New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-23
MR. MORTON'S AWAKENING.
THE GOVERNOR DISCOVERS THE NEED
FOR RIGID ECONOMY


LAST YEARS TAX RATE STILL MENACE ~ NE
REPUBLICAN pARTY-THE SENATE DEBATE
ON THE MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE.
[rRoM THE REGULAR Correspondent OF THE TRisO Mel
Albany, Jan. Ex-Governor Morton mas taken
alarm at the flood Of appropriation DIS wiiioh
has been pouring into the Legislature II ne hau
awakened soon after his Inauguration last year
to the peril of signing Appropriation acts nuns
criminately the State tax rate OF 1879 woud not
have been as high ii was, 324 mills Inc
farmers did not receive their tax DIS until De
cember. nearly two months after the state cleo
ton was held. and whatever resentment the!
may feel over the high tax rate OF the hrst year
of Governor Morton's administration may be ex-
pressed at some future election III Is 10 De hopeu
that the merits of the administration in most
other respects will more than OFFSET 'he erect "a
the increased taxation.
Mr. Morton to-day disclosed new spirit OF
economy by sending a message to the Legislature
calling attention to the fact that appropriation
hills amounting to about s2,500.00O already have
been introduced in the Legislature. and that the
yreat bills Of the session. the appropriation ana
SUNNY measures will take about Sll 100000 out or
the state Treasury. They have not yet been IN
troduced
"The people" he added. ''have endured long
period of business depression and waited III VAIN
for that return of prosperity when was 50 coh-
rdently expected, and, as consequence. the
burden Of taxation rests with more than usual
severity upon them" In view of this fact' ne
called upon the Legislature TO defer TIL more
pros porous years all appropriations which 1t is
not imperative to make
DEMOCRATIC COMMENTS.
Senator Cantor, the Democratic leader. with
mock earnestness congratulated the fepup-
,icans of the Legislature upon their deternlna-
ton to be economical Governor Mortons mes
sage was a noble one he said, even II IL ala
remind one of the old proverb about shutting
the barndoor after the horse had been s'oieh
He thought that Governor Morton's words about
economy in making public appropriations might
have some distant relation TO his race for the
presidency How painful it would be for the
Governor to kin the Appropriation bills OF GER
tain Republican members, some of the mem
hers for instance, from Erie and Kings coun-
ties where many Republicans were not look
ing favorably upon the Governors aspirations
for the Presidency" Mr.. Cantor pledged his
word that he would do his part as Democratic
leader to keep down appropriations
Senator McCarren. of Brooklyn, said that Gov
ernor Morton's message implied that new meth
DDS of raising revenue must De uIsOoNeieu oe-
fore the State tax rate could be reduced. Under
Governors Hill and Cleveland the state tax
rate had been lowered and the State debt wiped
ont Now under the administration of Gov
ernor Morton the State tax rate had been large
" Increased and State debt incurred for the
Improvement of the canals.
Did not the State receive two or three
millions from the United States Government
while David b. Hill was Governor, and Use the
money in reducing the State tax rate?' asked
Senator Mullin. Such reduction was not due
to any economy by the Democratic admnstra-
ton. Under Governor Flower the cost of the
State administration increased"
Then Senator Lexow joined in the debate.
at was a Democratic state administration"
said he which sadded the State Treasury with
the expense of supporting the INDECENT insane.
and raised the tax rate.
Senator McCarren replied that If Governor
Morton and the Republican Legislature of 1895
had practised economy the tax rate could have
been greatly reduced. Mr. Morton's demand for
economy now ought to be needed,
REPLY OF THE REPUBLICANS.
Senator Raines denied that there was any re-
duction of State expenditures during the Cleve-
land administration and as for the Hill ad-
ministration, if the indigent-insane appropria-
tons were taken out of the budget of the Re-
publican Legislature. its financial policy would
compare favorably with that of the Hill time.
Senator Mullin assailed the State care act as
q great wrong TO tire taxpayers. Enormous
sums of money would soon have to be spent
for the repair of the buildings in NewYorlS
which were formerly owned by that city, and in
which the INDECENT insane were housed.
The debate gave opportunity for Senator Cog
geshall to say that. as Independent Republi-
. v,,.l,,v
II have asked for few appropriations" he said
with a laugh, and | expect that my modesty
will cause the Governor and the people to
be with me and 10 grant my requests
Senator McCarren said ne had no doubt that
Senator Coggeshall faithfully represented the
sentiments Of his constituents. Mr.. McCarren.
with his clean-shaven face and closely cropped
laughed therefore, when Mr.. Coggeshal re-
torted: II thank Father McCarren for his
kind remarks. | believe l have represented
my district by voting with the Republican ma
jority. | wanted to be with the Republicans,
for instance in the caucus they held. l am a
Republican, although the chairman of the Re
publican State Committee put me in a docu-
ment he issued Independent Democrat.
The Blue Book says am an Independent Re-
publican. The Independent Republican party. as
represented in the Senate. is resolved to hold up
the hands OF the Executive when he seeks to
come to the rescue Of the taxpayers"
These remarks of Coggeshall listened
10 with evident dspleasure by Senator Tim
othy f.. Ellsworth, the Republican leaden for
he abruptly said that he thought the discus
sion had continued long enough He hored for
a low tax rate.
dor Governors message page 49,