Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-07
His Annual Message Goes Into Bal
lot Reform.
DEATH OF Ex.EMPRESS AUGUSTA.
Mrs. Southworth, Who Killed Stephen Pet
tus, is Dead.
THE DAILY STORY OF IA GRIPPE.
DAVID'S MESSAGE.
Like German, He Is Not in Love with the
Australian Ballot.


ALBANY, NY, Jan. THE governors annual
message was presented to the legislature today.
The governor begins his message by urging the
legislature to provide for an enumeration of
the inhabitants of the state, and then takes up
the subject of electoral reform. which he deals
with at great length, suggesting the desira-
bility OF changes in the present laws relating to
elections. He says: at is conceded by good
citizens everywhere, l think, that all legisla-
ton intended to improve our election laws
OF these two evils-corruption and intimida-
ton. All other objects sought to be attained
are Of subordinate importance and should not
be permitted to delay or prevent the accom-
plishment of this great reform.
THAT NEW WAY OF VOTING.
"Many well-meaning citizens and political
associations are just now urging the adoption
OF what is known as the Australian system Of
voting, and apparently believe that it will
furnish a panacea for all the pernicious prac-
tices which now surround our elections. NV
own opinion is that manv of its features are
admirable, while others are decidedly objec-
tionable, constitutionally and otherwise. 1t has
not been adopted in its entirety anywhere in
this country. In several states its principal
provisions have been enacted. but not how
ever, without essential notifications. 1t is not
difficult task to discover those features of the
Australsan system which it is desirable should
be incorporated into our laws.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
First, recommend the adoption of the
secret compartment system. This proposition
reaches the two great evils of bribery and
intimidation. 1 believe that the adoption of
this single feature would secure the chief
benefits of true electoral reform Second.
whatever system is adopted should be applied
to all elections-general, municipal and local.
lmrd, general registration of electors
throughout the whole state should accompany
the secret compartment system of voting
Fourth, recommend that provision be made
for both official and unofficial ballots.
There are number of desirable provisions
which ought to accompany any complete and
comprehensive measure on this subject The
Massachusetts statute entitled AN act to
facilitate voting by employees" should be in-
cluded- Itprovides in substanc that all employees
in manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile
establishments shall be entitled to a period of
two hours on election day in which to vote at
any genaral election.
That species of intimidation frequently re-
sorted to before important elections by the use
OF political pay envelopes" should be specific
any promblted and heavy penalties imposed
for a violation.
Each candidate and the executive committee
OF each political party should be required to
publish an itemized verified statement of all
the moneys expended by them in each cam
paign.
Legal facilities should be afforded whereby
successful candidate who can be shown to
have obtained votes by bribery on the part Of
himself, his agent or his political committees,
may be ousted from Office by the defeated can
didate, provided it appears that neither the de-
feated candidate nor his committees have used
any corrupt means to promote his election.
1T should be provided that election districts
should not contain over three hundred voters"
PROHIBITION.
The governor refers to the proposed prohi-
bition amendment and says that he does not
believe that the people of the state favor its
adoption. They are opposed to prohibition,
but believe In the regulation of the liquor traf-
fc by just and equitable excise laws rlgidly
enforced.
TAXATION.
Referring to new methods Of taxation the
governor says: 1.-The vast growth of the state
in population and wealth during the last half
century has required corresponding increase in
the expenses of state and local government
Yet the system of assessment and taxation re-
lied upon for the chief sources of state and
local revenue has remained substantially un-
changed. While that system has served reason
ably well for the purpose of subjecting real
property to taxation it has been substantially
system of real property taxation only.
vested in personal property during the last
half-century has been much greater than the
increase in the value OF the real property of
the state during the same period. 1t does not
appear just and equitable that this vast amount
OF wealth should escape its due share of the
burden of supporting the government which
renders its accumulation possible.
ADVANTAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY.
at may be true theoretically that the burden
Of real property tax. by the working of uatu-
raj laws, is finally distributed equtably upon
all wealth because all wealth is primarily de-
rived from land, but it must be conceded that
practically this process Of alleged distribution
Is slow and that vast fortunes OF personal prop
erty may change hands many times while real
property tax is claimed to be slowly working
out distribution OF its burden upon the own.
ers Of personal property.
Some new system of assessment and taxation
must be adopted to impose upon personal prop
erty its equitable share OF taxation. 1t is re-
spectfully suggested as worthy of the consider
tory solution OF the problem of taxing personal
property may not be found in a graduated pro-
bate and succession tax upon the personal
property of decedents, developing into COM
Plete system the theory of the collateral in
heritance tax"
The governor impresses upon the legislature
the necessity of encouraging by every proper
means the holding of the worlds fair in the
city Of New York. Immediate and generous
action by the legislature is likely to have an
important influence in determining the attitude
of Congress"
A Suit Decided.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7EJudge Blodgett yesterday
decided the case of Henry Dupont and Others.
composing the Dupont powder company of
New York, vs.. James F: Joy Of. Detroit George
B. Ogden and H. P. Smith were parties to the
suit. The complainsnts are creditors of the
Northern Illinois coal and iron company, which
failed in 1R16 and af that fipno ~. 49,