Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1891 — GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of RepresentativesAs directed by the Constitution, it is my duty to give you such information as I may deem necessary in regard to the condition of the State,and to recommend such measures of legislation as 1 may judge expedient.' THE ELECTION *—- The act concerning elections, passed at the last session, in my opinion, contains some valuable provisions, and some that are very objectionable. In approving that law I used the following language: 1 “Approved because it may tend to purify our elections, but lam afraid it will be found in practice, intricate, obscure and expensive. Without the enactment of a registration law, as demanded by our Constitution, our elections will remain open to corruption and fraud,” I did not, at that time, consider the ques tion as to the constitutionality of any of its provisions. . Ithak oeen seriously doubted by the Governors of New York and New Jersey whether confining the elector to the “public ballot,” and to nominations made by political parties, before the elction, is constitutional, The right to vote for any man for any office in this State, whether the person voted for was nomiated or not, has never been controverted from the organization of the State in 1816 until tho pass ago of the present election law, which makes the right to vote subservient to a Drior selection or election by conventions that nominate all the candidates. The conventions must first elect or nominate the candidates, and then the elector may be permitted to vote, if he votes at all, for such candidates as have been nominated * and no one else. This robs the elector of his constitutional right, and is neither Democratic nor Republican in principle, and might lead to very grave consequences. Whether the objection to the “public ballot” is well taken or not. it will ■ not be difficult to obviate it by amending the law and making the ballot free as always has been. If possible, our elections should be made less expensive. The cost of the last is enormous, not falling short of $300,000. The assessment of candidates for office by political committees, which has prevailed in many States for the last twenty years, is infamous, and it is generally believed that a large portion of the money contributed is not used for legitimate pur poses. Where such practices are resorted to, few except the wealthy have any chance of nominations to,ofllce, as those who are unwilling or unable to pay would seldom be selected by those who attend conventions. You cannot lay your hands too heavily on such offenders, aud I recommend that such practices be made criminal. The crime of bribery aud of ballot corruption became so great in the State of New York that on tho 4th of April, 1890, the Geueral Assembly of that State passed a law making bribery an infamous crime, and also provided -ttiftt ‘‘eatery candidate who is voted for at any public election hold within this State, shall within ten days after such election, file an itemized statement showing in detail all the money contributed or expended by him, directly or indirectly by himself or through any other person, in aid of his election. Such statement shall give the names of tho various persons who received such moneys, the specific nature of each item, and the purpose for which it was expended orcontributed.” Such statement must bo sworn to and tho affidavit must show “that tho statement thus made is in all respects true, and that the same is a full aud detailed statement of all moneys so contributed or ex*. S ended by him, directly or indirectly, by irnself or through any other person, in aid of his election.” A failureio file such statement subjects tho offender to punishment of fine, imprisonment, disfranchisement for five years, and a forfeiture of office. In our last election a great many huns dreds of tickets were thrown out, and not counted, on account of imperfect stamping by the electors. In Connecticut, the tickets are not stamped, but enclosed in a stamped envelope, with the election clerk’s initials marked upon them. It is submitted,Whether this would not bo an improve-ment-on our system, and whether the cost of our elections under the present law can not bo greatly decreased. FEES AND SALAIUES. There is a great dissatisfaction by all parties and all classes in the State in Regard to our laws relating to fees and salaries. Some of our county officers aro paid 100 much, and some of our superior officers ire paid too little, it looks strange to see some of our clerks, sheriffs, auditors, and prosecuting attorneys, receiving from $5,000 to $30,900 a year, and the judges of our Circuit Courts, $3,500, and the judges of the Supreme Court only $5,000 per annum. If all salaries now paid to the several State officers could be added to tho legal fees collected by the State and county officers, the amount would make a fund that would liberally pay every officer in the State, and in my opinion, leave at least SIOO,OOO to be paid into the treasury of the State. With salaries attached to all our offices, and "the fees paid Into the treasury, there would be no inducement to collect “constructive fees,” or more plainly speaking, there would be no inducement to carryout the wholesale extortion now practiced in some counties in the State. I earnestly recommend that all fee bills of officers, and all accounts against decedent's estates shall bo required to bo itemized and sworn to before they are allowed by the courts. This reform is needed now. To allow the present office-holders to exact those exorbitant fees until their successors are sleeted is but to continue this unjust bur. den upon tho people. The law is plain. All officers take thoir offices with the burdens, subject to be changed by the Legislature,’ except those whoso salaries cau not be chanced during their terms, as provided in our Constitution. Any other view of the feo aud salary law is a deception and a sham. It will never be changed if we depend upon a sliding scale to meet the future, two and four years hence.

