The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-04

II dSSufeQly ueeuS lutIIl dll. VI "Adt
ever decrease of the tax-1evy bill he
effected he is entitled to full acknowl-
edgment, as also for any burden by
him discharged, which came as legacies
Of his Office. If any one were disposed
to deny it to him, the cold and pulse
less figures of the States ledger would
prevent it,
Governor Budd boasts a larger bal
ance to be turned over by him to Gov
ernor Gage than he received from Gov
ernor Markham, but this single total
cannot be considered alone in ascer-
tanning just what real economy has
been conserved. There are other sides
to the question to be considered, the
conditions and necessities of the several
periods, the demands for State institu-
tons, expositions, public works and the
like. But if it is true, as he alleges,
tutions than ever be1hre, and with
greater number of institutions, the
general cost of the same has been less
under Governor Budd than under Gov
ernor Markham, by all means let the
retiring Governor have credit of it.
So, too, if it is true that estimate OF
State expenses has steadily declined
since he came into office, until it is now
lower than at any time for four years,
the credit will stand just where 1t be-
longs, as will the claim that the
amounts of the last three tax-levy bills
were over a million and one-third dol
lars less than the pledge of the Gov
errors party.
These matters of bookkeeping will
have attention hereafter at the hands
of the Legislature, and the real causes
and all causes leading to economy Will
be laid bare. The Governor advises
that a graduated income tax be laid
upon all corporations, and he intimates
that it might be well to relieve lands
and improvements of all taxation and
place it upon incomes and personality.
He advises a Central Board to control
all expenditures for supplies for State
institutions, regulate the wages of en-
ployes in such institutions, manage all
$1,000 cost, and to adopt a uniform
system Of bookkeeping for State insti-
tutions.
The consolidation of the State pris-
ons is advised, attention called to the
conditions of the several State asy-
lums and it is advised that the powers
of the Governor be enlarged to enable
him to interfere in and direct the man
agement of State asylums, and to re-
move his own appointees. He reviews
and defends his acts relative to the
State Printing Office. and makes at
least one good suggestion in that line
which is not new, namely, to every
State Office having printing done the
cost should be charged, and that Ger
tain Independent departments of the
Government with Independent revenue,
that is supported by other income than
taxes levied upon the people, should be
required to pay from such revenue the
cost of printing for their own uses.
He reviews the work done relative
to navigable river improvements, urges
that the State take hold of river i'm
provement without waiting longer for
Federal aid, gives a few words to civil
service regulation in State institutions,
compliments his administration for
with the wish that Governor Gage will
not have to hew his way through adj
verse Legislatures.
1t is largely a defensive message, has
decidedly petulant air, and is put up
in sensational style, glorying in ital-
icized lines and capital letters. 1t is
notable for its several omissions OF
subjects upon which it was to have
been expected the Governor would have
offered some words of advice or expla-
nation. 1t is certainly true that it con-
though none of them are new or novel,
and that its advice relative to rivers,
roads, economy in printing by eharg-
ing to each department the sum of the
cost of printing done for it, are COM
mendable.
But the message will not take place
in State annals as strong. or even as a
defensive paper, as successful. In fact,
when it comes to defending his admin
istration on certain points, the retir-
ing Governor has proved that he con-
siders discretion as residing in a few
words.