Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-02
REFORMS NEEDED
Gov. Morton's Message to the New
York Legislature.
4 CAPITOL 4HAT has COST MILLIONS
Multiplicity Of Expensive Com
missions.
NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED

ALBANY, N. Y, January 2.-Gov. Nor
toms inaugu1 al message was laid before
the legislature today. It opens with refer
ence to the legislation made necessary by
the revised constitution, which, the mes
sage observes, demands the closest care
that no hasty, incomplete or ill-advised
measures be enacted.
The finances Of the state are In excellent
condition. There Is no state Indebtedness
whatever, while the permanent funds, in
Guiding the United States deposit fund, ag
gregate $9,21O,3 94.3O Of principal. The
amount realized from the transfer tax
otherwise known as the Inheritance taxi
during the last fiscal year was 81 ,6SS, 954.24,
and from corporation and organization
taxes, 81, FOG. GHOST. making total of 49,
S4,5S511. The income from both sources
Is below expectation. 1t Is estimated that
the transfer tax will not, for years to come,
yield more than two million annually.
The governor recommends the legislature
to devise ways and means, If practicable,
for the enlargement Of the field of direct
taxation. The fact that in the manage
ment of some Of the state charitable insti-
buttons expenditures are made before ap-
preparations have been enacted to meet
them is a condition of affairs that requires
remedy. The governor points out the ne
cessity for treasury surplus. He also
calls attention to the need for the most
rigid economy In the management OF the
different departments Of the state govern
ment. From year to year, and especially
during the past twelve or thirteen years.
these expenses have grown until the burden
Is becoming grievous and unbearable In
direct forms of 1evying taxes have been re-
sorted to with the idea of relieving or shift
Ing the burden of taxation. One great ex-
travagance, he says. arises from the multi
plicity of Commissions" which have in
n
since about the year 1880. From an ex-
penditnre for the duties covered by the six
&C omissions of less than $4,000 in 1880, We
have seen a growth from year to year
until the cost of three commissions alone
amounted last year to nearly a million
and q quarter Of dollars. Some of these
commissions are unnecessary. and should
be abolished. Some of them should be con-
solidated with made bureaus of correl-
alive departments Of the state govern
ment."
s21, 800, 900 has been expended upon the new
capitol that structure is not yet completed.
The people, he adds, are thoroughly tired
of this seemingly endless drain upon the
treasury.
Governor Morton reviews the new consti-
tuition and specifically recommends legis-
lation to give each provision effect
AS to the greater New York, it Is suggest
ed that commission be at once created,
to be composed of the most capable citi-
ZenS of the various localities interested
and to be charged with the power and duty
of framing charter to be reported to the
present legislature for the government Of
the new city. In the meantime, the gov
{ rnor says, the duty is incumbent on 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 wait
ing for the full details of the reform plan.
The experience of several years has made
1t clear that the system of providing a
separate ballot for each group Of nomna-
lions Is cumbersome and unsatisfactory.
Tha blanket ballot SO called, which has
been successfully used in many states of
the Union, should. in the judgment of Gov
erncr Morton. be adopted in New York
without further delay. 1t is, moreover. the
opinion of the governor that the use Of the
blanker-paster' ballot should be at once
prohibited. for through it's fundamentally
the purpose of the law has been to
large extent defeated. In the interest of
fact that while sworn statements of ex-
penses are required of candidates for Of
flee. there Is no provision for ascertaining
the expenses of political committees.
Fish Chosen Speaker.
The state legislature met and organized
today by the election of the republican eau
Gus nominees. Hamilton Fish was chosen
speaker of the house. The inaugural mes
sage of Gov. Morton was read in both the
senate and house.
In the state senate Mr.. Lexow introduced
a bill giving the power of removal to the
mayor of New York and bill to allow the
mayor to give notice for hearings on all
legislative bills relating to the city.
Senator Raines introduced blanket bal
lot bill.
Gov. Morton nominated Alvah H. Doty Of
New York for health officer of the port and
he was Immediately confirmed.
Other appointments made and confirmed
were q. w. Aldridge of Rochester, to be
superintendent of public work; Charles z.
Lincoln Of Little Valley, to be commission
err of statutory revision.
The senate has ordered the printing of
the Lexow committee testimony. 1t will
make 5000 pages
Mr.. Conkling of New York introduced in
the assembly a resolution authorizing the
appointment of five members of the assem-
bly, to act as a special committee, in con-
junction with senate special committee.
the corruption and Infamous
crimes disclosed by the Lexow committee
IN the New York police department.
Both houses have adjourned until We'd
nesday evening.