Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-07
COVERN0RHOL OLCOMB URGES ECONOMY
Makes Many Valuable Recommendations in His Inaugural Address-Defends New Haven Road-WouId Abolish Some and Merge Some Other Commssons-Wants Finances Placed Better Basis-Other Reforms Ad vocated

In his address before the general assembly,. following his taking of the cath of office, Governor Marcus il. Holcomb spoke as follows
 1Lr. President and Gentlemen Of the
 General Assembly:
 The Constitution of Connection provides that the Governor shall, iron time to time, give the General Assem- blv information Of the state of tn Government and recommend to thei- consideration Sucn measures as ne may deem expedieht. In compliance herewith I at this time briefly direct your attention to some conditions and measures, which should receive your confederation, and defer suggestions regarding other matters until may ;tnd it advisable to specifically call your attention to them.
 In this State. to Q greater degree thar ill some others, the responsibility fer 1eEiHlctiou rests win the General Assembly, the power os the Governor being practically limited to recom- Incacattons, as his veto ok any act or your1 can be overrUled by your ma jority vote l shall nos attempt 60 usJ-p your perogatives or assume your responsibilities.
 -hg New York New Haven & Hart ford Railroad CO, our principal pub lie service corporation, has in the past provided efficient and economical ser vice 10 our people and industries, and has until within q recent period, an nually contributed in taxes a very substantial rart of the revenues re- quired to defray the expenses of our State government. By reason of ex- ist!ng conditions in it's affairs, in part at least created by actions brought against it by our federal government, the financial strength Of this cQrpora- ton has materially lesseped, resulting in a yearly loss to the State of some gg0U0 in taxes and 8 prospective decrease in efficiency and increase ill expense Oi service. It Is apparent that it's mana gers are making com mendablc efforts to solve the difficult problems Wh,ch confront them. in t-.Uilug these which with increasing seriousness confront all public ser wee spoTtatjOn companies through out the United states.
 The securities of this corporation are quite largely owned and held by women anu children, in trust funds, and ry our Insurance companies, who purchased them as a safe, conserVa- tive investment. The interests of these holders deserve your careful consideration and ample protection. The ante election indictment, as criminals, of certain former directors of that corporation was a surprise and shock to DCst of our citizers and jus tilted and merted the criticism passed thereon by my predecessor, Governor FGIdwin.s
 We have considered such men as Colonel Frank W. Cheney, John H. Whittemores !. deEer Warner, Lev erett RraiDard. George J. Brush. Charles F. BrooGer. James $. Elton,- and others l miSht name, as benefaC- tors of the State. whose efforts have abolished and developed industries, which give employment to a large number of OUT citizens and have in no srlau degree contributed to give this State it's proud industrial prominence. The people of Connecticut do not be- feve that these men belong to the criminal class or that they hould have been indicted as criminal for the req sons alleged in the indictments.
 Education.
 The Connecticut plan of compulsory education of our children in our pub lie schools, unless receiving equal instruction elsewhere is necessary to the welfare of the State. The success and perpetuity Of our experiment in lf-government depend upon the ed ucation of the children, and our pub lie schools have been made more efficient by the employment of teach CTS who have been prepared in our Normal Schools, but in view of the present condition of the finances, these normal schools should not be in- be greater necessity for them than now exists
 Tuberculosis.
 The measures which have been adopted to eliminate or minimize the wide devastation caused by tuberculo- sis should be continued. 4 failure to adopt the most effective means to this end would not be economy or human iCy, but III this connection I call your attention to the recommendation of Governor Baldwin in his message of 1913 that the duties of the board be
 
 who shall he ex ofTicio q member of the State Board of Health. This de- serves your serious consideration and has my approval.
 Charitable and Penal Institutions.
 I shall not attempt at this time to cal your attention n detail to the needs of our hosOitals and other char i-pbls and penal institutions and of ths otkoE agencies which have been established to meet the necessities Of tle Ceccle Of tho Stats. These must he maintained in such manner GS to efficiently meet the purposes for which thSE have beer established, but they sacuG be conducted upon tho same economical business principles which gre adopted in well conductive HriV2te corporations, and in this connection : call %ou. attention Co the wisdom of appointing 9. State purveyor to pur- ch5Se supplies for the institutions which are supported by the State.
 Governor Woodruff recommended this in 1907. and the recommendation was renewed by Governor Baldwin in 1911 and 1913, and. inasmuch as it was ndopteG aes a -nk in the platforms of both the Republican and Democratic parties preliminary to the election of lG5t November, : assume that it will receive your approval and favora ble action.
 recommend that the establishment oR additional hospitals and armpries be postponed until the State finances arc in 2 more satisfactory condition,