New-York tribune., 1905-01-05
THE GorERN0R'S MESSlGL

The iirst annual message of Governor Hig-
gins reveals an intimate knowledge of the busi-
ness affairs of the State and careful considera-
iion al plans 10 enforce economy while making
provision for due progress in the war; of ad-
min.slration Il brings sharply to attention the
financial problem OF the State, which has been
much complicated by recent court decisions cut
ting OF S9me accustomed revenues and eStab-
fishing new. rules for the assessment Of certain
corr, rate properties The Shrinkage in income
froia these ana oIllcr causes may reach 81, 100
0t1, and il is important that no money should
be wasted hut equally important that al pub
lie works and institutions should be adequately
sustained. To accomplish this Governor Hiig
gins recommends that the appropriations for
the ensuing year shall not exceed 1000, ,0iO
and that they bc made so far possible in a
single act. This is good idea. The practice
OF separate appropriations for different objects
results in loss of just sense of proportion
apd waste Of money in some directions at the
expense of objects much more important. \
single appropriation bI drafted with the idea
of apportioning 20 the hest advantage the money
which the State has 10 spend, Is the best pos
sible substitute for a scientific budget
As had been expected. the Governor recon-
mends the repeal of the tax the surplus
Of savings banks, which has proved in operation
to be a tax on the depOsitOrs. Another i'm
portant proposal already fOreshadowed is the
restoration of boards of managers for the State
hospitals. Governor Higgins approves the es-
sential feature of the present plan of centraliZa
tioE. which is financial control but believes
that the detailed administIa alton of the bOspi-
tails should be more in the hands Of local bodies
He suggests the enlargement of the hospitals
TO meet the neede of patients and greater dill
gence 10 save the State from the expense OF
caring for patients whose families are able 80
support them. He also wishes provision made
for the adult blinG. a class of dependents hither
TO neglected by the State. Attention is given
TO election frauds and the need of safeguards
for the Identification of naturalized citizens and
the important suggestion is made that in cities
of the third class the right TO vote at special
tax elections be restricted TO taxpayers, re-
gardless of sex, thus protecting property hold
ers, both men and women against waste at
the hands of those who bear no burden.
Speaking of the canal improvement, the Gov
ernOr justly dwells upon the neglect of New
York by the federal government New-YOrk
mas done more TO develop the Northwest by eX-
penditures for navigation than any other State
but while enormous sums are spent by the
United States on waterways elsewhere New
York receives almost nothing MIR. Higgins
asks the legislature to memorabilia Congress
TO contribute TO the improvement Of the natu-
raj water courses OF this State in connection
with the canal enlargement He also wisely
calls for better care for the maintenance of
State roads, says that with respect TO future
work the contractors should be forced to keep
roads in repair for five years, and that the State
should exercise supervision TO see that the To-
calities do their duty of keeping in order other
roads on which the State has spent money.
The Governors treatment of Civil Service
questions is progressive and must crafty all
advocates of the extension of the merit system.
The law gives the Civil Service Commission
discretion 10 classify the service in the coun-
ties, but this has been done only in the coun-
ties comprising greater New York and in Erie
The Governor speaks of several large counties
TO which the system should be extended. and.
while there are difficulties in applying it In
smaller counties, he believes in selecting civil
servants by competition wherever possible.
Space does not permit detailed review of
the topics discussed in the message, but the
text will well repay the study of every citizen.
1t is conservative document, which brings
forward 10 startling schemes but is full of
careful and sensible recommendations calcu-
lated so meet definite present needs OF the
State