The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-21

thereon. / most earnestly urge the lie =
1slature to take such action as will OBJ
viate the necessity of using these securi-
ties for this purpose.
Not only should the present deficiency
be provided for, but laws should be
passed to raise money for purposes for
which no provision now exists The State
Institutions for the insane. for criminals
and for reformatory purposes demand
the expenditure of money for additional
accommodations. This demand should
receive the prompt attention of the Legis-
lature The condition of affairs in the
State Prison calls for immediate action;
1t is demanded by every consideration OF
humanity, and by the best interests of
the State. There are now over 1000
inmates of the State Prison undergoing
punishment. The accommodations are
only sufficient for 706. The provision of
the law which demands separate confine-
ment of each prisoner is necessarily vio-
lated. 1t is impossible for the prison
authorities to obey this law. If the
people of the State knew. as do those in
charge of the prison. the result of this
crowding of prisoners, and the placing of
more than onein each cell, there would
be an imperative demand for legislation
which would carry into effect the law re-
of prisoners If the Legislature
will investigate this subject
a condition of things will be found to
exist which should not be tolerated one
moment beyond the time necessary to
remedy the evil. intermediate State
prisons must be built or provision made
for the county institutions to care for
certain classes of criminals, or there must
be an extension of the State Prison SO as
to afford additionalroom. The extension
of the State Prison would probably re-
quire the expenditure of at least $3.50, 900.
because not only is the prison accomo-
dation insufficient, but the number of
criminals is increasing as the population
of the State, and of the great cities adj
jacent to it multiplies.
Various suggestions have been made
as to legislation to meet the present de-
ficiency, and, also, to provide revenue
sufficient to increase the accommodations
in the State institutions. l will refer to
some of the most important.
1st. 1t has been proposed that q direct
State tax be levied on the ratables of the
State, exclusive of property used for rail-
road and canal purposes.
I'd. That the money arising from future
grants or leases of lands of the State un-
der water shall be used for these purposes.
3D.. That the tax upon railroads and
canals, for State uses, be increased either
temporarily or permanently, so as to de-
rive additional income therefrom.
eous corporations be increased.
5th. That collateral inheritance tax,
and tax upon legacieS be imposed
There are other possible sources of re-
venue, but they are SO uncertain as to
amount, and as to the time when the
State will receive any benefit therefrom.
that do not deem it wise to depend upon
them for the present exigency. There are
1itigations with corporations pending,
from which the State may possibly de-
rive considerable money. Every effort
will be made to hasten the determination
of these controversies, and [ may here
after communicate specially with the
Legislature in relation to this subject.
There is also possible revenue to be
derived from legislation of the CONGRESS
of the United States with reference to
refunding the tax paid by the States to
the United States during the civil war. A
bill is now pending in Congress, which,
il it becomes law, will ent1tle New Jer-
sey to $685., ,6l3 90 II the State should re-
ceive this money it could be used for the
purposes above enumerated.
Some of the suggestions above men
toned and others were considered by nie
in messages to the Legislature during
my previous term of Office. Without re-
peating them at this time, ask the at
tention of the Legislature to those mes
sages which deal with possible sources of
revenue.
DIRECT STATE TAX.
The individual taxpayers of the State
were relieved from the imposition of a
direct State tax for governmental purposes
by legislation passed during my former
term of office. / still entertain the
views expressed in 1884.
Under an honest and economical ad-
ministration OF the government do not
think any such tax is necessary. In view
of the heavy burdens which already rest
upon the people by local taxation,
the imposition OF such tax
would bear with great hardship
upon individual taxpayers, and,
especially upon those engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits Such tax should not be
resorted to unless it is absolutely neces-
sary. In my Judgment it is neither neces
sary nor expedient. The people of the
State have expressed their sentiments
with clearness against the imposition OF
direct tax, and upon my own
convictions and in obedience to their
will, / shall feel impelled to resist to the
full extent conferred upon me by the
Constitution, any effort to reimpoSe such
u burden upon the people.
LANDS UNDER WATER.
The lands under the navigable waters
beyond high water mark are the property
of the State. Under the Constitution
of grants and leases of this property IN
the past and all that may accrue in the
future under the act of April 9th, 1871,
QIaws 1871, D. 9S), and under the act of
April I'd, 1872 (Laws 1872, p. 6D, are
pledged irrevocably to the school fund.
1t was originally contemplated that this
fund would, in time, be sufficient to re-
lieve the people of State school tax. 1t
never can do so. 1t would take
SAC, GOO, 900, invested at five per cent, TO
yield sufficient income to relieve the peo-
Die of this tax, which amounts to over
three and one-tenth mills. The State
School tax for this year amounts 10
S, ,939, ,235 The School Fund amounted,
October 81, 1889, to $3,S79,4 ,404.8l; the in
come from this fund last year was $203,-
4l6. 04. Over S4Q0, 900 has been paid to this
fund since October 81, 1889. The State is
not able to obtain over three per cent. on
new investments of this fund. The money
spent for educational purposes in this
State amounts to over IS, 100000 per an
mum.
This sum does not provide for the edu-
cation of all the children of school age.
The school census of 1889, showed 392, 200
children. In September, 18S9.the total
number of pupils enrolled in the public
schools was 227, All. Those educated in
private schools were estimated at As, 765.
This would leave without school accomo-
dations nearly 10000. The highest inter-
es is of the State demand that accomoda-
tions for the education of every child
should be provided; this would further
increase the expenditures for school pur-
poses by the State and localities.
The figures given above demonstrate
that the revenue from the school fund is
Incl o. nj ffcunt when cOmDared with the