The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-01-03
MORTON'S MESSAGE.
Now York's Now Governor on the
Condition Of tho State.
THE GREATERNEW YORK PROPOSAL
lilo suSgosts a Commission 20 Franc
a Chnrtcr-Conccrning the Reform
Movement He Recommends u Law
Giving the Mayor tho Power of Hc.
moval--The stnto Has No Debt.
Other Recommendations.

ALBAyY,N, Y, Jan. Gov. Morton's
inaugural message was laid before tho
legislature to-day. II opens with re.
florence to tho legislation made necos.
sary by tho revised constitution which,
the message observes. demands tho
closes. caro- tina: no hnsty incomplete or
ill.advised measure DO enacted. The
finances Of the state arc In excellent
condition. Thert 10 10 state indebtod-
ness whatever, while the permanent
funds, including tho United Statos
deposi. fund, aggregatjng so,2l0,39S 80
Of principal. Tho amount realized from
tho transfer tax otherwise known as
the inheritance taxi during the last
fiscal year, was 81 ,6SS,0i "a and from
the corporation and organization taxes
SI,7o6,84O 81, making stotal oil SS.4Si,-
5s5 IL. The income from both sources
in below expectation. 1t is estimated
that transie. tax will not for vears to
come Weld moro than two millions
annually.
Tho governor recommends the legis.
laturo TO devise ways and means. il
practicable, for the enlargement OF the
field Of direct taxation. The fact that
in tho management OF some OF tho state
charitable institutions expenditures
are made before appropriations have
been enacted to meet them is n condi.
ton OF affairs that requires remedy.
The governor points out the necessity
for treasury surplus. He also calls at.
tention to the need for the most rigid
economy in the management OF tho diff.
fereut departments OF the state govern
ment.
Governor Morton reviews the new
constitution and specifically recon-.
mends legislation to give each provision
effect. Az to the greater New York, it
il suggested that commission be at
once created, TO be composed OF tho
most capable citizens OF the various To-
calities interested and to be charged
with the power and duty OF framing a
charter to be reported 10 the present
legislature for the government OF the
new city. In tho meantime, the COVER
nor rays, tklG bukN 10 Oil the
legislature, under the express will OF the
people OF the metropolis, to give to the
mayor of New York the requisite power
OF removal and appointment without
waiting for the tull details OF the reform
plan.
The experience oil several years has
made it clear that the system OF provid.
ing separate ballot for each group OF
nominations is cumbersome and unsat-
isfactorv. The blanket" ballot, so.
called, which has been successfully used
in many states OF the union, should, in
the judgment OF Governor Morton, be
adopted in this state without further
delay. 1t ia, moreover the opinion OF
the governor that the use OF the blanket
paster" ballot should be at once prohib.
tied, for through its instrumentality the
purpose of the law has been to q large
extent defeated. In the interest OF pure
elections attention is called to the fact
that while sworn statemen,s OF expenses
are required OF candidates ior Office
there is no provision for ascertaining
the expenses OF political committees.
The subject OF ;. good roads is also
commended to the attention Of tho leg.
isiature. /. is suggested that convict
labor may find employment in this d.
rection, particularly as constitutional
amendment which takes effect two
years hence forbds the state from en-
ploying convicts at the state and county
prisons. jails and reforma,ories in any
industrial art or useful occupation in
competition with the work or products
Of tho people. Some further legislation
10 urged looking toward perfection OF
the stste banking law. particularly in
the matter Of paying in OF capital stock.