tn
ent money to meet the budget APP ia
Opriations for the next six months MI
le Auditor estimates that the sum ar
$686,0S792 is required between to
W and July 1st if the budgeted ap- tw
opriations for the interim are to sh
honored. no
To meet this situation | respect thl
ly suggest that the Highway De- an
rtment be asked to assume. dur an
! the remainder of this fiscal year. SCI
, burden of redeeming the out ho
.nding county highway bonds as to
" fall due; a responsibility that. Sta
an Act of the General Assembly.
W belongs to the Sinking Fund A
len once relieved of this Obliga- tbc
Il more than five hundred thOus- n
| dollars can be diverted from the bo,
king Fund to the General Fund fur
its immediate use and future wit
ds during the period ending June tie
next. mo
General Fund Income aga
he first requisite of a stable gov of
ment is balanced budget. In or hov
to insure that the State shall in
e such a budget for the next BIZ .dea
ium, it is important that you its
e intimate knowledge of the viii
rec of income allocated to the TO G
eral Fund. The Legislative and fam
cutive Department of the State viii
king together have full control Ken
expenditures, but very little ov- no ,
except by tampeTing meet
ts,.,1r- 81