New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-01
TAXEATERS WHO SHOULD GO
GOOD WORK THAT CAN BE DONE AT
ALBANY THIS WINTER.

(rR0M THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE IEiBONE''
Albany, Nov. Ex-Governor Morton and the
members Of the Republican Legislature VIII
come into Office In January next pledged by
their party's platform 10 abolish all sinecures
and useless State commissions. And undoupt-
edly they will assume office with a sincere m
tention OF fulfilling this pledge of reduction OF
the number OF State Offices. which nave been
so multiplied beyond all needs of the state ny
successive Democratic administrations ever since
Alonzo B. Cornell, the last Republican Governor
surrendered his office TO Grover Cleveland on 'he
first day of January 1883.
Yet Mr.. Morton and the Republican Senators
and Assemblymen must be already aware that
hundreds Of men who had nothing more " w
with the people's triumph at the polls in No
yember than had the planet of Jupiter VIII oe
in Albany in January seeking this or that office
and strenuously resisting the abolition of any
office that pays a salary Under such circum-
stances II will take good deal OF resolution
upon the part Of the Republican Executive ana
LEGISLATURE 10 make these reductions in the num-
her ~ sinecures these consultations and sealing
down of departments. these ADDITIONS or various
offices. which are imperatively demanded IN 'he
interest Of the State. An economical Nepuoii-
can State government must be estaohsheu il
any contrast is to be given voters as thev loon
back on the extravagant Democratic adnlhis'ra-
,ions since 1889 Fortunately. Mr. Morton and
the members Of the Republican Legislature nave
@ clear commission and indeed. positive COM
mand. from the last grand council OF the Repup-
lican party to institute stringent economies III
the MANAGEMENT OF the State government. Inc
Renubl,can state Convention which met at
Saratoga on September u.s. and nomihaled MI
Morton in its platform declared that the Demo-
f,,l1 1iSrpCardCd
solemn pledge to economic State expenditures,
abolish useless State commissions. and reduce
the State tax rate" whereas the Republican
party. as represented i'll the Legislature. had
kent its pledge ";h lat there should be reduc-
ton Of public exp, cultures and diminished
tax rate"
But the Republican State Convention did not
stop with this indirect pledge Of an economical
State government and n cutting off Of bar
nacles from the ship of state 1t also made
this earnest pledge:
We favor the abolition of all useless State com
missions and The consolidation Of others %hepeySr
and the improvement of the public service. Since
the administration Of the last Rspnofan Governor
from ss7 coo to than 81 100000. and though Coy
snSr f b ndVocae OF Se
and increase. an1 during his administration me, unsr
the election Of Republican Assembly and RI;
publican Governor we pledge 10 the people reduced
State expenditures and a minimized tax rate
Since the Republican STATE Convention was held
many additional reasons of a weighty nature
have been given 10 Governor Morton and the
Republican Legislature why they should fulfil the
conventions pledge that there shall be a reduc-
ton of the number of officeholders in Albany
Those reasons declare that If the States tax
eaters are not reduced in number the States tax
rate will be largely increased: for the State has
recently had some additions TO It's necessary
outgo which will largely raise the aggregate OF
its yearly expenditures. and hence the state
tax rate, unless reductions are made In other
directions. The new Constitution creates new
court Of twenty-five members 10 be known as the
Appellate Supreme Court The members of this
court assume office January /. 1886 but the money
to pay their salaries and those Of the court at
tendants must be raised by the incoming Legis
lature and Governor. 1t is estimated that the
Appellate Supreme Court. which consists Of four
courts in reality will add 100000 yearly to the
expenses OF the State.
Since, also, the Republican State Conven-
ton was held, the State Lunacy Commits
sion has discovered that there will be de-
1iciency In the fund for the care of the INDECENT
insane, which is 1,3so,00O annually OF $4,000.
Indeed the first appropriation which the Legisla-
*A"''VV''
which has been advanced by the State Controller.
Then the report comes from New-York City that
Mayor Strong and his advisers favor the trans
fer to the care Of the State Of the INDECENT in
sane of that city. Under the State Care act the
City Of New-York can avail itself, if 1t 50 cares,
OF this privilege Of having its insane poor cared
for by the State Inasmuch the city would
save fully 100000 annually by thus unloading its
insane upon the State. there is little DOUBT but
that Mayor Strong in the interest OF the tax
payers Of NewYork City. will adopt this course
Mayor Gilroy would have adopted this policy
but for the fact that Tammany Hall would lose
some patronage by it. Like all Tanmany han
officials he preferred that the city should suffer
rather than Tammany Hall should lose any OF
its offices.
State Controller Roberts will also have to an
nounce regretfully to the Legislature that there
has been great reduction In the States income
from the inheritance tax and the Corporation
tax loss, II is estimated of S1.50o0Oo This loss
has been caused by the diminished business Of
the coroorations and the fact that few persons
OF great wealth have died during the year, and
thus few large estates have become subject tc
the Inheritance tax 49,
1t is therefore plain that unless the Republic
can LEGISLATURE and Governor reduce the num-
Der of sinecures and State commissions, and
otherwise reduce the States expenses, there Will
be a large Increase in the State tax rate the
coming year If there is an increase or the state
tax. certainly the Republican party Will not be
in as strong position as IL shouIu De 10 eiec'
its candidates for State officers, who will serve
for three years, and ts candidates for state
Senators, who will also serve for three years
and will take part in the election OF Oniteo
states Senator in 1897. Mr. Hill, whose term as
Senator expires in 1884, would doubtless looi
with pleasure upon an increase IN state taxes Dy
the Republican Legislature Of 1888
As was pointed out by the kepublcan stale
Convention the expenditures OF the State com
EMISSIONS have increased from SGT "a IN lss2. &c
S1O27G54 81 in 1893. The game and fish protectors
were paid only sS102 20 in 1882. They are now
paid sa395s c. Here ought TO be an opportunity
FOR a cut The state Board OF Health expended
only sI7939 II In 1882 " now expends sii.I't 30
DOCS The State get an additional benefit for this
Increased expenditure? Ii is very doubtful
The Bureau OF Labor Statistics started in bus
ness in 1889 with the modest appropriation ol
2161 90 Ii received the last fiscal year the sun
OF SIG OIL co There surely can be big cu