The record-union., 1895-01-10
GOVERNOR MARKHAM'S REVIEW
OF STATE AFFAIRS,

The message of Governor Mark kham,
elsewhere printed in full, is compre-
hensive review of the condition of the
several departments of the State, and
commonwealth business generally. We
shall concern ourselves at present with a
brief statement of the recommendations
and chief expressions of the Executive.
He intimates that the Office of Labor
Commissioner should be abolished: there
should be uniform system of keeping
the accounts of the several State institu-
tions; the sum of $4,000 should be
granted the Institution for the Adult
Blind. The union of the two State Pris-
ons is advised for economic reasons, and
should under the consolidation at Folsom
be made self-supporting. and a system
lnaugurated that will separate the hard
ened offenders from the tyros in crime.
No additional appropriations are need
ed for the Normal Schools. The expan-
sion of the State University, and the calls
upon 1t, demand large expenditure for
additional buildings and the conduct of
the educational work. Legislation should
so provide that there shall never again be
deficiency in the general fund. The
State Controller should be authorized to
make an annual financial report to the
Executive. Appropriations should not
be made Immediately available. but take
their turn according to the ability of the
fund upon which drawn to meet them.
The expenditures Of the State the Con-
troller pronounces enormous, and out Of
all reason, and this expression the Gov
ernor approves. The Office of Commits
sioner of Public Works should be dis
continued, as it was intended to exist for
but two years.
He approves the recommendations Of
the Attorney-Gene for the passage of a
uniform fee bill. The Office of Attorney
General should be an appointive one. A
compulsory educational law is impera-
lively needed, modelled after that of New
York or Ohio. Were all institutions
which are required by law to be self
supporting required TO pay for their
printing out Of their funds, economy
effected, he says, would not be less than
$4,000 a year. He commends the Ma
tional Guard, and advises the Legislature
to not be hasty in judging it. The
Worlds Fair Commission is compli-
mented for its work and the return of
$50, 900 of its fund to the State Treasury.
The Fish Commission has, he says, ac-
complished great good, and given added
wealth in fish food to the people.
The Governor gives it to be understood
that in his opinion if the District Agri-
cultural Societies are to be continued
they should be maintained at the cost OF
the respective districts. He approves the
recommendations of the State Librarian,
and insists that itemized bills should be
reported of all book purchases. There
is no sufficient system OF checks in the
bookkeeping of the library, and he ad-
vises radical change in that respect.
He advises that the request Of the State
Capitol Commissioners for leave to btu
mir.ize the streets around the Capitol
building be granted; that the dome OF the
building be finished from the second
floor up in the same manner as the first
floor. The first floor should be tiled also
as that above. The adornment of the
State Capitol should be matter of State
pride, and local feeling should not inter-
vene to prevent it.
He advises that there shall be legisla-
ton looking to the furnishing of general
plans for the drainage and reclamation OF
swamp and overfowed lands granted to
the State, and which it has disposed OF
to citizens, to aid the purchasers to carry
out the reclamation obligation of the
grant. Ali drainage work should be sys-
tematic, and the State should, to large
extent, supervise private reclamation
works, with view OF securing system
and harmony, and insure safety.
The State should urge upon Congress
the wisdom of aiding the effort to con-