Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-01-11
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
NASHVILLE, Jan. 10, 1881.

NASHVILLE, Jan. 10, 1881.
The following 10 the message Of Gov.
Marks a. read to the two houses Of the
legislature this afternoon:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Rep
TesentatiUes:
In obeying the mandate of the Constitu~
ton of the State requiring the Executive,
"from time to time, to give the General AS.
semblv information of the State of the gov
eminent, and recommend for their conside>
ration such measures as he shall Judge ex-
ped:ent,n | am materially assisted by the
exhaustive reports of the several State Off
GERS, which reports, for your information,
accompany this communication.
THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE STATE.
have the pleasure of communicating to
YOU the gratifying fact that the officers of
the State, in every department, so far as my
knowledge and information extend, have
performed the duties of their respective OF,
ices diligently and faithfully. All of the
trustees of the State, charged with the col
lection of the revenue, have faithfully col
lec,ed and paid into the Treasury every dol
lar due the State. There is but one trustee
in apparent default, and that for tritiing
sum, the Justice of which he disputes.
With the exception of occasional mob
violence, provoked by crime of unusual
enormity, the regular administration OF JUS
tice has not been disturbed.
Although the report of the Comptroller
shows q continued decrease in the value OF
the taxable property of the State, yet the
evidences of returning prosperity and in
creasing wealth are abundant. 1t ap-
pears that in Shelby county the material
decrease has Occurred. The pestilsnce o.
1873 and 1879 is the obvious cause of the
decrease. The wise and timely legislation
ofthe last General Assembly, supplemented
by the courage and enterprise of her PEG
ME. raised Memphis to her feet. Her vas
advantages, now unfettered, give promise o
unexampled growth and prosperity, and i
may be reasonably expected that oil sh
has lost will be speedily regained.
For several years our State Government
has been distinguished for the econom,
of its administration, and the fact appear
in the report of the Comptroller that it
administration for the last two years ha
cost less than any period of tive year
within twenty years.
Ordinarily the expense of Government
eOI3rgeS WILL 1uCKCuslbS RoPuA@e'oAt S1s -
prudent legislation the expense OF our Coy
ernmentenlarges with increasing population
but by prudent legislation the expense
our Government has been steadily reduced
while our population has largely increases
There is but little remaining to be don
By legislation, in retreuchment in the ez
pense of the Government, except in til
matter of
CRIMINAL COSTS.
It appears from the report Of the Comp
troller that this item forms large part
The total sum of expenditure. FollowiI
the Recommendation of my immedia
predecessor, in former message, su
eested that the counties be required to p
the costs of criminal prosecutions.
satisfied if such legislation is adopted
will prove specific remedy for very e
penssve evil. 1t is impossible for Judge
ATTORNEYS General and Clerks, in the bur
incident to closing court, to exercise tn
care and diligence necessary to prevent
rors and frauds in taxing cost. II the bu
den Of payment Of cost is laid upon t