Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-01-11
GOV. FORT IN
HIS MESSAGE
FOR REFORMS
Urges Establishment of Pub
lie Utilities Commission
Revision of Liquor Laws.
WOULD STRENGTHEN THE
DIRECT PRIMARY LAW
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

blttkOt tttWHtit Enss
Special to the EVENING NEWS.
Trenton, Jan. 11:-In his second
annual message to the legislature
which convened today, Governor
John Franklin Fort said:
Financial Condition.
The general conditions in the state
are, on every hand, satisfactory and
the people contented and prosperous.
At the last session of the legislature
the financial condition of the state
gave much concern, but the legislation
enacted and the economies practiced at
that session have proved beneficial.
The free balance on the 31st Of Oc-
tober last was 1864 ,353.51. The reve-
nues coming into the treasury of our
| state are largely received at fixed pc
riods, and in the interim between
these periods it is necessary that the
treasury should be in condition to meet
! all demands.
The fact that there was a free bal
ance in the treasury at the end of the
last fiscal year should not be held to
Justify the legislature at this session in
indulging in large expenditure in any
direction
Reasonable appropriations for the
state institutions and for few addi-
tional buildings should be made, but
aside from these there is no demand
for any extraordinary expenditure.
The total of actual and estimated re-
sources for the year 1910 is $6,116,-
223.51.
The disbursements to be made dur
1910, are estimated by the comptroller
as follows:
To meet the appropriations made by
the legislature of 1909 for the fiscal
year ending Oct. 81. 1910, as shown IN
chapter 2T2, laws of 1909, S4,245,-
017.32. The summary of estimated re-
ceipts and disbursements for fiscal
year ending Oct. 81, 1910, is us fol-
lows:
Total estimate of receipts. ..... Sc 49, 229 81
Total estimate of disbursements 4,245,017 81
! Leaving an estimated free bal
! ance Oct 81 1870 of............ 81. 81, 2o6 19
! OF course from this free balance will
have to he paid all the appropriations
which the present legislature shall
make in the supplemental appropria-
ton bill. If the supplemental appro-
! priations shall not exceed in the total
$800,000 the state Will have a free bal
ance on Oct. 81, 1910, of over 1,000,-
600. The actual cash balance should
never be less than this to insure safe
ty against all contingencies.
State Institutions.
Generally speaking, the penal and
charitable institutions of our state are
well managed and maintained at a
high order Of excellence. 1t needs to
be remembered that the managers of
all these institutions, except the in
spectors of the state prison, are serv-
| ing without compensation.
In this system of voluntary service
! do not believe. The state has no
right to the enforced service Of its
citizens without at least partial rec
Ompense therefor.
! The board of each institution should
| be required to meet at least monthly.
| The president should visit the instttu-
| tion at least weekly. | recommend
| that each of the boards of the several
| institutions of the state be reorgan-
ized and fixed at not exceeding six
members, that regular meetings OF
| the board be required to be held
monthly and that all laws now pro-
viding for the payment of the ex-
| penses of the managers be repealed
and definite sum. say SIS, be paid to
each member for each regular month
ly meeting and that a like sum be paid
| for special meetings called by the
president Of the board in case OF ne
cessity, not, however. to exceed three
for any one year; that the members of
| the boards be hereafter appointed Tor
| terms of six years, the first appoint
ment being for one, two. three, four,
five and six years respectively, and
thereafter to fill vacancies or for
| full term of six years. This would
| limit the possible expenses of the man
ayers of each institution to 81 400 and
would be the wisest possible expendf-
ture of such sum. This reduction
of the boards would insure quorum
at every meeting, which frequently Is
not now obtained, and would con-
centrate responsibility.
Continued on page %