The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-08
SATURDAY. JANUARY 2, lS9S.
TuE EMPIRE STATE.

Governor Black. OF New York. in MS
lste message TO the Legislature makes
some interesting statements as TO the
wealth Of the Empire State.
The property valuation Of the state is
$3.50. 9S5. e9i The state tax for the pres
ent year Is $3.50 on a thousand dollars.
This rate produces the sum of $l2 OS3. 6Sl.-
80. OF this amount more than 100000
are paid to run the public schools and
for the care Of the insane.
The receipts from licenses to sell liquor
tax Oh inheritance etc. were Ss.2bl'2.SI
an excess over last year of S3lt9ii2l The
expenditures for asylums. hospitals re-
formatories. etc. were $780,, $3.50 The
total funded debt Of the State on Septem-
her 3Oth was s. 765 600. During the year
Just passed the revenue from the liquor
tax law has increased more than $i3SOOO.
There are PIP banks Of discount orga-
nized under the State law. Last year
there were 2l3. The resources Of these
institutions have gained in twelve months
over s55.O00O0O. more than 90 per cent
Their discounts and deposits have both
increased the latter nearly N3oW,00O
The magnitude of the Banking Depart
ment appears in the total resources Of
the institutions under its charge, viz,
$685.. 25f $50. an Increase OF more than
SlS7 100000 since The report q year ago.
The insurance companies, including fire.
marine. life and casualty doing business
in New York are %, IN number, end re-
present a capltai Of $i7S2o,a'5, with a sur
plus Of $685. 390.5o5
Another source Of wealth are &c canals
Of the state. The cost Of building all The
canals. OF maintaining them since. and
enlarging them now. IS upwards Of $780,
as. ST. i5. and yet tlie commerce passing
over them paid that enormous amount i'm
tolls in less than sixty years.
Does not this statement awaken in the
minds Of thoughtful Nirginians the sus-
plcion that the great canal system in Viz
ginia which has gone TO decay might have
been made profitable? But it is now too
late to consider that question, and there
We're no profit in "a post norton.
Sow York cxpends about 100000
year Oh us public schools and the number
of pupils in attendance durng the past
session was l.2o2ls9. an increase Of 27125
over the attendance Of the previous year.
We note that Governor Black is a firm
believer i'm compulsory attendance. de-
a.. 20. MI
tho education Of its children is as clear
as its duty TO protect or punish lis citi-
zcns This is the very essence Of pater-
nalism. but Governor Black is a Republic
can and patcrnalism is q cardinal doctrine
OF the party to which he belongs.
New York is liberal with it's wealth.
The Governor tells as that there are more
than 1.Ooo charitable institutions in the
state. caring for ;OOoo persons at an ex-
pense OF S2ooo.ooo year. twenty-five
of these institutions are wholly or partly
maintained by the state. The others arc
sustained by private subscriptions.
with all its wealth. however. Governor
Black urges the necessity for a more rigid
economy in public expenditures. lie
drops a hint ia this connection. which
applies in Virginia as well as in New
York and with it we conclude the article.
Says he:
Public money Is too freely spent. This
ought TO be checked. and could be- II pri-
waite efforts were as strenuous as public
ufferauces. The main obstacle In the way
~ reduction is that 1t curtails the oene-
ats which some community. class. or per-
son has heretofore enjoyed, and invaria-
biz results IN protest and opposition from
ma, particular source. Economy in the
abstract excites universal enthusiasm.
but abstract economy IS OF no value what
over. IL must be applied somewhere be-
fore a gain is made. and In the process
OF the change from economy In general
10 economy in particular the passive de-
Sire for one becomes active hostility 20
the other.