The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-04
Gov. BALDWIN'S
MESSAGE


The recent census of the Unitet
States shows that Connecticut has |;
population of over eleven, hundred
thousand
600 and by that of 1890 but little
over 100000 Our growth i'll numbers
during the first decade of the TWEEN
tieth century has therefore been owe
100000 which is substantially The
same us our growth during the frs
six decades of the nineteenth
Public Economy.
Seventy years ago, in the Inaugural
speech of Governor Ellsworth. he oh
served. and with much reason. tina
the people of this state resembled 'al
Industrious. economical and well regu
lated family. presenting a republic
which secures more good and avoids
more evil than any other political.
community of ancient or modern
times" Since he uttered these words
though our numbers have nearly
Quadrupled and our population has be
come far less homogeneous. our frame
Of government has proved equal tc
the strain thus put upon it. Another
fact which lie proceeded to mention
however. is worth our particular no
tice. 1t is that the state was when he
spoke not only out of debt, but pos
sessed Obesides the school fund of over
f2,O00,0oO) an invested capital the liz
terest on which met a third of the an
nual expenses of the commonwealth.
Since that time our invested capital
outside of the school fund has been
used up. the stale has contracted "a
debt of over S:,.fpD00O and our annual
expenses apart from the payments
from the Ss'hool fund have risen from
$S000u to s$.,,.110.0b0. In other words,
our pol,ula ton has grown fourfold
and our, current expenses have grown
not fourfold which would be only to
$320OO0. but to nearly twelve times
fourfold.
The Connecticut of today is no doubt
a commonwealth of far more diverSi-
fed activities and far more accumu-
lated wealth than the Connecticut of
Governor iliisworth's time. 1t does
far more aud ought TO do far more for
the generni welfare aud uplift of its
people. Hut whatever is thus done
must le ti0ne with due economy as
well as efficiency. and | am satisfied
that our si,eupie are of opinion that due
economy has not always been secured.
1t Is our part tn see that during the
Il will.
Our annual expenditures in 1891
were less than .S1.3OOO0O. From 1896
to 1907 they outran $2,OO0,OOO during
the last four wears they have outrun
100000 aud steadily increased at
the rate of about $500. 600 IA year
These figures do not include pay
ments ON contracts for the construc-
ton of state roads. though in my judg-
ment these. should be added to ascer-
tain What 1T is costing us to support
our government. since such construc-
ton work does not create permanent
asset. but something that needs fire.
quent renewal.
Nor do thes, include anything laid
out in lands, buildings or other per-
manent improvements. The invest
ments of the state of that nature, ac-
cordjng to the table prepared at my
request ny the comptroller. have in
creased from about $500. 900 in 1890 to
over two millions and half in 1910.
Among tho larger items of ordinary
expenditures during the last twenty.
years which nave reached a point
where some reductions seem quite
possible max he mentioned humane
Institutions. agricultural affairs. the
Connecticut national guard. printing,
tllr state board of education the fish
and game commission. the factory in
rpector bridges and ferries and state
roads.
For current expenses of those of our
humane institutions. classified by the
comptroller under that head. we now
lay out more thau four times as much
az we did N 1S.m anu nearly double
As much - Se did in 1900. For other
humane inst..utons. classified by him
separately. We laid out last year over
$5115.HU. most of Which went for cur
rent EXPENSES
State Furxeyor.
1t seems to me that there j. IA lack
OF proper unity or co-ortlina ton in the
general niotie-of mama ging of oursstate
charities isIio which we have fallen.
They are under the charge of a num-
Der of distinct boards eaclf with a
separate aftice and office force, each
making r.irt hHSes on its own account.
ans each proceeding on its own lines
The state BOARD of charities has a
very limited jurisdiction. and there is
10 state official having general power
20 puicha Sc such supplies az our public
Institutions. whether charitable or
penal. Ilay require i'll the best market
Or on adv eitised proposals.
1t seems 10 me that such an Office.
charged With The duty of making all
large purchases of such supplies.
should be treated in the interest of
economy. concur therefore in the
recommendations Of Governor Wood
ruff. made "a 1907. that a purchasing
agent. or. as he might BE- called, state
9urveyor. should be appointed to serve
1nder the direction Of the comptroller.
lnersass of SaIaried Officers.
The genera practice OF the state has
been to confiie The care of each of our
public charitable or penal institutions
20 commission or board whose mem