The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-06
The Governors Message.

Governor FLowEn's message starts out
naturally and properly by reminding the
Legislature Of 1.-The paramount duty to
provide for an enumeration Of tho inhabl-
tsnts Of the State" preparatory to re-
apportionment which shall remedy the
outrageous injustice Of Republican rule.
Representation must be made according to
population. or the purpose OF democratic
government is defeated.
The unprov!ded for State debt has been
reduced during tho last fiscal year to
Sl.0l4.62s.ss; but as the money to meet 1t is
available from canal revenues. or can he
paid from the surplus In the Treasury, the
debt is practically wiped out. The great
State Of New York. which ten years ago owed
moro than S0.OOO.0O0. now owes nothing
which 1t cannot easily and promptly pay.
The rate OF taxes for the current
fiscal year Is the lowest since 1855. or only
~ mills, mill being for schools and 4 for
the canal debt and maintenance. This year
there Is no direct tax for the general ex-
penses OF government, sufficient revenue
for that purpose coming indirectly from the
fees Of notaries. the pool. corporation. COL
lateral inheritance. and special corpo-
ration taxes. By extending this indi-
rect taxation and with rigid economy.
says the Governor. all the expenses
OF the State may be met hereafter without
tho imposition Of any general State tax.
The proposed policy Of increasing the indi-
rect tax by taxing the bonded Indebtedness
OF corporations he would have investigated
by joint legislative committee. SO that
II adopted the legislation on the subject
may be made uniform with that Of neigh
boring States.
He calls the attention OF the Legislature
to its duty to provide for the Convention to
revise the Constitution OF the State. which
was voted for by the people SO long ago as
1886.
The reports OF the Superintendent Of Edu-
cation show that more than 10000 children
of school age are either not in school at all
or are instructed otherwise than at the
public expense. Though the State has
greatly increased its expenditures on the
school system. there has been a steady
decrease in attendance upon the schools
during the last forty years. as meas
ured by the school population. Tho
average cost per pupil was sag in
ject us to which Governor FLOWER says
tuoU UHCLs l0uoO OC StACAol AASCcClkSu.
ton t. explain the meaning OF statistics 80
remarkable. The project or hobby Of "uni-
versity extension" receives more considera-
ton from him than its importance seems to
demand.
Tho greatest number OF convicts in the
State prisons last year was 1913. and he
cnis attention to the need Of more prison
room.
He hopes that the present Legislature.
witt, the aid OF the Commissioners Of Statu-
tory Revision. will finally effect the COM
&, plete revision Of the statutes which the
Constitution Of 1876 contemplated would be
accomplished a few years thereafter.
The settlement Of the question Of munic-
ipal government. he says. Is in the proyi
sion by the Legislature Of the framework"
OF such government wisely guarded
against possible abuses. and with that Frame
work the properly constituted local author
tiles should have sole charge Of local admin
istration." A city. under our political sys-
TEN. is entitled to have tho municipal gov
eminent it wants. even II 1t be bad In the
opinion of other people.
% Any measure properly drawn and not In
conflict with the Constitution. which will 80
buiwark the present Ballot law as to make
Intimidation and bribery impossible. will
receive the hearty approval Of Governor
FLOWER. But most Of all. no should ap-
prove bill! abolishing the whole cumbrous
continuance for abolishing universal SUI
/. frage.
~ These are the main points and recommen-
dations OF a message distinguished for its
good sense. practical wisdom, and sound
Democratic principles.