The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-01-11
GOVERNORS
MESSAGE
Gives His Views on State
Affairs IN General With
Special Features,
HE RECOMMENDS MANY ACTS

Audi nSoodSS " tue ISslSIdJur0 Gov
ernor 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 feye-
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 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
ing the fiscal year ending Oct. 81,
1910, are estimated by the comptroller
as follows:
10 meet the appropriations made by
the legislature of 1909 for the fiscal
year ending Oct 81, 1910, as shown in
chapter 272, laws of 1909, $4,245,-
017.32. The summary of estimated re-
ceipts and disbursements for fiscal
year ending Oct. 81, 1910, is as fol-
lows:
Total estimate of receipts. Sc, ,116, ,223 81
Total estimate of disbursements 4,245, ,O17 81
Leaving an estimated free bal
ance Oct. 81, 1870 of 81, 81, ,2O6 Is
OF course from this free balance. will
have to be 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,O00 the state will have free bal
ance on Oct. 81, 1910. Of over 81 ,OO0,-
600. The actual cash balance should
never be less than this u 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 nc
right to the enforced service Of its
citizens without at least a partial rec,
ompense therefor
The board of each institution should
be required to meet at least monthly
| The president should visit the institu
| ton at least weekly. 1 recommend
that each Of the boards OF the several
institutions Of the state be reorgan
lied 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
~ meeting and that 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 for
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 a
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 eXpendi-
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.
Penal Institution Suggestions.
I recommend the enactment of law
authorizing the board of inspectors, on
the recommendation of the keeper of
the state prison, with the approval of
the governor to transfer from the
state prison to the Railway refOrma-
tory such inmates of the state prison
as are first offenders and who are
under the age Of twenty years, as they
may deem it to be of advantage to the
inmate to 60 transfer.
/ also recommend that the law in
creasing the age Of girls who may be
sent to the State Home For Girls from
seventeen to nineteen years be repeal
I'd and the maximum age be again
placed at seventeen. 1t is shown by ex-
perience that girls over seventeen
years of age should not be sent to the
home. II woman's reformatory be
created they can be sent there. Girls
under seventeen years of age in the
state prison III any such there be),
should also be transferred to the state
Home For Girls in the same manner
as here recommended as to transfer
Of boys to the reformatory.
At present the law permits the send
ing Of persons to the state prison for
any period not less than six months.
This is wrong and should be changed.