The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-06
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

The first biennial message of Governor
Budd is long enough to form fair-sized
volume, and probably will be read only by
those who have large leisure or else take
great interest in public affairs. NeVerthe-
less, it is well worth the reading of every
citizen, inasmuch as it gives fairly COM
pete review OF the conditions of eur polit-
ical institutions, and recommends RENE
dies where defects or evils have been
proven by experience to exist.
The Governor devotes the first and most
! important part of his message TO consider
atoms of economy. He says: ~ turn
| from the natural advantages bestowed
upon us to contemplate with regret the
poll tical conditions with which we have
surrounded ourselves" He then pro-
ceeds to elaborate upon the extravaganza
and waste current in several departments
of the State government, and on this sub
ject makes many recommendations which
will be cordially supported by the people.
The State Board of Examiners is said to
! have found official salaries and wages for
the same service exceedingly dispropor-
| tionate, the number of mployes excessive.
lack of uniformity in the system of keep
various asylums vary greatly in the ratio
| to the inmates thereof. To remedy these
and kindred evils, the Governor recon-
mends the appointment of q central body
with power to prescribe the number of
employees and their compensation, and
also to have general business supervision
of the affairs of the institutions OF the
State.
The Governor points with satisfaction
| to the saving which has been made by
economies introduced during his term of
Office. He estimates that by the transfer
of the Vlticultural commission to the
university, the removal of the Office of the
| Board of Horticulture to Sacramento and
the veto of appropriations for district
fairs, and by the repeal of the acts grant
! ing aid to aged lndigents and paving
| bcunties for coyote scalps, 81, 239, 451 has
| been saved; and adds that "inoluding the
veto of the appropriations for district
agricultural societies. l felt constrained 10
disapprove of over 81, G00000 OF appropria-
ton bills"
1t is calculated that if the appropria-
tons for purposes other than the regular
running expenses of the government be
kept within reasonable bounds the condi-
ton of the treasury Is such that within
the next two fiscal years, on the present
| valuation of property the tax rate will be
less than 50 cents for 500. and if the grad
uated corporation income tax and the
excise license tax raise $1,000, 900 between
them for State purposes the people of the
State will be compelled TO pay less than
26 cents on the 500 valuation of property.
To emphasize this point the Governor
adds: 1.-THE Legislature that accomplishes
this good end will stand out as the greatest
our State has ever had"
In the way of constitutional amend
ments the Governor declares that legis-
| lative terms of sixty days are too short for
the work OF the State and recommends an
amendment extending the term to not
exceeding 100 days and prohibiting
the introduction of bills in either body
after the first thirty days except in cases
OF urgency. The Governors term. it is
recommended, should commence on the
| first Monday of July succeeding his cleo
ton, the Legislature to meet in the Janu-
airy following, so that each Governor will
have more time at the beginning of his
term to devote 10 State affairs and the
Legislature ample leisure in which to
make a study of State institutions, con-
slider recommendations and formulate
| needed laws.
The message as a whole deserves COM
mendation. 1t is not proba BILE that all the
recommendations will be adopted, but it is
evident that the Governor has given
careful con sideration to all our State in
situations and has labored earnestly to
promote economy and good government.