New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-02
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TOPICS AT ALBANY.
GOvERNOR CORNELLs MESSAGE.

Wv EAANOh COhNLIl%L nlA41OANN'
THE STATE IN PROSPEROUS coNDH1oN-REcoM-
MENDATIONs - CONTROLLER WADswoR1Hs RE-
PoRT-THE STATE PRISONS
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.I
ALBANY, Jan. 1.--GOTernor CornelPs annual Mes
sage will be document Of decided brevlty and will
be confined to business topics This method of re-
viewing the States affairs will doubtless be disap-
pOIntment to legislators bred under Governors Ill
den and Robinson, and therefore accustomed TO the
exhilaratng sound of political sentiments. 1t 10 the
pleasant duty of tho Governor to report that the
State is in prosperous condition. The income from
taxation has been unusually large; the habili-
ties of the State have been promptly
met; the interest on the small State
debt has been paid the revenue from the canals is
larger than during the previous year the schools
are in an excellent condition; the State prisons are
at last almost self-snppOrting; the National Guard
has been put in more efficient state, and the new
Capitol has not yet slid down Capitol Hill and
tumbled into the Hudson.
The Governor recommends that changes be made
in the taxation laws passed by the Legislature OF
1880 in the direction Of making what are now
ambiguous terms definite and clear ones This diff
Guilty of interpreting the intent of the Legislature has
caused much litigation. The new laws have never
thcl"s9 increased the income Of the State noarly
$4,000 during the six months they have been IN
operation. Corporations furnish most If the money
derived from the operation of the new laws. Laws
necessary also IN regard to the method of taXiu
the State banks and the stockholders Of National
banks year ago there was much agitation
throughout the state IN favor of the pass
agt OF laws restricting the right of
railroads TO impose what charges they
pleased for the transportation Of freight. The agta-
ton resulted in thc passage of several bills recon-
mend d bv the Hepburn Committee. aud in the re-
lection Of other bills recommended by the same COM
mittee. Inc more important bIllS favored by the
refOrmers failed of passage, although the Governor
in I'm. Message had called the attention of the Legs
the present year Mr.. Cornell docs not press the sub
ioet and the members of the Legislature now here
40 not seem interested in IT, As has been limited,
political questions not debated IN tho Message.
controller Wadsworth has followed Governor
CcaclPs example in his annual report to the Lcgls-
atdre. he remarks of the Controller do not cover
uycr two ages of printed matter, and are merely
summary of the condition If the States finances.
Often Controllers cmbOdy in their reports essays on
the financial condition of the United States. Con-
troller WadswOrth, however has RETAINED from eu-
terlng into competition with such OF his pred
s0rs, and makes no recommendations. The Gov.
eTnors Message, in iact Will give the glst OF Mr.
WadswOrth report,
Mr.. Pllsbury. the Superintendent of State Pris-
Ons. reports mat he has reduced the cost OF MAN.
tanning the State PRISONS 10 below $4,000. This is
icat tho taxpayers of the State will rejoice IN
when they remember that under Mr.. PlsbulV's
predecessors the cost of the PRISONS yearly, the
State was over $60O.OOO. The number of prisoners
decreased nearly 200 during the year. Throughout
the State the new and severe Tramp law has been
strictly enforced A large number ef persons have
been committed under its provisions, especially IN
the counties near New-YOrk City.