New-York tribune., 1896-01-02

ness Of the canals The greater depth OF water water ard md
locks which viii be Effected viii permit largely
Increased application OF steam power and thus not
only admit vessels OF greater draft and cargo ca
pacity, but enable them to be moved with increased
speed. .. ,..,. .o.ox, ,ou
canal boat propulsion made at the western end OF
the Erie Canal were so successful IN character ana
results to lead TO the belief that when the sys-
TEN is applied to the entire canal 1t VIII Increase
It's traffic capacity by at leas, % per cent neTng R
this subject ii may safey be suggested That II IS
viii doubtless receive your most earnest attention.
am informed that since lsSI the first year IN
average annual expenditure for their maintenance
has been about one million dollars ASIDE from the
special Improvement contemplated by & the act act
above mentioned the usual appropriation will prob
ably be needed for 9rainary mantenanfs no, ,,ss
for express qualification at the fact that the
administration OF the canal system during the pnss
year has been such as to win the approval OF the
people whose business interests are Directly con-
annoyances and the compulsory tribute levied by
canal employees upon traffic have entirely ceased
to the business community is rendered by the pres
ent service
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
am Informed by the State Superintendent Of
Public instruction that the public school system OF
our state has shown steady growth and improve
ment during the past year. There mas been
marked increase In the professional spirit of teach
ers; deeper interest the part OF the public In
the welfare OF the schools. and greater activity
In providing better school accommodations These
hopeful ndica lions ,,, - ,.
effect January !. 1899 has been compiled Win M,,n
throughout the state with degree OF IMAM Inanmiy
which proves the interest which our citizens ar ar
taking In the question OF our puo'c scnoo,s' IN ime
biennial school census whch mas Jhst peer ,orcaI
in the right spirit and for the best Interests OF
the schools In nearly every section OF our common
At the last session OF the legislature you wisely
provided that the United States flag should he
displayed upon every school building in the state
This patriotic requirement has met ready re-
sponse and from nearly every school buiIdhg IN
the state this object lesson Of patriotism Is daily
displayed. - - .o.,r,,,oo
the cities and villages OF the state exceeding zen zen
ties for additional school facilities and other defecs
In the system which you VIII be called upon 10
While am aware of the fact that upward OF
four millions of dollars raised by direct STATE taxa
our magnificent public school system. and that .ocai
taxation adds to hs amqan ons ns hrourhoa S the
~ male % in our state which makes for good clt.
zenship so much as that which you will be called
upon again to incur for the support OF our puoilc
schools The Empire state leads the lnion nth" in the
magnitude OF i,s provisions for the public schools
The last year Witnessed the occurrence Of the
one huniredth Anniversary OF the inauguration M S,
OF the free school system in the United sta;ss ta
under the administration Of Governor George Gin
,nca ,Gh ,h, H. sum oS fsco should be annually
appropriated. for the term Of five years, Tor me
IN the sew, cltcs and tow ms in THIS state" The
growth OF hG Pubic b school ySS - s"if ha ds
expenditure for common school purposes ABOVE
The Legislature has been uniformly generous In
th. provision which II has made for IN" schools oi
our stat ana II Is oafn' o, no ,h. End that With
our great resources our unriyaled ADVANTAGES and
the Intellectual equipment of our people. We may
continue to lead In elucational developments
TIE CIVIL SERVICE
There ha. been a distinct and gratifying advance
In the administration OF the Cvil Service law
during the last year Article Y. Section 9. of the
noa Constitution brought into the state classihc'-
tion the Department OF Public Works ana the
Prison Department. which Of themselves added
large number Of employees to the classified SER
vice This amendment also established new
standard OF classification By proNiiing tor comV'u-
tive examinations wherev'r pracadc.nir IA n, pus
suance Of this provision many omy1s t, KY" r "
brought into the competitive schedule thtt were
i've .xanintiion- This schedule includes
nearly every character OF service in IN" state.
stiIi further extension OF this principe
The expenses ~ this branch OF the pubic ser,
vice have been yer, much augmented by reason o'
tho extension above mentioned. and will be
further increased when the classification y sN-
oulred by the Constitution. The appropriation o'
money remains substantially as IL was when tie
men has greatly increas,d ana the last aPpo APP
priation exhausted before the beginning Oh rle
priation be made In order that the provisions OF the
neV Constitution may be carried out.
The adoption OF the Constitutional amendmrht
relative 10 civil Service has embodied In our ihhla
mental law the principle that appointment aug
In the public service shdll De pa-''i
solely upon illness This principle Is nov" beyond /
discussion and II only remains for the l.eglsiat- /
ure to pass such laws as shall provide for any he-
fccts In the present statutes The state ol NV,
York now occupies advanced position IN tNll !
Service reform and the friends OF that movement /
I'm their recent national convention, gave gfatty- /
ing recognition OF the fact
THE BALLOT LAW.
The ballot law enacted by the last Legislature. F
and under which the general election o, 1879 was +
held differed In many respects from any hitherto I
put into operation II appears 10 have met, gen
ally the approval OF the people. though, as was To
ave been expected the practical use OF th~ system
developed some features which seem % require .
a amendment The law should be amended in regard .
10 the provision applying to cases where two or
more persons standing as candidates for the
same office, TO render II less dlihcut Tor the
voter TO express his exact choice, and thus 'ilmnsh
the danger OF losing mis- vote. The provisions OF
he pre-exsting law in relation 10 the duties
Of election officers, which We're not revised by the
Act OF ls9J also seem to require amendment TO the
end that ttc duties and powers Of these officers
shall be defined with more precision. This Is cspe-
r!ally the in regard TO the duties OF inspectors
Of elections. 1t appears to be somewhat strange,
and is indeed surprising that in many counties Of
ne state there should have been few, II any. bal
cities or New-York, Brooklyn and Buffalo the bal
lots rejected as defective were numerous The pro-
visions In regard to nominations by parties and In