The paper deals with a novel method of control system design which applies meromorphic transfer functions as models for retarded linear time delay systems. After introducing an auxiliary state model a finite-spectrum observer is designed to close a stabilizing state feedback. The observer finite spectrum is the key to implement a state feedback stabilization scheme and to apply the affine parametrization in controller design. On the basis of the so-called RQ-meromorphic functions an algebraic solution to the problem of time-delay system stabilization and control is presented that practically provides a finite spectrum assignment of the control loop.