Senate bill number 1412, entitled "An act in relation to the widening and improvement of Livingston street in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York." Senate bill number 878, entitled "An act for the relief of the Beth Israel hospital association from taxes and water rents." Senate bill number 31, entitled "An act to exempt from taxation certain real estate leased to Saint John's Armenian Apostolic church, in the city of New York." Senate bill number, 1268, entitled "An act to provide for the payment of the claim of M. A. Diamond executrix of the estate of John Diamond deceased, for labor and material furnished in grammar school number seventy-six in the nineteenth ward of the city of New York." Senate bill number 1200 (Assembly reprint 2530), entitled "An act to lay out, establish, build and maintain a causeway, bridge or viaduct for use as a public street across the Jerome park reservoir, from Jerome avenue to Sedgwick avenue in the city of New York.' Senate bill number 1439, entitled "An act ratifying the laying out and construction of Pelham avenue, from Webster avenue to Southern boulevard in the borough of the Bronx in the city of New York, and authorizing persons assessed for said work to apply to the supreme court, first department, for relief from the assessment laid therefor." Senate bill number 1039, entitled "An act authorizing the board of estimate and apportionment of the city of New York to take proof of the claim of the Woodside Water company for compensation for water furnished to Long Island City, and to audit and allow such claim and to provide for the payment thereof." Senate bill number 1334, entitled "An act to provide for the taxation and payment of the fees and expenses of the commissioners of estimate and assessment heretofore appointed by the supreme court in the proceedings in the city of New York for the extension and opening of Manhattan street in said city.” The following bills were not returned by the mayors of the cities affected until after the constitutional time had elapsed and therefore could not be acted on by the Gov ernor: Assembly bill number 2345, entitled "An act authorizing an investigation as to the expediency and cost of establishing a municipal electric lighting plant in and for the city of Syracuse." Assembly bill number 2372, entitled "An act to provide for the construction of a new iron bridge over the Oswego canal at North Salina street in the city of Syracuse, and making an appropriation therefor." Assembly bill number 2508, entitled "An act to amend chapter 568 of the laws of 1895, entitled 'An act to incorporate the city of Johnstown,' relative to opening, altering, extending and laying out streets." 1902. JANUARY 1. LEGISLATURE, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTYFIFTH SESSION. BENJAMIN B. ODELL, Jr., Governor. ANNUAL MESSAGE. STATE OF NEW YORK: EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, January 1, 1902. TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.-In accordance with the requirements of the Constitution, I have the honor to submit the following message: FINANCIAL. The total debt of the State on September 30, 1901, was $10,075,660, divided as follows: Canal debt National Guard public defense debt..... $8,500,660 900,000 675,000 Of the above amount, $55,000 on account of the Adirondack Park is due on January 30, 1903, and $100,000 of public defense bonds on May 1, 1902, and $100,000 due on November 1, 1902, for the payment of which provision should be made by the present Legislature. There is carried in the sinking fund for the retirement of the canal debt $1,866,526.94, leaving unprovided for $6,633,473.06. The total amount received into the treasury during the past year, together with the balance from the previous year, was $37,834,497.43, against which there have been drawn warrants amounting to $28,045,146.27, leaving a net balance on September 30, 1901, the close of the fiscal year, of $9,789,351.16. The new revenues derived from indirect taxation will probably make the gross income for the current fiscal year from corporations, banks and insurance companies, $6,100,000, as compared with $2,981,286.66 for the preceding fiscal year. The total receipts from all sources of indirect taxation during the coming year are estimated at $15,111,418.13. The aggregate appropriations from 1893 down to 1901, both inclusive, were $195,399,357.82, or an average of $21,711,039.75 per annum. This period is taken because it marks the beginning of the State care of the insane, the appropriation for which in the year 1893 was $1,346,019.64, while in 1900 it reached $5,554,891.89, and for the current year $4,506,705.30. It is fair to assume therefore that the average annual expenditure, except with strict economy, cannot be brought below $22,000,000 per annum. Seeking new sources of revenue should not alone be our aim, but restriction of appropriations wherever possible without detriment to the State's interests, should receive as thoughtful consideration. A careful study of the expenditures of the past year, providing as they did for many extraordinary emergencies, leads to the belief that $20,000,000 will be ample for the coming year and will thus make possible the lowest direct tax in the history of our commonwealth. If these premises are correct, we should have the following exhibit: We shall have from indirect taxation...... $15,111,418 13 Leaving to be provided for..... Of the surplus over appropriations on hand October 1, amounting to $8,200,000, there could be used..... 4,888,581 87 4,200,000 00 The only direct taxation necessary therefore would be the 13-100 of a mill provided for by the Constitution for the Sinking Fund and interest on the Canal Debt, which would produce on the present equalized valuation of the State.... And would leave a surplus of...... in the Treasury, ample enough to avoid the necessity for loans in anticipation of tax receipts. To the accomplishment of this end therefore we should direct our attention. INSANE ASYLUMS. 739,299 81 4,000,000 00 Among our great items of expenditure is the maintenance of the charitable, insane and correctional institutions, and it was for the purpose of a proper presentation of this subject that they were inspected during the past summer. There is scarcely an inmate of any of these institutions without loving friends or relatives, whose interest in his well-being is as great as our own for those whom we hold dear and who are blessed with intelligence and health. Therefore in the consideration of this question due regard should be given and careful thought bestowed upon all features of administration which have for their object the proper medical and physical care of those whom we are called upon to protect. But this solicitude should not lead us to a profligate or wasteful policy. It is however unfortunately true that the wealth of our State has led us in the direction of undue extravagance. For the comfortable homes, such as existed in the earlier institutions, we have newly planned buildings covering much greater areas, costly in construction, and which so far as it is possible to discover accomplish no better results and but add to the burdens of the taxpayers. It may be stated here that the law now restricts the per capita cost for construction and furnishing to $550. While this is an improvement upon earlier conditions, yet it is I am convinced still too great and brings no other result than an increased expense for maintenance. Since my visit during the past summer, plans have been adopted for additions to the hospitals at Gowanda and Rochester on more conservative lines at a reduction in the per capita cost of nearly $100, which on the number of inmates to be taken care of in these buildings will effect a saving of nearly $150,000. The impression one gains on visiting our institutions for the insane is the duplication of administrative and executive powers so repugnant to sound business judgment. First is the Board of Managers with doubtful authority, then the Superintendent who is the executive officer over all. The State Commission in Lunacy has not the authority to remove or even correct a superintendent, a treasurer or a steward. The power therefore which they should have is lacking, and the Superintendent, protected by his Board of Managers, becomes an autocrat in the adminis tration of his duties. But one result can follow such a system - extravagantly managed institutions with constant demands for improvements not warranted nor justified. |