PUBLIC PAPERS

OF

FRANK S. BLACK

GOVERNOR

1897-1898

Two VOLUMES IN ONE

VOL. II

ALBANY

PRESS OF BRANDOW PRINTING CO.

1898

OF

GOVERNOR BLACK

For 1898.

DESIGNATION OF PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS

STATE OF NEW YORK

Executive Chamber

PURSUANT to the provisions of section 263 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the power in me vested, I do hereby designate the

Honorable CHARLES T. SAXTON

of Clyde, who is a Judge of the Court of Claims, as Presiding Judge of said Court of Claims for the term ending December thirty-first 1903.

[L S]

Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the

State at the Capitol in the city of Albany this first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninetyeight.

By the Governor:

FRANK S. BLACK

WILLIAM M. GRIFFITH

Private Secretary

ANNUAL MESSAGE

STATE OF NEW YORK

TO THE LEGISLATURE:

Executive Chamber

Albany, January 5, 1898

The course of the Legislature now convened will affect in many important respects, for a long time to come, the policy of the State. I submit the suggestions in this message, not only as formal recommendations, but as the expression of an active purpose to aid in carrying them

out.

FINANCE

The

The valuation of the State is $4,506,985,694. State tax for the present year is two dollars and sixtyseven cents on a thousand dollars. This rate produces the sum of $12,033,681.80. Of this amount more than nine million dollars are paid to run the public schools and for the care of the insane. The last subject was placed under State control in the year 1895, so that the tax rate prior to that year was smaller than it can possibly be now or hereafter, and is worthless as a comparison with the rate of later administrations, which have dealt with these large expenditures. Last year's tax rate can be reduced this year, because the amounts to complete the Capitol and buy Adirondack land will be less. The