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


September 80, 1870. ST., ITO 903 90
Total expenditures. ................. lo,e76a3i 10
Amount paid for teachers wages. 7.9l5.633 81
Amount paid Tor school houses, repairs,
furniture &c. Observation-Disclosures. ls5s 4o4 IS
Estimated value OF school houses and
sizes 3o,sse .4s 90
Number OF school houses. ............. 1883
Number OF school districts, exclusive OF
cities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. n,2s7
Number OF teachers employed Tor The
legal term OF school,. ................ 1871
Number OF teachers employed durIngany
portion of the year. ................ 80 l6l
Number OF children attending public
schools LOIS 7iS
Number OF persons attending normal
:. schools. .......................... G.o45
Number OF children OF school age mi ri.
:, vale schools. ......................... ll,.l54
Number oil volumes IN tho school DIS
trict libraries Observation-Disclosures. 7d5 5I6
Number OF persons IN the state between
the ages OF I've and twenty years. $50, c34
WIZ TO seen from the fore going statement thai tho
money raised by taxation tao schools of the state
amounts 10 much more than double the sum REQUIRED TO
pay thc entire expenses OF the state government exc
cutve legislative, judicial. civil and military The
pendture OF SO large an amount OF pubic money Tor
SHOWN III all our past experience. In my Judgment
very great wrong has already grown up in
connection with our otherwise excellent sys.
tenn II lies IN the primo pie OF applying large unts
OF the moneys raised by taxation 10 thc support
o. hgn SCHOOLS and instruction IN M the sciences and
hBner branches study required N the learned profess
sions can nnd no excuse tor raising money BY gen
era taxation Tor such purposes The only good
wncn can oe urged Tor taxing one class OF cItlzsns
ior the education OF the children OF another class
Inc necessity at giving 10 the children oil All classes
suncieht common school educat TO enable the n,
TO Understand their duties and exercise their rg as
ctzens OF free country governed by the popular
voice. When we go beyond this ana take from one
man the money necessary 10 educate tho children of
another man IN tho and we perpe rate an
Vt mi usce under tho forms Of law What is worse
than this, instead OF educating tho children
By AZ 10 prepare them tor the pursuits industries
upon which they must depend Tor living, educate
them ~ such u way as 10 mako them discontinued
with their condition. unnt TO discharge Its duties IN
manner most beneficial to their own Interests, and
take away the strong incentives which impei those
who are really able ana worthy to WIN Tor them selves
high positions IN learning and usefulness. When tho
State has given TO all tho children q good common
school education It should there leave them their
own resources ana 10 follow such calngs their
pacitIes ht them Tor To so beyond This Is to inure
rather than beneht them. These aud several other
suggestions upon this subject referred my
last annual Message, with caatloa 10 avoid any
abuses OF our school system winch would bring 1t
into asrcputc aud loosen the hold Snich It now has
upon the favor oil The community. commend these
suggestions 10 your consideration
COLLEGES AND AcADxNils.
The system OF higher education IN tho colleges,
academies and high schools continues IN successful
operation.
The details OF the condition aud working OF these
institutions for the last year will be fully exhibited IN
tho annual report OF tho Regents OF tue University
DO transmitted TO the Legislature early in the
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Among the changes made IN our constitution In
1914 were many restricting The powers OF tho Lcgis-
lature IN certain cases. These intatlons
stansly liable TO Infringement IN the hurry OF egs
lative business that deem proper to coll special
attention TO the mendmcn Is themselves.
Section Is OF article provides that "rhe LcgisIa.
turo shall not pass private or local bill In any OF the
following cases:-
"Chaneins tho names OF persons
laying OUT, opening. altering, working or discon-
tnuing roads, hishways or alleys, or for draining
swainps or other l0wlandA
"Locatns or changing county seats.
providing Tor changes OF venue in civil or criminal
Incorporating villages.
providing Tor election Of members of boards Of
Supervisors
"secctng, drawing, summoning or einpanelling
grand or petit jurors.
"kegulatng the rate OF interest on money.
"Ihe opening aud conducting Of elections or desig-
mating places III voting
"Creating, increasing or decreasing fees percent
ago or allowances oi public officers during tho term
for which said officers are elected or appointed.