THE VQHLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. The World's Columbian Exposition, or World’s Fair, the buildings for which will be dedicated at Chicago, 111., in Octobor, 18'92, will probably excel any exhibition of a similar character to bo found in the pages of history, Great preparations are being made by the sevexml States of the Union and foreign Nations, to exhibit their products and livestock to the best advantage. To make a respectable representation of the wealth and resources of our State will require an outlay of a considerable amount of money. The legislatures of several States are proposing to appropriate from one hundred thousand to one half a million dollars for the erection of buildings and collection of exhibits. Indiana, in her great wealth in mines, minerals, man-ufaes levies, agriculture and live stock, should not lag behind her sister States in presenting her wonderful resources. I shall recommend no particular amount that you should appropriate, but leave that to your better judgments, knowing that your great interost in the honor, pride and advancement of our State will guide you tithe proper conclusion. TUE GETTYSBLUO BATTLEFIELD ASSOCIATION. All the loyal States, whose troops were engaged in the battle of Gettysburg, have erected rnmni merits to mark the position of their troops in tho battle, and have, with the exception of Indiana, purchased the grounds Upon which they are erected. The monuments for the soldiers of Indiana are placed upon grounds purchased bv other Stat s. The Gettysburg Battlefield Association, through Col. John M. Vanderslice, requests an appropriation of $4,000 or 5,000 to pay for the ground upon which said monuments are erected, whore many of our heroic soldiers fought and fell in ,defense of the Union. Money would not

bo spent in vain if every Held of battle, where our armies were victorious, could be set. apart with monuments as object lessons of loyalty for future generations, STATS FBI SON NORTH. The Directors’ report of the Northern Prison, for the year ending October 31, 1890, shows a daily average of 751 prisoners, and the total receipts and earnings for the year $118,315.13. The new improvements made during the year amount to $18,465.44. These improvements may have been needed and beneficial, but the most of them have been made by order of the of the prison. No appropriations have ever been made by law for Lheir construction, and the money has been ex* pended without the shadow of legal authority, and in direct conflict with section 6141, R. S. 1881, which provides: “All moneys due the'lnstitution shall be paid to the Warden, who shall pay over the same to the Treasurer of State, at the dose of each quarter of the year; and such moneys shall be certified into tho treasury as other moneys are. A full and detailed statement of all such moneys received and paid over to the Treasurer of State shall be made out by the Warden at the close of each quarter of the year, and deposited with the Auditor of State. All accounts for claims against the penitentiary, for salaries, provisions, clothing, medicines, repairs, buildings, fuel, etc., shall be drawn on the order of the Wars den, countersigned by at least one of tho Directors, and presented to the Auditor of State, who shall examine and adjust the same; and, if found correct, shall issue his warrant, payable at the Slate Treasury, for the sum which shall be found due, specifying in each bill the date of its issue, the name of the person to .whom payable and the appropriation from which it is to be paid.” The Warden’s report shows there was a balauceqf cash in his hands November, 1883, of $32,667.52; and on the 31st of October, 1890. of $17,916.63. By what authority could the Warden hold cash balances in his hands which should have been promptly paid at the end of each quarter to the Treasurer of State. The reports of the Directors aud Warden clearly show that they have been wholly disregarding the law in the management of the financial affairs of the prison. On the 13th of July, 1889, I called tho attention of the Warden by letter and requested that his accounts should comply with the law. I have been more particular on this point from the fact that the State has been in litigation with a former Warden of the Southern Prison on a large alleged defalcation, which took place in 1887. He kept his accounts in the same way that the accounts have been kept by the Northern Prison. Under Section 6141, not one dollar of the earnings of tno prison should bo spent by tho Warden. Every cent collected by him on the labor of tho prison should be paid into tho hands of the Treasurer of State. The expenses of the prison should be paid out of the moneys appropriated by the Legislature, and from no other source. The Warden has no legal right to look to, or use, any other fund, and should confine himself within that limit. In the report of the Board of State Charities, the Committee on Prisons and Reformatory Institutions, page 89, says: “The most serious criticism on the managcment.of tho Northern Prison arises out of whafcis known as the slopcontract. For many years past, long before the present Warden was appointed, it has been the custom to increase the Warden’s compensation (which was justly considered to be insufficient) by giving to him, or selling to him at a nominal price, the slop or waste food. What the value of this may be is unknown; probably the popular estimate, which places it at several thousand dollars annually, is very much exaggerated. The Warden, who has been asked by this Board to estimate its value, declares himself unable to do so. But whether the value be much or little, the plan of giving any officer a perquisite is a very injudicious one, and this particular perquisite is especially so.” * * * “The prisoners are all aware of the slop contract. They greatly over-estimate its value, and they