The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-02


the whole ground Of our vast and multi
farious State affairs in about half the space
which has sometimes been taken by his
predecessors, without neglecting any per-
tinent topic or dealing with any in slip
shod. perfunctory manner. He is SO down.
right in his views, he sees so clearly what
he aims at, and is SO averse to high-fown
twaddle, that it is possible to 60 through
his Message without WEAKNESS, without
skipping and without much dissent from
his views or recommendations. He Is nm
anti-humbug, anti-buncombe Governor, and
if his very decided opinions are tinged In
some instances with strong prejudices even
his prejudices ''lean to virtues side, being
| rooted in old hioned, homespun notions
of honesty and economy, in dislike OF the
taxgatherer and aversion to all the orna-
mental appendages and fripperies OF govern
ment. The indignant scorn he pours upon
| the pretentious extravaganza OF the new
| State Capitol and all fancy architecture in
| public buildings, and his hearty reproba-
ton of the attempts to smuggle superfine,
| fashionable education into our common
school system, are Characteristic examples
of Governor Robinsons way of handling
specious humbugs II he could have his
way he would leave the pretentious pile OF
masonry at Albany to stand as a stupendous
monument of folly and build serviceable
State House for less money than it will cost
to complete that absurd structure, the
greater part of which will be Of no use
when it is done.
The Governor represents the State
finances as being in an improving and most
satisfactory condition. The aggregate
State debt, which amounted one year ago
to s23, 315 1893, has been reduced to
$40, 957, 054, and there is money enough in
the sinking funds to reduce it to So, 707, 663,
this moderate sum being the net amount OF
our actual Indebtedness. The bounty debt,
which has been for the last twelve years
heavy burden to the taxpayers, has all been
paid off except small residue of $3.50, 900,
which has not been presented, but the
money for discharging it IS on deposit in
the Manhattan Bank. The original bounty
debt, from which the State is at last
relieved, amounted to $43, go, 543. The
general fund debt has been so far reduced
that it will be wholly extinguished on the LIST
of July, leaving no other liability against the
State than the remnant of the canal debt.
The people of the State are to be congratu-
lated on the prospect Of light taxation for
State purposes, and were it not for the large
municipal and other local obligations the
burden of taxes would be scarcely felt.
Governor Robinson lays rough hands on
the illusion that our small towns are more
economically governed than our large cities,
declaring his belief that in the rural dis
tricts ''the people are plundered to degree
even beyond that detected in the larger
cities" This dispels pleasing dream about
bucolic virtue.
The statements respecting the canals are
satisfactory in one respect. but quite the
| reverse of satisfactory in another. Since
the LIST Of July there has been large in
crease of business and the boat owners have
made handsome profits, but under the re-
duced rates of toll the canal revenue has
largely fallen off. The gross amount Of
tolls is the lowest in forty-fve years. being
only $780, 900, which is less by $46O, 900 than
was received even last year, when the canal
business was SO extremely dull The net
revenue of the canals this year amounts
only to the pitiful sum Of $3,031, and
it will require both good management
and good luck to keep the canals in opera
ton next year. The constitution does not
permit more to be expended on the canals
<hov, ho M Cf Toll
lected the preceding year.. and if there
should happen to be heavy storms and foods
during the coming season, causing breaks
in the canals (from which they were entirely
exempt last season), navigation may have to
be suspended in the height of business before
the season ends. This is an urgent reason
for putting the new system into operation
at once. The Senate must confirm Super
intendent of Public Works Immediately, in
order that he may have time to organize the
new system before the opening of navga-
ton. All the lateral canals ought to be
abandoned. The three which are still
maintained on the north side of the Erie
Canal have cost in expenditures during the
past year more than three times the amount
of tolls received on them.
The Governor gives succinct history of
the July riots and compliments the eff
fciency Of the National Guard, which sup
pressed all the riots in this State in less
than week. The National Guard consists
at present of twenty thousand officers and
men; but some Of the regiments are fully
Differed, with but mere handful of rank
and file. Such regiments are to be dis
banded. and the Governor recommends
that the National Guard be fully armed and
equipped without expense to the men.
Governor Robinson presents his views
city, and on one point he is vague