The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-08

Reform.
The Inaugural Message of Governor Dix to
the two houses of our State Legislature will
doubtless, as State paper of the highest impor-
lance, attract the thoughtful attention ofevery
New Yorker interested in the cause of reform,
city and State. Hence we cheerfully sur
render to this Message the space which itoccu-
pies in these columns. 1t comes from vete-
ran statesman, whose experience in the pubic
service, State and national will command the
public confidence to an extraordinary degree
in his Official recommendations, and it douot-
less foreshadows to an unusual degree OH oui
State and city affairs, the action OF INC hee's-
lature to which 1t is addressed.
In the outset he informs the two houses That
thew are assembled under circumstances
which demand the acknowledgment of our
heartfelt thankfulness to the Sovereign Ruler
| of the universe and that 1--WE have special
cause for graduation in the prevailing calm
which has succeeded our late Presidential con-
test furnishing, as it does, renewed evidence
of the ready acquiescence of the people OF the
United States in whatever the majority
through the settled forms of the constitution,
may decide" We concur with the Governor
that in these revolutionary times throughout
the world this is, indeed, a matter for especial
congratulation. He next submits that the votes
of five-sixths of the States for General Grant
may be regarded 'as an indication that the
animosities incident to the late deplorable
conflict between the two great sections of
our country are gradually wearing away, and
that liberal and enlightened policy on the
part of Congress and the eminent citizen on
whom the public confidence has been thus
signally bestowed will lead to On eventual and
not far distant oblivion of pest differences.
But this indication and the summing up OF the
meritorious achievements OF General Grant s
first term are mainly important to the people
of New York-important as fully Identifying
our new State government with our national
administration. In thus defining his position
General Dix evidently wishes it to be under
stood rnat even as reform GovornSr pe Is
representative of ''the republican party OF the
Union and of the State although he next ap-
peals to our legislators to forget their party
associations, Gin the correction Of abuses, the
consideration of which entered so largely into
the recent State election, and in regard to
which the popular will has been SO decidedly
expressed" 's.i c<.',~v
Proceeding, then, to business, the first
measure of State reform proposed by Cover
nor Dix is q general law authorizing and
requiring the Comptroller whenever in any
year an appropriation by the Legislature shall
exceed the amount of the revenue applicable
to it, to provide for such deficiency by adding
it to the tax levy" In this way, the Cover
nor thinks, the people will be apt to keep q
sharp eye upon their lawmakers and there is
much force in the suggestion. We are next
informed that in the years 1869, 10 and II
more than $2,OOO,OO0 We're bestowed by the
State upon private charities, for the most part
of local and sectarian character and, refer
ring to the action of the last Legislature in
refusing any appropriation to these objects,
he hopes that this Legislature ''may consider
their example worthy Of imitation" That
this example will be followed we have not the
shadow Of doubt.
Next it appears that the State debt is
sos, 1856, 725 81, a reduction having been made
during the financial year of some four mil
lions. In continuing the work of redemption
the Governor pleads for the continuance of
payments in coin, and he broadly hints that
the federal government might be induced to
push forward to specie payments eff its paper
were publicly quoted at lightweight per cent
its present value--instead of quoting gold at
112, according to the established practice, in
order to cover up national reproach." The
total amount collected from the tax levy of
nine and three-quarter mills for the current
year will be s19,5SO,S2 80, which will be
considerably short Of current acquisitions, we
apprehend. But it is On interesting fact that
on MALT million bushels less of salt from the
Onondaga Springs than was extracted the year
before we have an increase Of nearly eight
thousand dollars in revenue. The figures of
our noble common schools speak for them
selves They report million children attend
ing them against 13l, $40 in private schools.
Our public schools, in short, are the nursery
of the State.
The Governors recommendations for further
securities to depositors of small sums in our
savings banks are seasonable and ought not to
be overlooked. Our soldierly State militia will
be pleased with the assurances of the Govern
ors attentions to their discipline and efficiency.
Upon our Quarantine establishment he breaches
the main question of our city government, in
recommending "the discontinuance of the
Commissioners of Quarantine as q salaried
Board, continuing them as Court of Appeal
from the decisions of the Health Officer, with
q per diem allowance when actually employed"
- a. TT III