imagine that their diet is chosen by the Warden so as to increase his profits, by giving them food which will be largely wasted. That is to say, they believe they are defrauded in that which comes closer to them than anything else for the benefit of tbe-Warden. This effect on the minds of the prisoners is the chief evil of the slop con tract, an evil compared with which the trifling money loss to the State is not to be compared. This Board would recom mend, as lias been said in a previous part of this report, that the salaries of the principal officers of our prisons be increased, and that perquisites of any and every kind be absolutely forbidden. ” It will be seen that besides tho impolicy of making such a contract with the Warden, it is emphatically forbidden. Our statutes which provide that “No contract shall be made wherein any of the Directors or officers of the Institution are interested.” By section 6140, R. S. 1881. . 1 take pleasure iu saying that tho Board of State Charities were greatly pleased with the management of the prison and its inmates, and I have ho doubt, in that regard, the officers are deserving of the highest commendation for the manner in which it is conducted. This, however, should not give them a license to overlook and disregard tbe law, and take upon themselves the full management of the institution as though it really belonged to them. In view of the facts, and the history of State prisons in this State, I recommend that an act be passed making it a misdemeanor, with penalties, for the officers of any of our State institu tions to make contracts with each other relating to the property or business of such institutions, and also making it a misdemeanor for any officer who has the finan ctal control or management of any institution to fail in making out his accounts according to law. Some provisions of this kind are imperatively demanded, as there aro no penalties prescribed by the statute, and as no legal proceedings could reach such evils without great delay and expense to the State. prison south. 1 wfiote to the Warden of the State Prison South, at the same time I wroto to the Warden of the State Prison North. Captain Patten, the Warden of the Prison South, since that time, has fully complied with the law in regard to the earnings of that prison, paid the same to the 'Treasurer of State, and has drawn all payments by warrants of the Auditor from the funds appropriated by law for -that institution. There is no financial safety in transacting the business of the prisons in any other manner. About $1,200 per annum have been saved by the present Warden from the slops of the Prison South. The salaries of the Wardens are not commensurate with their duties, responsibilities and labors and they should receive at.least $2,500 per annum. BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES. The Board of State Charities was organ ized under the act of February 28, 1889, and a non-partisan board, consisting of John Elder, Elijah B. Martinda'le, Mrs. C. W. Fairbanks, Oscar C. McCulloch, Timothy Nicholson and Mrs. Margaret F. Peelle. were duly appointed as members of said Board, and on tho Ist of March, 1889, Alexander Johnsou was appointed Secretary of the same. TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES. The almost unlimited power of Tpwnship Trustees, under section 6006, R. S, 1881, in making contracts should bo curtailed. This section gives the Trustees the right to make contracts to the amount of all cash on hand, aud to anticipate all taxes assessed against bis townsnip, Tor the year in which the ‘debt is contracted. I recommend that said section be amended, so that all contracts, whose aggregate amount shall be In excess of one hundred dollars, shall, not be made by a Trustee until he procures an order from tbe Board of Com-

missioners of the county in which such township ia situated, authorising him to make such contract. , COMMON SCHOOLS. The cost of common school books has been greatly reduoed, in consequence of the contract made by the State, under the act of March 2,1889. > Our common schools are now open to all classes, and only need that the text-books used should he made free to all pupils, as recommended in my message to the last General Assembly. 1 recommend that an set be passed, to place in tbe hands of every pup 1, rich or poor, free of all costs, the text-books necessary for use iu our common schools. It is a mockery to say that our schools are free, as long as our pupils are compelled to pay for any part of a common sohool education. APPORTIONMENT. In compliance with the act of Congress, Indiana will be entitled to elect thirteen members of the House of Representatives of the United States, and districts will have to be established, in which such Representatives are to be elected. Tbe State should also be districted, and the counties designated, in which elections will be holden, to elect State Senators aud Representatives. Our government was established upon the fundamental principle that a majority should rule, and 1 trust such an apportionment may be made, that this great consti rational right may be ful y and fairly suslained. —• ' -—-— ~—■ RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, There is a great necessity for the enactment of a law providing for the establishment of a Board ot Railroad Commissioners for the State, who may have the general supervision of all railroads operated in the State, with power to inquire into all questions of neglect or violation of tho law by said roads, with reference to business and public safety. Such commissioners should also be authorized to make all necessary investigations, to ascertain the. amount of business done by said roads, and their value for taxation. Many of the States of the Union have enacted laws on this subject, with most beneficial results, and I commend the same to your careful consideration.

