Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-01-14
GOV. ABBET1'S MESSAGE

guy. ABBElTS MESSAGE
Gentlemen of the Senate and General AS
sembly
In obedience to the requirements Of the
constitution / herewith present to you my
annual message, showing the condition Of
I the state and recommending such measures
as deem expedient
Condition of the state.
congratulate the people upon the splen-
lid condition of the state at the close of the
dscal year Its financial condition was never
better; for the first time since 1885, the
fiscal year has closed without any floating
debt Under the acts of the legislature
improvements have been made at the state
house, new assembly chamber has been
built, extensive alterations have been made
in the old library building giving additional
Office accommodation; the courts have been
provided with new room for holding a
/ branch court and a room for consultation,
all of which improvements were rendered
necessary by the growth of the state and its
important interests, and will be completed
without borrowing money and without
additional taxation.
| Under the liberal laws of the state many
new corporations have been created, largely
increasing the receipts from fees for filing
certificates, and the amount of tax payable
4 by miscellaneous corporations. The rail
road and miscellaneous tax acts of 1884, and
their several supplements. and the practical
and efficient administration of these laws
have increased the revenues sufficient to
meet the expenditures rendered necessary
by the rapidly growing population Of the
state and its increasing needs.
With all the work that has been accom-
plished no new tax has been levied upon
any corporation, and the people still con-
tinue free from the imposition of any direct
state tax for governmental purposes. The
promise made by the executive in 1884, that
no direct state tax should be imposed upon
the people has been faithfully kept. So long
as the government is carried on under ex-
isting laws and under its present economi-
cal management, no such tax will be neces-
sary. If the future needs of the state requil
further revenue, the taxes upon corporations
can fairly be increased until they pay equal
ly with individuals. The municipalities o,
the state, however, may properly ask for ad-
ditional revenue from corporations. There
is no present necessity for increased taxation
for ordinary state expenditures.
In view of this excellent condition of state
affairs, do not feel called upon to ask the
legislature for any additional tax, either
corporate or individual for the ordinary ex-
penses of the state government The ex-
penditures of the state are kept within the
limits of the present sources of revenue, and
therefore there is no reason for any increase
If, however, the legislature should make
accommodations for present state institu-
tions, new sources of revenue must be pro
vided. This can be done by the imposition
of collateral inheritance tax, or by the
other methods recommended in my last
message.
again recommend to the Legislature that,
in making appropriations, they provide in
the act for the sources Of revenue out of
which the same shall be paid. The passing
of an act for large appropriation does not
secure the payment thereof; the appropriar
ton must be postponed by the finance de-
partment until sufficient money is realized
from some source to meet it. The excess of or
binary revenues over ordinary expenditures
Is not sufficient to meet very heavy addi
tional drafts. Many Of the old appropria-
/ tions are still unproyided for In the course
of time these VIII gradually be paid, but il
new appropriations are added additional
sources Of revenue must be provided
Expenditures and Receipts.
During the past fiscal year the entire
floating debt of S400,000 which existed at
the commencement OF my administration,
was fully paid off and discharged, and over
$4,000 paid for interest thereon. Over
$64, 900 has been expended for obtaining
title to the camp ground at Sea Girt, which
was taken under condemnation proceedings
instituted under acts of 1888 and 1889. Pay
ments have been made for the home of dis
abled soldiers, the state lunatic asylum, the
agricultural experiment station and other
purposes, amounting to over SIS, 900.
Over So, 600 was spent to enlarge and re-
build the assembly chamber; 900 Of the
public debt has been paid; over SAL 200 has
been loaned to the sinking fund, and altera-
tions and additions have been made to the
state house, upon which nearly $4,000 has
been expended. The total special appropri-
ations and extraordinary net disbursements,
including the temporary loans paid and
amounts paid for expenses incurred in fiscal
year ending Oct. 81, 1890, amount to $780,
4035S- The total ordinary net disburse-
ments, properly chargeable to the last fiscal
year, amount to 81 ,272, ,6i2. "a, making total
of 81, 1872 0l587
The total ordinary receipts were S1,747,-
S0913. The total net receipts, including
$3S2, 50, money received from the United
States, which makes total of 81, 100, 423 90.
The fiscal year closed with balance in bank
to state fund account of S402, 1896
The sum Of S3S2, S3 was collected from
the United States, without the payment Of
any commission or charge therefor. The
state received and retained for its use every
dollar paid by the national government.
The charges made for such collections and
paid by other states would have largely de-
pleted this fund. The offers made to the
executive in this case would have cost the
state Is per cent. for collection, amounting
to over $57, 900.
believed that this could be saved, and
with the assistance of the quartermaster
general made the necessary examinations
and Investigations / drew all the papers
necessary to properly present the case in
Washington. The treasurer and comptrol-
Ter, at my request, went twice to that city,
and without any charge to the state col
lected the money and paid the whole
amount into the treasury. The perform
ance of these acts by the state officers has
saved the state large sum of money.
know OF no other state that is able to show
| the same record.
/ Finances.
The reports of the comptroller and treas
urer present in detail the financial opera
tions Of the state for the fiscal year ending
bet. 81, 1891.
There are two funds referred to in these
reports; one the state and the other the
school fund; they are kept separate from
each other, and shall deal with them in the
Bame manner.
State Fund.
The state fund received during the fiscal
year the following amounts:
Railroad tax...-..................S 81 ,046,085 10
miscellaneous corporations. ......... 406,058 80
4 Fees, etc.. ................... 12UO0 80
Prison receipts. Observation-Disclosures. 1850 81
! Riparian lands. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $3.50 q
Judicial fees. ees........................ 24,a52 81
| Interest and dividends. 1880 O0
! ...................... 112 &C
Proceeds of escheats ................ S04 4g
| Fees Of commissioners. ............ 545 &C
Total ordinary net receipts !. 81, ,747 800 1s
Direct war tax refunded by the
United States. ates...-....-............. 3S2, ,6l4 50