Democratic Enquirer

Governor's Message.

We give below a brief abstract of the message of Governor Cox:

The financial condition of the State is satisfactory. On the 15th of November there was an unexpended balance in the Treasury of $1,021,784.41, after expenditures amounting to nearly seven and a half millions. According to the Auditor's estimate the burdens of taxation for the current year will be lightened nearly $3,000,000, and still leave a balance, over an estimate covering all expenses, of $328,287.05 in the Treasury on the 15th of November next. The public debt is also being rapidly reduced. Over one million was paid off during the past year, and when the January dues are met, the total debt will be $11,341,745.87, against $12,912,014.15. At this rate the entire debt ought to be discharged in the next six years, without increasing taxation.

The Governor recommends a modification of the law governing the State Treasurer in the management of the idle balances in the several funds. Without any increased risk of loss, authority to make temporary transfers would save interest to the State, amounting to from $40,000 to $50,000 per annum.

The expenses of the penitentiary still exceed the receipts from convict labor by over $16,000. Three-fourths of the convicts are under thirty years of age, and the Governor suggests whether it is not advisable to separate young offenders from the old, and modify the discipline for them.

He advocates the adoption of the Constitutional amendments.

The total taxation of the State amounted in the aggregate to $21,000,000, of which $5,000,000 are for State purposes, and nearly $16,000,000 for local purposes.