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. There is nothing, more imperatively needed in this State than good, passable roads and highways. For months, in many counties, our roads are absolutely impassable with loaded teams. This not only affects tho farmer, but every town and city in this State. It depreciates the value of lands, and causes the farmer, his hands and his teams to remain idle for mauy weeks in the year, and oftentimes deprives him of the best markets for his produce. Our Legislators have been fully aware of the importance of this subject, and have made many efforts to remedy the evil, but so far with no great success. The labor which may be called out annually, and the amount of money paid for road taxes by the' several counties, would keep our highways in a far better condition, if that labor and tax were intelligently used and expended. That the labor is not called out as it should be, and that our roads are worked by men who do not understand such labor, can not be denied. For the year ending October 31, 1890, a road tax of $1,023,111.78 was collected and used in the. respective counties of tho State. Besides this large amount, there were 364,317 persons who were liable to work on the roads from two to four days in each year. Estimating that each performed ttiree days’ labor, worth $1.25 per day, and tbe value of their labor would amount to $1,366,158; cash collected on assessment,sl,o23,lll.7B, t0ta1,53,388,369.78. This, on an average, would allow an expenditure of money and labor of nearly $36,000 in each county in the State. Can any of you, gentlemen, assure me that one-half of that sum has been fairly expended in your counties on roads? It seems to me that some system should be adopted through which this large amount of money and labor could be made of some practical good to tbe people of the State. Would it not be advisable to establish a Board of Bridges and Highways, and have intelligent civil engineers appointed for every county in the State to take charge of our highways and bridges! If such board and engineers should cost the State $309,000 a year, they would still have over $3,000*000, which could surely be used to greater advantage to the State than by the present inefficient system controlled by Road Supervisors. Where the topography of the county will permit, gravel or Me Adamized roads,prac= tieally near the center, running north and south and east end west to the most commercial points, would become channels through which the produce of the country ctuld easily be carried to market, at ail seasons of the year and in all kinds of weather. Where there is a sufficient incline on tho road bed to carry off water, tiling has been used to groat advantage... SOLDIERS’ AND SAILORS’ MONUMENT. Owing to reasons which are fully explained by the contractor for the super structure of the State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ '-Mouumeut, In the Annual Re* port of the Board of Commissioners, he has been unable to complete uis work upon that structure the past year, and announces that it will require until the first day of next August to do so. Nothing is lost, however, from this cause, as the decorations for this great work of art require time for their conception and treatment, if they are expected to possess that merit which will give fame to Indiana as possessing tho finest monument in

America. It also insures greater perfection in tbe materials and mechanical work, as can readily be sein by comparing it, as far as it hae progressed, with structures of like character that have been hastened to completion without due regard to these necessary requirements in securing beautv aud permanency. The Commissioners wisely determined to adhere to the dimensions of the original design, thu9 insuring a monument of such impressive grandeur that it will become a great attraction, and aid in bringing the most enlightened aud cultured people of other lands to our State either as tourists or for : residence ; arid from the first they have diligently sought for