The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-02
A odel Message.


islactory state papers that has ever boon
sent to the Legislature at Albany.
lie opens with an exhibit of the financial
condition Of the state; and the citizons Of
New York will find this satisfactory piece
Of reading SO satisfactory is it that tho
Governor il able to append TO IL a statement
that the tax levy OF the next fiscal year can
bc reduced to two and thrcc-fouiths mills
| the lowest annual ratio OF the last sixteen
years But this il no reason for return to
extravaganza; on the contrary, Gov Ron
INsoN says it il in itself an earnest appeal to
the Legislature for continued economy in
! public expenditures, and for great caution
in making appropriations. Sonc excellent
suggestions are made in this direction by
the Governor.
Tho canal interests Of the state arc dis
cusscd with thorough comprehension. Tho
expenditures upOu the canals during the past
season have been much lower than FOR many
| years previous, but inn year have the canals
been in such complete order. All expert
cucc has shown that the navigation OF the
canals is not improved, hut is actually dam
aged by large revenues. leading to wastcful,
careless, and corrupt expenditures. la re-
spcct to the canals, also, the Governor has
suggestions toward improvements OF an int
portant kind.
Practical reform has made itsclf felt in
the management 81 the State prisons. The
annual draft upon the treasury for their
support has been reduccd nearly one-half
within single year, and this great reduc-
ton has been made in seven months Of the
year. or since the present Superintendent
entered upon his duties. The returns from
Sing Sing make remarkable show. This
was formerly the most costly. AZ IL IL
| the most porulous, OF the prisons Of the
state, but through the change in its man
asycment. there was an actual revenue TO
the state treasury, over all expenditures,
for the last three months Of the calendar
year. From what has been accomplished in
"a very short time, there s reason to believe
that the prisons Of the State, SO long cost
ly burden To its people, will soon become
self-sustaining. In respect to the prison
question, also, Gov. ROBINSON makes some
valuable suggestions.
The Governor holds that legislation can
| do but little for the relief OF that vast num-
Der Of laborng men who have been thrown
out Of employment and reduced 10 extreme
want through the depression Of business.
He traces the abnormal condition Of things
u q variety Of causes. An inflated paper
currency brought about n great increase Of
prices, and gave an unnatural stimulus to
certain Industries a system of protective
duties increased the tendencies thus es-
tablshed; extravaganza ran riot in conse-
qucncc; the empty bubble thus raised
could not endure, and the country was
ovcrtaken by the inevitable day Of doom
He can see Tut one permanent and e1ectual
way Of relief IRON existing indu, trial evils
specie payments. 4 sound currency, and
tirilI REFORM
Gov. ROBINSON reviews the July riots and
the means taken for their suppression, He
argues that in this state, as in every STATE.
there should be- an efficient militia, capable
of maintaining the laws, without the inter-
f,lenoc OF the Federal Government; and
takes ground III favor OF reorganization OF
the State militia for which increased appro-
priations should bc made.
The amount OF money raised by taxation
10 support the public schools Of this State is
mach more than double the sum required to
pay the entire expenses Of the state Govern
ment, executive, legislative, Judicial, civil,
and military. There are abuses in the
school system One Of them lies in the appli-
cation Of large sums for high schools, and
for instruction in the sciences, and In those
branches OF stu ly required in the learned
professions. The Governors words on this
subject should he followed by legislation
that would reform the serious abuses
pointed out by him.
Gov ROBINSON desires the Legislature to
adopt some measure which VIII secure an
efficient government for this city. At every
session OF the Legislature, there is inter
ference with the municipal business OF the
metropolis and within twenty years "up-
ward OF twcnty-fuur hundred laws relating
to it have passed the Legi-laturc.' Hence
the confusion and corruption that have
SO long prevailed. " / am still Of the
opinion says Gov. ROBINSON, that the
only cifectual remedy for the evils under
which the city suffers will be u careful and
wel-consldercd charter in the nature OF a
constitution, organizing local government
with n strong and responsible executive
head, with n city legislature composed of
two houses, and clothed with all the powers
Of local legislation, subject 10 veto by the
Mayor
The Excise laws are next considered in the
message. What is needed is TO substitute
for all existing laws on the subject care
fully prepared statute, reasonable in its
limitations and restraints, clear and explicit
IN all its provisions. and, above all, complete
in Itself 10 be uniformly, steadily, and con-
stautly enforced.
The reapportionmcnt Of the State Is de-
mandcd; and it is assumed that the present
Legislature, in dealing with the subject,
will observe its oath to support the Consti-
tuition. The Legislature Is urged TO take
strict account Of savings banks and nsur-
ancc companies. Some suggestions are made
In respect to the Code Of Remedial Justice
Coy. RoBINsoN puts in n reminder that, what
ever may happen elsewhere, specie pay
ments are. under existing laws. to be
resumed In this State from and after the
first day Of January next He attacks the
extravagancc Of the new Capitol at Albany.
which has already cost over SS,OOOOoo, and
which yet requires an amount of money that
no human foresight can discover.
In concluding his message. Gov RoDIN-
soN has something to say Of national poll
| tip4 In II In no Aanla hot