The record-union., 1895-01-12
BUDD'S ADDRESS.
It Breathes the Spirit Of
Economy.
StateEXpenditures Have UnneceS-
Sarily Increased,
And How They Can be Reduced With
out Serious Discomfort.
Too Many County Fairs Penitentiaries and
Other Expensive Institutions

cred in this city yesterday in the pres
ence of both branches of the Legislature:
To the Legislature and the Public: 1t is
not without realizing sense of the great
responsibilities devolved by the Consti-
tuition upon the high office whose duties
l am about to assume that | approach the
labors before me. The ceremony just
concluded possessed ali interest for you
quite different from that which it held for
the person most Intimately concerned,
for to him it is a notification that the time
has arrived for going to work. Hence
forth for four years l am charged with
the very responsibility Of directing the
affairs of great State, within the lines
laid down by the law, and of guarding
the interests of all her people, so far as
those interests may be served by the EX-
ecutive in the faithful and conscientious
discharge of the functions of his office.
The people of California have reposed in
me the greatest trust within their power
To deposit with any citizen, and here in
this imposing presence, and on this i'm
pressive occasion, L pledge my manhood,
my honor and the best ability that | am
able to exercise, to it's safe-keeping and
faithful execution. l pledge this as well
to those of my fellow-citizens who are
not here to-day as to you who are present
to the farmer ulling his field; to the
miner delving in the mountains; to the
mechanic in the shop; to the merchant
in his counting-roOm; TO the man Of cap
ital in his bank, and to the Iaborer on the
highway.
Circumstances which are generally
known, having been subjects of comment
in the public press, make it privileged
that / should say word concerning The
unfavorable condition under which [ ap-
preached this the elimination of the re-
cent campaign for the GovernOrship.
had hoped after the election TO make a
thorough study of the workings of our
State institutions, and from personal OBJ
servation, and from contact with their Of
hcerS, to acquire that knowledge which
only such methods of inquiry can yield;
but | was deferred from doing so by the
necessity OF remaining in conference with
my friends and my party 10 protect the
result which was achieved at the polls
and save from impairment the plain ver-
dict of the people.
Ours is large State geographically, and
large also in the number and scope of its
public institutions. To make a personal
inspection OF all of these, and 10 study
their needs with a view TO the curtaII-
ment OF their expenses, were a task re-
Quiring for its intelligent performance
every day from the 9th of November to
the present date. This task, however, is
deferred only for the present, and I shall
perform 1t at the earliest opportunity.
But the general condition OF State
extravaganza in California is a matter OF
common notoriety. Public knowledge
of our rechieSsness in this regard has
transgreSsed our territorial limits and
gone TO the country, deterring immigra.
lion and the influx OF needed capital tC
develop our latent resources. Prudent
citizens Of other States, especially OF the
more economically managed Eastern
commonwealths, naturally hesitate be-
fore determining TO move to and settle IN
state whose current annual tax rate is
equivalent to an assessment of between
- and IS upon every man, woman and
child of the population.
When, furthermore, it is considered
that the burden has been permitted
steadily to increase for the past ten years
in presence OF an equally steady decline
In the wages of labor and the profits o
business, the course of extravaganza anC
proiigacy upon which we are entered
and which we arespursuing as if by pre-
determined purpose to see how lar We
can proceed before the crash comes
when the situation is regarded in this
light, it is discovered to involve almost {
public crime.
In every avenue of industry the wage
rate has persistently declined, in CON
formity to the changing conditions
through which the country is passing
The farmer, TOO, receives less for the
products of his acres than ever before il
the history OF our State. Private business
has been gradually adjusting itself to the
new relation of values, but the business
OF the State appears TO be conducted OIL
the old lines, as though its managers, ol
those responsible for its conduct, were
unaware that any alteration OF conditions
had taken place since the early days.
The managers OF large corporations
have scaled salaries and eliminated every
possible expense consistent with SAT-
IND NFo4F "A M n TEf n
companies affairs, but the affairs Of The
State are not only permitted 10 move for
ward in the old groove of maximum pay
for minimum service, but there has de
Teloped III recent years distinct tend
ency TO go from bad 10 worse.
The correction of this enormous anC
overshadowing evil rests with the two
departments here represented Glegis
lative and executive) working Jointly
and barmouiously together TOR the per
lection OF such legislation rs may be con
sidered necessary TO eradicate the ilsca
canker that is consuming the substance
of the people. Laws designed to bring
the public expenditures within the limits
of reason, to lop OF redundant function
ares, to concentrate distributed lnstitu-
lions of like character under a single
management, 10 reduce salaries as lar a.
may be deemed conslstent with the ell
cheney OF the service, ana IN general 4
pace the aIEalTS OA lilO NlNNANO aESAA III
same safe business footing as that OF
successful private enterprise. must orlgi
nate with one or the other OF the TIVE
houses The Executive can only advise
recommend or approve, and the first IN
takes the liberty now OF doing, IN nee
essarily imperfect way, out nevertheless
so as, it is hoped, the direction may b.
made clear in which the retrenchmeut s.
imperatively demanded may De eifecte,
without the EN- barrassnlent OF any useIu
public institution or in any way ham
pering the administration OF the State
affairs.
STATE TAXATION.
The Democratic platform of 1894 Of
State taxation reads:
I'VE hereby pledge our nominees tina
the State taxes Will not exceed 10 cent
on each 500 assessed valuation OF prop
erty according to the valuation of 1898.
The assessed valuation OF property 10
the year 1898 was 81, 2ll .5f2,Ot4. Taxes 4
the rate of IS cents on each SiUJ on thl
amount of valuation would produce 10
the support of the State government 10
the forty-seventh and forty-eIghth uscs
years $40, 9g4, l4S 90.
The Controllers estimate of
the cost OF the Stale Govern
ment for the forty-seSenth
and forty-eighth fiscal years
8S'-ot o
Less the amount limited Dy
the pledge of the Demo-
cratic platform of 1S94...-.. 1o,So4,14S g
=.