New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-18
State If New-York, Executive Chamber.

Albany, April Is, 1902
In approving Assembly bill No. l.o2', hHlhs
the tax rate at 13-100 of mill for the nscai
year beginning October ], 1907 take TINS Up
nort,nitv Of congratulating the people OF the
State upon the fact that the legislature latoueh
its action has afforded relief to the farmer. 'ie
small taxpayer as we'll as the large owner OF Ieai
estate from the burdens OF q direct tax. 1ha'
there has been no desire in accomplishing this
result to curtail in any manner necessary eN-
renditures is apparent by the most casual eN-
animation Of the various appropriation plils
1t has met the demand for better educational
facilities for the Improvement Of the highways
of the State through the operation Of the Hlg-
HE Armstrong law by the large appropriation
Of 1898 GOO as well by increasing the STATE 5
share of road building expense from % 10 ~
per cent under the so-caled Fuller law, as
amended by the Plank bill enacted at the ses-
sion of 1902. 1t has met all proper demands
while striving to keep the expenditures OF the
great number of commissions created between
the wears 1882 and 1894 within reasonable lin
its Following the precedents estaplsheo pS
recent legislatures Of the same political faith
1t has sought TO give effect to the many wise
laws relating to the subject Of Indirect taxation
through amendments which have increased the
tex from corporations during the year enolhs
October l. 1902. over the preceding year py 'he
sum of 2.972. Iii L. and the taxpayers can
look with confidence for a still further increase
during the coming year, so that the state treas
,,ry will be richer from these sources by at
least So 100000 over the year 19oo. The present
administration has also had the beneht OF the
revenues produced by the so-called Raines
loror tax law. which paid to the localities,
while adding to the States indirect revenue
s4197 SIS - yearly. S5.414.44S 50 more than
was received by the counties annually during
fhe operation of the law which 1t repealed, thus
refuting the charge that it has deprived the
localities Of their moneys and by indirection
shifted the burden from the State TO the munic-
qualities.
1t may not be amiss to state that In addition
10 the financial effect Of this law other features
have not been neglected, and a reduction In the
number Of licensed places Of 6602 is shown.
That the reduction in the State tax rate is
not q mere juggling Of figures is shown by a
comparison of the records with that Of one Of
NV ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Flower-since that
administration seems to be the one chosen for
this purpose by those who question the accuracy
of the results Of the labors Of the two lesislat-
ures Of 1901 and 1902 For Governor Flowers
rugged honesty and character entertain the
highest respect. For his determination to cor
rect the abuses Of the so-caled county system
for the insane as well in condemning the
extravagances in the management Of State In
sttutions which had grown up from 1888 to the
period Of his incumbency have the greatest
admiration. The State to him lasting
debt Of gratitude for the services thus rendered.
With the growth Of New-York It necessarily
followed that there should be a corresponding
increase in the expenses Of government. But it
is well to remember that since 1894 the State
has assumed the entire of the insane and
charitable institutions, and that the localities
thus relieved from their support 1t must
also be understood that the constitution adopt
ed by the people in 1894 increasing the member
ship Of the legislature. creating new judicial
tribunals. well increasing the number Of
Supreme Court judges by forty, has caused
large additional expense Extravaganza even
in assuming these additional burdens does not
prevail, however, as the expense for the care Of
the insane was less by S103s. 1876 80 in 1901 than
IN 1900, and will be l,373, 076 81 less In 1902
than IN 1900. In the charitable institutions the
same corresponding decrease is shown, and this
too, without in any way manner taking from
the inmates the necessaries Of life the principle
which has directed these reductions being the
demand for fewer castles and more bread" As
an illustration OF the growth OF the expenses OF
the judiciary it may be stated that in 1894 they
were 1892, SIS "a and in 1902 81 072, $50 A not
1nconsiderable reform has been effected IN the
consoloalon ana elimination or unnecessary
commissions. AS the result of the action of the
legislature of 1901, the three departments OF
labor were consolidated into a single headed
commission, the Fish. Forest and Game and
Forest Preserve boards placed under a
single salaried commissioner and the Depart
Ynent OF Health is administered by one
competent person. with the result that while
the expenses of these commissions FOR 1900 were
S641 636 as, the appropriations for 1902 were bat
S34s SD e. a saving of $500, 764 10, S25O,oOO Of
which is due TO the non-appropriation for the
purchase OF land and $40 764 10 to decrease in
administrative expenses.
In considering the total Of the appropriations
the years 1893 and 1894 do not show the total