New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-23
SlDERS EXCESSIVE.

IA
THIS THE CONVERSION CON
siDEHs EXCESSIVE.
..,. Ian. Ex-Governor Morton to-day sent
,,uowing message To both branches Of the
u,s,atur, urging economy in legislative APP
nations. The message was placed on the
rS,o ond ordered printed. as is usual with such
communications:
aTo the legislature
~ desire AT this early period in your session TO
III attention TO the necessity of the strictest
..,ron,y in the appropriation Of public moneys
-. files f bills thus far introduced show that
concentrations aggr eating more than s2.50O,0OO
sra now pending before you although but ten
a.vs Of the session have expired.
~Recognizing clearly the powers conferred upon
N. executive and legislative branches of the
cov.rnment under the Constitution. and with no
desire 70 infringe upon the prerogatives of the
1eeslatura. H. nevertheless becomes my obvious
au,v 70 say that this amount seems excessive
sspecally in view Of the lact that the appropriate
inn and supply bills-the great financial bills Of
the sesson-have not yet been prepared.
at is probable that. in view of the public SEN
,iment declsively expressed. some provision will
10 made at the present session for transferring
the care of dependent insane in the county Of
yeu-Yorl II the State at large. Should this be
done. 1t Will necessitate a fixed addition in the
,ax rate # over one-third of a MILL or 81, $1,000
The people Of the state have. by the adoption Of
On amendment Il the Constitution at the last
election. provided for the creation Of a debt Of
saOOOOOJ for the Improvement of the canals. and
cbanter - Of the laws of 1895 imposes further
annual addition to the tax rate OF thirteen
bundredths Of a mill for the creation of a sink
,nr fund and the payment Of the interest upon
this debt.
1T seems probable that under any circum-
stances the State will find it difficult to avoid
Increasing its tax levy year 10y year, in view Of
the additional burdens which haye been assumed
BY the state Upon this aspect Of the situation
deem it proper to bring especially t your
notice passage from the report Of the Controller
for the year 1885 in which he refers Il the tend
ency Of the state to build UP a gigantic system
Of expenditures in various directions. in these
words:
1T may be as well for the people to know now
as later That a result of this policy will be that
low tax rate can never be had in this state
again. unless new sources ~ revenue are NlS =
covered. The care Of the charities, including e
nauper insane, the care Of the school system
Inc militia. the canals and the judiciary under
the new constitution. viii present certain ilXed
charges which Will render q low TAX 1dt' III
rossble These items in the future Will not fall
much II any below the following amounts Der
annum: Charity Gnclud.ng paupei insane. - OOl-
O00 school system. SiS0o.0oV; militia 'eNciusiVe
Of betterments). 100000. canal maintenance
$500 600 Judges salaries. $500 600 total. $l21OoOO0
These five items alone. which are more likely
10 Increase with the years than to decrease, Re-
port tax rate of $50 mills on the dollar. Inc
State prisons cost the people a present 5000 900
per annum, in round numbers, but when the
wovision of the new constitution goes into eHect
next year, which relates 10 the employment OF
prisoners In the penal institutions. there VIII
be a very large Increase in this item. 1t may
not be out of place to say that the total cosi
Of the government for this State in 1862. includ-
ing the schools. was only a tribe more imam
the amount paid for charities this year
The people have endured a long PERIOD OF
business depression. and waited IN vain 1oN
that return Of prosperity which was SO con-
Hdently expected and. as a consequence, the
burden of taxation rests with more than usual
severity upon them. Ii IS felt alike by the
farmer the artisan, the laborer. the merchant
and the investor While the Legislature should
at all times avoid unnecessary and excessive ap-
propriations of public money and require the
etrictest economy consistent with good ADMIN
istrat,on in every branch Of the public service.
there 10 to-day q special reason why this princi-
ME should be applied II is always essential
that the affairs Of the eOVernme Mt should be
managed with that degree Of economy and zeal
which achieves success in the management Of
private business yet IT is urgently desirable
N these days of mercantile and industrial in
activity that 10 unnecessary burden SNdN IAN
upon the taxpayers. AS guardians Of the pub
lie interests and custOdans of the public funds.
the paramount question should be when con
siderng the appropriation OF the people 5
money: Can this expenditure be deferred with
ont injury TO the public interests until business
shall have resumed its normal activity?
The bills already before you disclose dis
position to authorize or al least 10 ask for con-
81 EZRA bic expenditures for rev construction. such
as for armorics. normal schools, and other state
Institutions There may b. reasons in parucu-
lar localities whiCn seem 10 JUSTIFY these de-
mands but it Is t. be gravely consld Tered whether
these local needs are pressing that they shal
be allowed in their aggregate 10 cDhSlderapiy
augment the financial requirements Oi the state
and thus add to the SUM- 81 taxation
ITO Weld TO this pressure would seem 10 VI"
late that maxim which hO'cs that me creates
god 10 the greatest number Is the true am
OF ponular government. therefore earnestly
urge deliberate action. and recommend lhdl cA
penditures for construction be confined as closer,
as possible 10 the maintenance ana pIescINauoi
0. existing property If the state, TO the enc
that there shall be watchful but discreet econ
omv in all matters C taxation.
your purpose TO conserve the best Interests
Of the State is conceded and in no way ca
YOU more richly merit the approval OF tne peVPr
or satisfy your own conscience 'h'h ny ear"
estly striving for that result ,,onro.-,