the best materials and workmanship rather than attempting to complete the structure with the fund originally placed ir. their hands, by the employment of that which is inferior, because of its seeming cheapness. In doing this they have relied upon the intelligence, patriotism and liberality of tho people to sustain them iu making the monument really great, and they ought not to be disappointed. The artistic and inventive world has had its attention drawn to this work in an unusua 1 degree, and if it Is completed according to the plans of tho Commissioners it will mark a new era in the development of our State, and be a source of pride to every citizen’ The present appropriation will complete tbe shaft arid the terrace at the base, and in that condition it will surpass all other monuments In this country: but the foun* tains and cascades, the great groups of “War” and “Peace,” and other statuary below ought to be added now, and I trust there will be no hesitancy in furnishing the necessary money. It would be an unwise economy to withhold it. A further sum is also required for a new pedestal on which to fittingly place the statue of the late GovernorO. P. Morton. The members of the Board and the Secretary have visited tho several Insane Asylums, State Prisons North and South, Benevolent Institutions, Poor Asslums, Orphans’ Homos, Jails and Reformatory Institutions in the State. The small amount of the appropriation of spur thousand dollars per annum h*« been economically used, resulting, in my opinion, in great good to the State. Tfce disinterested services of the Board should receive the highest commendation. Th«y have labored earnestly, honestly t»d rolik fully, without tea or rewar J, and

deserve the thanks of ths good people of the State. i SUPREME COUNT. My views have not changed in regard to the Judiciary since my message in 1889. I then said: “ Our Constitution provides that “justice shall te administered freely and without purchase; completely and without denial; speedily and without delay.’ Under existing laws, tuis high-sounding provision is an empty boast. Many cases are now pending in the Supreme Court which were filed more than five years ago, and it is to be feared that some have been appealed to that Court for the sole purpose of delay. This delay arises from no fault of the Judges of the Court, butfrom their inability to fully investigate the numerous cases which are brought before them. Ido not believe that the multiplication of Judges in the Supreme Court would tend to the furtherance of justice. No case should be passed unon without the full consideras tion of every judge upon the bench. This would be impossible if the number of Judges should be greatly increased.” While the increase of the members would increase the number of written opinions by the Court, the consultation by many Justices would delay final judgments, and probably result in fewer decisions. Besides, dissenting opinions, which always tend to weaken the authority of a decided case, would be far more frequent. My opinion still is, that the establishment of intermediate Appellate Courts, with exclusive jurisdiction, within certain limits, with five J ustices. one for each of the five Supreme Judicial Districts, would solessen tne docket of the Supreme Court, that it could keep up with all the eases that might be appealed. Thelse Justices might itinerate, and meet at stated periods, in the respective districts. I do not believe that twenty Judges, in one Court, could perform the same labor, aud leave satisfactory results. STATE INSTITUTIONS. —Our benevolent, reformatory and charitable institutions, and Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans’ Home, will expect the usual appropriations for their support and maintenance. The unfortunate affair that resulted iu the death of Henry Blcunt, in the Insane Asylum at Richmond last October, will demand at your hands a careful investigation of the management of that institution, and such action as may bo deemed just and right under the facts that may be developed.