Granting TO any corporation, association or ind
vidual the right to lay down railroad tracks.
"Gmnting 10 any private corporation, association
or individual any exclusive privilege. immunity or
"Providing Tor building bridges and ohartering com.
panes or such purposes, except on the Hudson River
oeow waterford, ana on the East kivor, or over
the waters forming part OF tho boundaries Of the
State.n
Section 10 of article is as ioilows-srhe Legisa-
ture shall neither audit nor allow any private clam
or account against the Stale, but may appropriate
money 10 pay sucn CLAIMS as shall have been
and allowed according TO law"
section "A OF article provides that "The Leg sla-
ture shall not, nor shall the Common Council of anv
city, nor any Board OF Supervisors grant any ex ra
compensation 10 any pubic officer, servant, agent or
contraction
The ann OF these changes to limit legislative
Legislature should have accurate knowledge or the
great number OF bills which | was unable to approve
ut the last session . majority niringod some Of
these restrictive provisions, and this, doubtless
arose iron oversight, have thought proper insert
them here.
GENERAL LEGISLATION IN APPROPRIATION BILLS
refer again 10 tho very Objectionable practice
whcn has prevailed OF cnacLng general legislation IN
appropriation bills. 1t places legislative provisions
where NO ono ever expects TO lind them, and puts
them beyond tho reach OF disapproval by tho Cover
nor unless be vcocs the whole bill In which they arc
conf npI ~ Al
appropriation bills OF last year than mad INC usual
bul thcrc was too much oil It, 1t should be discon.
tinucd altogether
VILLAGE cnARrhR AMENDMENTS
For some years past IL has uccn tue policy Of tho
constitution 10 lessen local aud special legislation.
need not dwell Oh tho great extent to which III
Of statutes had swecd AZ inc limo the people, by
amending tho constitution, sought 10 diminish IT, Tho
settled purpose vi the people to commit entire
subject ~ general laws yc localities still attempt to
defeat this aim aud To return the old and evil path
Of special charters anu special PROVISIONS Although
villages cannot now no chartered and the gene
act provides that those before tho
tion was amendcd my taSo The benefit oil tho sys
tcm Efforts are often made 10 amend the old charters
by special acts and thereby secure SPECIAL
charter undcr the su.ao oi an amendment. In
nearly every case such amendments arc directly
IN conflict with the policy ana provisions
OF the general statutes, aud seek by meaus
more or less unworthy TO gam local advantage ut
the expense OF general policy. Careful reflection ON
this SUBJECT has convinced that far less evils Will
result from refusal to enact or approve tho OF
amendments proposed to these SPECIAL village char
ters ana the reference Of tho whole subject Of village
grievances 10 Tho general laws provided their resu
lation. This course earnestly urge you to take,
licving that tho great rciei IT III give 10 tho
dcncd files OF the Legsla uro and Executive Will moro
than compensate Tor any occasional friction in the ad
juslmcnt vi local affairs
THE CITY or EKw YORK.
The vast aud INCREASING population and business of
the city oi New York. It's position rs tho commercial
metropolis oil tho Western verdi the rapid extension
Of It's limits, ITS large corporations Institutions OF
various kinds, It's potieal power, Its immense Trade
and It's financial aud commercial interests FENDER Its
proper, economical and eliccnt govcrnmc IA prob
lem oi The highest Importance and vi very serious
difficulty. About twenty years nso the cnlbarrass.
ments which had arisen IN the local govcrnm. led
nrst To tho establishment vi legislative comm ons
TO control various tmcDts ana nna!y transferred
to the State capitol nearly all the appropriate powers
OF the Common Council. SEcc then ut every session
of the Legislature The Senate Assembly have to
largo extent, presumed The appearances oi II board
OF aldermen and assistant aldermen Tor The city OF
New York. The result has been disastrous IN
tho extreme. within that limo upward VI
twcnty-four hundred laws have been passed
relating 10 the CITY. These have been, upon
some subjects, SO confused and conflicting
that the court oil last resort has pronounced mpvs.
aibie to ascertain and declare their true meaning