The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-01-02
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Mr.. OdeII's Recommendation to the
state LeSislature


ALBANY, Jan. 1.-Governor Odell's mes
sage begins with a statement of the flnan-
cial condition of the state. This shows
that the total debt of the state Sept. 30,
1901, was $40 075, 66O, and the total amount
received into the treasury during the past
year, together with the balance from the
previous year, was $37, ,S34, 497. AZ, against
which there have been drawn warrants
amounting to s2S.045. 1852, leaving a net
balance on Sept. so, 1901, the close of the
ascal year, of SO, 7S9, 351.1e. He adds:
"A careful study of the expenditures of
the past year, providing as they did for
many extraordinary emergencies, leads to
the belief that $40, 0,000.0 900 will be ample for
the coming year and will thus make pos
s.be the lowest direct tax in the history
of our commonwealth"
The governor next turns his attention to
the insane asylums of the state and de-
Glares that there should be change in
Shs methods of administration,
The governor finds similar features of
undesirable administration in the chari-
table institutions declaring that not only
" there unnecessary expenditures for
maintenance, but unreasonable requests
Tor needless improvements.
Recommendation is made that the law
which provides for the building OF roads
IN the state be so amended as to give to
the state engineer supervision not only
during construction, but for all time, over
Ill roads in which the state has so large
an interest.
Following this attention is called to the
eendition OF the state prisons, which the
governor says are old, antiquated and in
come cases positively dangerous to health
Existing conditions, he declares, should be
Remedied as soon as possible.
"The almost total abolition of state
taxes will bring home to the taxpayer the
Fact that his expenditures are to be pe-
taIrlf 10 ri flA,V
the remedy rests with him to rebuke those
who are charged with the administration
VI his local affairs. 1t has been found
wise to limit by constitutional enactment
she bonded debt of any municipality to 10
per cent of its assessed valuation. The
desire to exceed the debt limit leads to
generalization, particularly in large mu-
nicipalities. which the unfortunate prop
krty owner is powerless to correct except
through the tedious delays of law, Fair
hess should be the basis for the imposi-
ton Of all taxes, and the state board of
tax commissioners should enforce the pro-
vision against excessive as well as low
assessments. The legislature should amend
by general law the powers of the state
board, so as to make ii a reviewing court
TO investigate and correct Inequalities in
the matter of assessments and thus be-
come not only a mediator, as between
counties or the state, but also serve to
locality. / recommend such action.
II have learned also of excessive salary
bsts In various municipalities, and while
perhaps 1t may not be proper for the leg
islature to interfere yet, as in the matter
Of debt, there should also be a safe mar
gin to enable each local legislative BODY
TO absolutely fix and determine the per-
centage of total income to be so expended
an looking over the salary list Of the city
of New York 1t will be found that there
nre several officials who receive a larger
salary than the governor of the state or
q! the cabinet officers of the United States
und 1t cannot be claimed with any degree
Of truth that the services rendered are al
ways commensurate with the compensa-
tlon given. l recommend action by the
legislature which will absolutely fix a per-
Gentage based upon the total tax levy for
the salary lists of all municipalities"
The governor says that a small tax upon
mortgages could be imposed without any
very serious objections and adds:
"A tax could be levied which might be
known as recording tax. to be collected
hy the county clerks and registrars
throughout the state, Of say, mills upon
the mortgage recorded and after the pay
ment Of one such tax be free from all 9TH
er taxes except the transfer tax The to-
tai amount OF mortgages annually record
ed in the state Is about 5000 000, 0OO A tax
or mills upon this would amount to So
100000, which sum would increase the rev.
enues from indirect taxation to an amount
almost equal to the annual requirements
of the state"
Action should be taken, he declares. to
restrict the attendance at normal schools
TO those who are intended to enter the
profession as teachers.
The governor declares that laws should
mot be enacted for various cities which
are repugnant and injuriops. to other por-
lions of the state and cord Aies:
"If by local option Is mX2t the right to
determine whether the doofYo the saloons
may legally remain open on Sundays. a
departure is proposed from the fixed rules
which have governed the administration
of our excise laws and 1t then becomes a
question which concerns not only a par
ttcular city, but every section of our state
Before submitting a referendum to the
eities the whole question should be passed
upon by the people at large in the same
manner as were the provisions which gave
the mayors the right of veto and other