WHITE CAPS. As the Governor has neither the means nor the authority to interfere in the arrest or trial of that class of criminals known as “White Caps,” until the law is openly and forcibly defied, I recommend that the Board of County Commissioners be authorized to pay from the dog tax fund, in their respective counties, such sums of money as may be necessary to apprehend and bring to justice all such criminals as may be found within their respective counties, " FINANCES. The financial condition of the State is fully and ably presented in the report of the Auditor of State. The most important part for your consideration may be condensed as follows: The total net receipts to the general fund from all sources during the present fiscal year were $1,448,151.45. The income of the State within the next three years, at the present rate of taxation, is likely not to vary much, if any, from the above sum. The actual sum necessary to run the State government for the fiscal year, 1891, is estimated at $2,000,000. To thishould be added the unpaid appropriations of former years, to-wit, $305,233.33—ma1e, ing a total of $3,205,282 33. If specific appropriations are passed by the General Assembly this session the same should be added to the above sum of $2,205,232.33. Taking the above figures, not including specific appropriations that may be passeu by the Legislature, as a basis, the deficit over and aoove the net receipts for the ■y ear'd 891 would be $757,080.88. The estimated necessary expenses of the State government for tho year 1893 is $1,878,090, and for 1893 $1,998,090, which would leave a deficit at the end of each year respectively of $424,939 and $549,919, to which deficiencies should be added any additional appropriations that may be made by the Legislature for those years. Immediate provisions, in my opinion, should be made for the relief of the Treasury, the importance of which can readil. be seen, as a continuation of the increase of the State debt becomes a necessity, unless your honorable body enacts such laws as may increase the receipts of the State equal to tho necessary expenditures and appropriations. At the time of the passage of the act of March 8. 1889, authorizing the refunding of the debt of the State due tho school fund, there were outstanding school fund bonds Nos. 1,2, 3,4, 5, amounting to $3,904,783.23, upon which the State was paying interest at the rate of 0 per cent, per annum, amounting to $334,386.19. There were issued under authority of said act bonds to the amount of upon which the State is paying 3 per cent, per annum, amounting to $117,150.90, being an annual saving of interest to the State of $117,136.09. The refunding bonds issued as above brought a premium of $63,196,188, which was turned into tbe general fund of the State treasury, and the amount paid the school fund, $3,904,783.22, was distributed to the several counties of the State as provided by the act. The funding of these bonds has not only lessened the annual expenditures of the State, but has added to the funds iu the hands of our county officers, to be loaned by them to the people of tho State at reasonable interest.

Since 1877 a sufficient revenue has not been raised to pay the expenses of the State, and every year has added to our indebtedness, until to-day the State debt has reached the enormous s *m ot $8,5)6,.615.12, with a still increasing indebtedness, unless some relief can be obtained by leg? isiation. With the same system that has heretofore prevailed, we will still have to borrow money to sustain our institution* and expenses of tho State, with an annual deficit of about $-700,000. Surely the day of borrowing for such purposes sbouM cease. We have no right to mortgage our future revenue, to be paid by those who may come after us. There arc various modes of raising revenue in tho States, but the most simple mode has been generally adopted in this State—that of capitation, or poll tax, tax on value of. lands aud personality—whilst in other States different systems have prevailed. In New York, Now Jersey, .Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other States, scarcely any part of tiie tax for State purposes, is collected on lands. The farmer is left almost untouched, and the principal State reven ueis collected from corporations and railroads. In these States, corporations aud railroads alone will nearly average the, ful: amount of our entire State revenue. New' York collects from her railroads and corporations $1,172,599.73; while the State of New Jersey collects, $1,310,192.30; and tbe Stated Connecticut collects $1,246,094.40. Governor Bulkley, of Connecticut in his message of 1889 states that: “The Treasurer bo)ieves that without embarrassment to the finances the rate of State taxation can be reduced to one mili, and has so estimated.” Tho contrast in the amount collected on railroads in Connecticut and Indiana is very striking, Connecticut in round num bers has 1,010 miles of railway and receives a revenue from It of $671,820. Indiana has 5,901.58 miles of railway and receives only $83,715.21. Wisconsin has 7,730mi1es of railway which nearly pays all the expenses of the State, anu her lands are not taxed for State purposes. In levying taxes on corporations and railroads, the burden docs hot fall exclusively on them, but itis divided and disseminated among that class of our people who transact and do business with them. As our revenue laws; now impose nearly

