Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-07
THE MESSAGE.
Strict Economy is the Watch
word, Says Gov. Wolcott.
RESTRAIN INDEBTEDNESS
Valuable Information and Timely
Suggestions Concisely Given.
Railway Commission complimented on
Its Discretion in Dealing With West
End Lease-cost OF Highways.

Members of the General Court of Mas
sachusetts:
The year which has just closed has
been one OF tranquil and orderly admin
istration of the affairs of the common
wealth. If it has not been one Of great
prosperity, it has at least been without
serious calamity. While, however, it
has not been marked by occurrences of a
startling or unexpected character, it has
yet witnessed events of a nature calcu-
lated to stimulate patriotism, and to
strengthen those sentiments of deep
gratitude and veneration towards the
founders of the republic which are
precious heritage from the past. The
commonwealth was officially represent
ed at the impressive pageant which at
tended the dedication Of the Grant mon
nment in the city of New York, and also
at the interesting exposition which com
memorated the centennial anniversary
of the admission into the Union OF the
state of Tennessee. On the 4th day OF
March official and ceremonial notice was
taken of the Inauguration, 100 years ago
of the first president given by the COM
monwealth to the nation. In May the
delivery into the custody of the common
wealth, through an act of generous in
ternational courtesy on the'part of Great
Britain, of the priceless manuscript his
tory of the Plymouth plantation by Gov
ernor William Bradford, was made the
occasion of services in this chamber
which expressed the appreciative graft
tude with which the gift was received by
the people of Massachusetts. Later in
the same month the commonwealth took
part in the solemn services attending the
unwilling of the beautiful monument on
Boston common, facing the State House,
which for all time will commemorate the
va.lor of the Fiftyfourth regiment
Massachusetts Volunteers, and of its he
roic commander. In the autumn the re-
turn to Boston harbor of the old frigate
Constitution, the most famous vessel of
the navy of the United States, on the
Tooth anniversary of her launching, was
fttingly celebrated by a military and
naval display and by the eloquent re-
hearsal of her victories. Such acts of
commemoration speak to the heart of
our people, and quicken the pulse Of
loyalty to the nations honor.
The improved condition which was no
ted at the beginning of the year has been
maintained in many branches of BUSH
ness, and there is reason to believe that
it will become more general during the
present year, but the great manufactur-
Ing interests Of Massachusetts are not
yet restored to a footing of assured pros
toerity Until this be the case the re-
wards both of labor and Of capital will
continue uncertain, and final and COM
plete recovery from the long period OF
business depression and loss through
which we have passed will be delayed.
Under these circumstances the practice
of rigid economy in both private and
public expenditure is still the enforced
lesson of the time, and the paramount
duty of the commonwealth as well as Of
the individual citizen.
1 shall merlton later a limited number
of matters OF Importance which this ses-
sion of the legislature will be called upon
to consider, referring you for more com
plete information to the reports of the
several departments. But the expert
emce of another year has served to
strengthen my opinion of the lack of ade-
quate public necessity for a considerable
80 fzI-
1 trust that a generous share of your
wa6chfulnesS for the public good may
be devoted II the defeat Of unnecessary
legislation, I'm support of which there is
no general public demand and no clear
justification
The closing hours of a legislative ses-
sion are time of great strain and en-
barrassment to the executive. There
are annually presented to him for execu-
tive approval. during the final night of
the session, a large number of bills, in
cludtng often some of the most complex
and difficult bills which the session has
produced, action upon which has been
delayed by the legislature, owing in
some cases, perhaps. to their inability
to deal with them at an earlier date; and
yet the executive is expected to pass final
Judgment upon the merits of many such
IN a single night; the only alternative
left him berg to keep the Legislature in
session, after they have no further busi-
hess to occuP7- hem, up to the constitu-
tional limit cf time allowed him for the
examination nc bills. Nor in many of
the most difficult cases is it possible for
the executive. by keeping informed in
advance of thss bills which are likely to
be laid before him, to be prepared to act
upon them without delay. Many of
those to whjch he may have given the
most careful study are rejected on their
fianal passage. while upon others are en-
grated so many and such important
amendments as to change entirely their
purport and the correlation of their
parts. ask that, as the session nears
its close, you VIII extend to the execu-
tive the consideration Of end eavoring not
to impose upon him duties which it is
we'll nigh Impossible for him rightly to
perform.
STATE DEBT.
The following figures show the recent
rapid increase of the state debt.
Net debt Jan. l, 1896. "a, 377, 663. Is
Net debt Ja,.. ]. 1S96....... 6,140, $3.50. 1C
Net debt JAZZ. I, 1897. 10, 766, GAS. OF
Net debt Jan. /, 1898. 12, 1852, SIS. 81
In this statement the net debt signifies
the net direcs funded debt of the com
monwealth, after deduction from the
gross debt of the several sinking funds
In the hands of the treasurer, and also OF
the contingent debt, the latter being the
amount of Indebtedness incurred by the
commonwealth in behalf of certain cities
end towns, and included in its gross debt
but which will ultimately be repaid tc
the commonwealth by the municipalities
which are the real debtors The pur-