New-York tribune., 1902-04-28


gree that legislation suggested by the Gov
ernor IN his annual message Of this year. The
Governors recommendations not invariably
adopted, however. He said, for instance, that a
recording Of Ave mills mortgages would In
the States revenues 100000; out the legis
lature did pass such q measure he recon-
rnended the submission to the people OF propositions
70 enlarge the Erie Canal, but IT adopted
Yet the Governor accomplished his main purpose
He had been laborfng for two years 70 relieve the
taxpayers Of the State from the burdens Of direct
State A State tax Of only 1900 OF a mill is
virtually an abolition OF direct State taxation
That Will raise about S74SOe0. Only that con-
stituutonal requirement exists that would
have been imposed.
When NJ Odell in the fall Of 1860. after his cleo
ton Governor Of the State, began the study OF
the States affairs in mis- home a Newburg he
saw that the direct State taxation for the fiscal
year amounted 10 s107O4.15S SO. He resolved 10
duce that amount. and in his first annual message
the legislature he suggested additional indirect
taxation Of corporations consolidation Of
missions and cutting down OF the expenses OF the
State in various directions Indirect taxation laws.
taxing trust companies and savings banks. were
passed in 1901, and these Put into State Treas
lry s2.IO4IS2. Commissions also consolidate
Then the Governor kept down the appropriations
made by the legislature. The result of this policy
was a reduction OF the State rate, and only
s6 s24 SOC q needed to be raised by direct State
taxation IL the present fiscal year. In this fiscal
year there viii be the additional indirect income
increase
companies that the Governor in his annual
message estimated that the new revenues derived
from indirect taxation would probably make the
gross income for the current fiscal year from cor
porations banks and insurance companies Sc 600.
as compared with g. 2s6 Sc for the preceding
fiscal year" Coupled with this increased income
from the indirect taxes there has been reduction
II the State expenditures. The grand result is
that il has been needful TO impose direct State
tax only S74Se1G In the two years. therefore Of
81 zs-ar -a-a
taxation has shrunk from so7o4.153 SO 10 s74S,ooo
ACCOMPLISHED BY PERSONAL WORK
Only bv the most rigid economy was II made pos
stble 10 reduce OF the State taxation TO
s74saeO It was one Of the results Of Mr.. Odelrs
personal inspection, accompanied by the leading
Republican members OF the legislature last season
OF the States hospitals, charitable and penal in
stitutions. and by examination OF their financial
accounts followed up by constant work by the
Governor and the Republican chiefs OF the finance
committees Of the Senate and the Assembly in the
analysis OF appropriation acts. and, finally, by
Governor OdelIs critical examination and action
Upon appropriation bills. The Governor. before the
legislature in session, had all the departments
OF the State government make reports TO him
about their prospective needs Tor the coming year
These reports were drawn up under further re-
quests from the Governor TO make the demand for
appropriations a small possible. While the
legislature in session the Governor was in
constant communication with the chiefs Of the
State departments in relation TO their respective
appropriations After the legislature adjourned he
once more went over the appropriation acts, and
vetoed every item that he considered unnecessary.
Senator Frank ". Higgins, the chairman Of the
Senate Finance Committee. recently said regarding
the Governors work upon the appropriation acts:
never had more pleasure in my life than had
prlation acts. When We came appropriation
be did not say ~ hats the name of the Senator
or AssemblyTTian who pushes this?" or What in
Ierest is back Of it?. 6ut, Is it IN the public IN
time and il was profoundly satisfactory to work
with such al the head OF the State govern
ment.
Acting thus constantly with the thought Of a
business man reduce the States expenditures
the Governor. even after the legislature had ad-
jourred. eliminated several hundreds of thousands
OF dollars from the appropriation acts, thus reduc-
ing the grand total materially
Moreover, the Governor has brought about the
adoption OF legislation which he hopes will lead
SUI further decrease q the cost OF maintaining ing
last message to the legislature criticisms on the
the insane and Of the charita bic asyluns. He
serted n regard 70 the former that The impress
sion one gains on visiting our institutions for
insane is the duplication Of administrative and
executive powers so repugnant 10 sound business
judgment" He therefore recommended the aboli-
ton of the boards Of managers Of the State hos
pitals Tor the insane and me spostlton tor mem "a
Of visiting board and furtner the the tTaIsIer .: 70
Of the administration Of the business AFFAIRS OF the
RESISTANCE Of an earnest nature was made 10 the
bill tc carry this reform. but II was overcome
4aTdun APPENDED to the bill the Governor showed
that the STATE CoInInlsson ~ Llas az sI @ of main
tanning the inmates Of the State hospitals Tor te
~ Re salq that has een Effected in this matter
OF maintenance enough 10 justify absolute contTo
by the board that has accomplished these partial
since he signed the bil aboshing the boards Of
managers Of the State hospitals for the insan me
Governor has reappointed tWenty-seEtsh 1oiIdTr III
members Of these board as members OF tile rev
boards Of visitation and would haDe ] hu a. +b had
accepted his prorers Of appointments. Inc Gov
also has z1- ~
Ine oLase hospitaIs 10Y o tb M nsdntenauce Of the in
erH 4 +ba ~ons+-I,r-ion OF buildings from s175-
c0 the appropriation in 1901 10 s4050oo he mas
The bldings Of the State hospitals for the insane
shall be $50 an inmate. instead OF 500" as d. pres
FOR GOOD ROADS
In his annual message Governor Odell recon-
mended that the boards Of managers OF the state
Charitable institutions should be abolished ana the
and administration OF these institutions De
given 10 the State Board Of Charities Inc rnenl-
bers Of State Board Of Charities ald noo We t
come this and. after series OF conIer N %
ernor bili was passed authorizing the Governor
70 appoint fiscal supervisor OF The airalrs OF tie
rot YET been appointed viii have authority TO re-
yjsa Tl,e e.ts-a,yce ~ rho charitable institutions
either as TO quantity or quality Of the supplies they
need When the fiscal supervisor has revised a ana
permit the trustees of the institutions 10 max
drafts upon him for the purposes mennone1 IL 're
The Governor in his message declared that the
tinue6 during the year 1901 and this would render
necessary 10 continue aoeraI i aap9nr9priations in
certain directions he was thus opeI!y Mllrlis t5is
ers sPoq6 a6ee be n 4eeard ID to good roads led
nm 70 give his approval 10 an e liz So 6 in 1901
10 s7a5,O60 this year = ...,,,,,-n,ar
Plank that the estimation Of State 1IIrel
Bond viii the States contripution 20 Tses
provides FOR an annual tax in towns voting the
money system for the repair OF highways wa mount aT so