two-thirds of the amounts collected ter th» tax gatherers of the State upon land own ers, the assessment of 1890 being $545,254, 157 on lands, lots in cities and towns, with their improvements, and only $334,513,787 on personal property, it is but right that our law-makers should look to a more iusl distribution of the burden. . • It must not be overlooked that our land owners were taxed on all their personalty - besides. The farmer can cover nothing; 1 his lands, his crops, his teams and all of his personalty are taxed, nor call they be offset in giving in his taxables against his . indebtedness. Not so with the capitalist,! the broker and the money lender; with 1 them notbipg is visible, unless their oath , under the fear of Cod and the iawdipf .se their treasures. In this State tnere no doubt that a largo part of the pira.. ' property which should be subjected to equal taxation Is unassessed. Licenses for various enterprises have been freely resorted to by almost every State, and it is suggested that the heaviest should be demanded from sources which are the least beneficial to the best interest-* oTVie State. Luxuries, and vanities and vices, if they must be tolerated, should be heavily taxed. For many years the State has only levied, for State purposes, one«doilar and twenty cents on the appraised value of one thousand dollars, whilst the counties, cities and towns and townships, reached in Sbme instances as high as twenty dollars on the thousand, in addition to the State tax, making over two and one half per cent, per annum on the -value of the property assessed and taxed. It would not be difficult to select objects of luxury and pleasure upon which a sufficient license or tax conld be easily levied to pay all the expenses of our charitable ana benevolent institutions, without resorting to the hard earned savings of our land owners and laborers. In England and several of our States, a tax on “collateral inheritances,” yields very large revenues. In Pennsylvania, in 1888, the income from that sourceamounted to $L,378,433.71, and, the tax from notaries public amounted to 59,325. In our present financial condition, you will be compelled to raise our taxes to at •oast ■ twenty*flve cents to one hundred dollars, or adopt the system es other States by raising a sufficient revenue from corporations and licenses; and as we are now paying $373,275 interest on our State debt annually, a sinking fund should be provided to liquidate our present great indebtedness. . _ . ■ _1 In default of these recommendations it will be necessary to pass an act, authorizing tue officers of State to borrow more money for future expenses. Gentlemen, the problem is in your hands, and 1 trust you may find a way to solve it by just legislation. Alvin P. Hovet, Governor.

No more exasperating epithet, says the New York World, than ‘‘Whiskers,” particularly if he happens to wear them. He resents the use of a word wh'ch describes his personal adornments a thousand times more indignantty than he would a word of brutal and insulting significance. The word whiskers has become so thoroughly identified with slang that its use in any way at all on ths stage by a comedian nowadays is sure to call out a howl of laughter from the audience. Often men wearing whiskers are guyed by small boys in the street, particularly if the wind is high, and these causes have led to gradual reform among New York men. The ridicule of the mob is after all based upon sensible ground. There is a certain amount ms attractiveness about a well trimmed and symmetrical mustache, and a look of mar*, tial dignity is often imparted by a mustache and goatee. Close trimrre 1 and gracefully fashioned beards are worn with good effect, and are often a great protection to delicate throats; -but there is ho reason except misgu'ded vanity for the cultivation and nurture of long side whiskers, which are always in the way and invariably make a man look like affable caricatures of ihe late Lord Dundreary. The countryman who said that city men did not h&ve much to do in particular “except teach a lot of hair to grow on their faces and lay on their shoulders,” may not have been far wrong in his contempt after all. There never was a man on earth whose appearance was improved by long, bushy and streaky side whiskers. ..The derision of the public is gradually curtailing them in every direction, and in time it may have the effect of driving them out of sight tor good, Dr. Thomas W. Evans, the American dentist, whose success in hobnobbing with nobility and cleaning its teeth has brought him more fame than bis professional skill, is a man of medium height, inclined to be stout, lie has a large bead, on which the hair is still thick, and his forehead is high and full. He has a Roman nose, deep set gray eyes, a mustache and long side whiskers. He is about GO years old. Dr. Evan’s house is the centre of the American colony in Paris, and ho is still, despite his long residence abroad, an enthusiastic American, He has received more than .'!)() decorations -ail that it is possible for Germany, Russia and the leading countries of Europe to confer on him. And bo is sttftAvniing 10 plug a decaying molar. A Boston minister, one who pi‘o sides over a largo and lio.uisjiing church at the South End, and “lends a hand” in all good enterprises, who was to preach in Providence, spent the night beforo with a friend in a village some miles distant, and walked to Providence Sunday morning. On the way. feeling hung ry life stopped at a house by the way-side, rang the boll and asked the motherly-looking woman who came to the , door if he could have a glass of milk and a slice "of bread. ‘ Well,” she answered, r 'l suppose you can: hut it does seem us though a big, stout man like you might earn a living by work un i n"! beg for it ” Ho has been very considerate of tramps ever since, A Detroit friend of Justice Brown, the President's latest, appointee to the National Supremo Bench, says that he is altoge'her a jolly good fellow. If he entertains in Washington a- he hadone in the past the young people wiy have no ca ise for complaint, Hibeautiful home contains a well appointed ‘ ball-room, and a p rty at Judge Brown’s was always eagerly at* t nded by society people.