The Beaver Argus.
J. WEI/AND. Moron ♦kD PaOriarrOz
Beaver, Pa.; Jan. 101041872.
GOLD is,now quoted at a premium
o f si per cent. on the dollar. This Is
lower than it has been for mauy years
east, and proves that our currency is
costing on a scud basis. We 'will
wake-up some of these mornings and
make the discovery that a paper dol
lar is worth just as much' as n gold
one, and this will come about too, in
n gradual way and without ',any con
gressional legislation.
THE Pittsburgh .Afail of the 28th
of December informs its readers that
to Col. Quay of this place belongs
the honor of bringing forward the
Constitutional Reform ,movement.
This is news to Col. Quay's immedi
ate neighbors. Will the Mail be kind
enough, therefore, to point: out any
thing Oni. Quay said in his paper In
favor of Constitutional Reform, until
long after that movement had be
mine a uceessP The wing of the
Republican party to which Col. Quay
belongs was for many months looked
upon as hostile to the reform move
ment, and it was only when they
found it could not be successfully re
sisted that they yielded the point
and assented .to the proposition To
Col. A. K. McClure of Philadelphia
belongs the honor of 9riginating the
movement, and pushing =it forward
to success.
A TEiditnix tragedy occurred in
New York on last Saturday, which
resulted in the death of Col. James
Fisk, jr., at the hands of Edward S.
Stokes. It appears that at the close
of the examination into the Fisk-
Mansfield case, that afternoon, Stokes
left the court room and proceeded In
a carriage to the nethborhood of the .
Grand Opera House, in twenty-third
street, where he remained a short
time. Shortly after three o'clock,
Mr. Fisk left the Erie railroad office,
in the opera house building, entering
a carriage. Stokes did not follow
him, but immediately drove to the
Grand Central Hotel, which he was
seen to enter about half past three
o'clock, Fisk's carriage Itrived at
ten minutes past four o'clock, and
the Colonel alighted at the ladies en
trance, to pay a visit to a Miss Morse.
Ile was ascending the stairs leisurely
when he discovered Stokes standing
at the head (date stairs with a pistol
in his hand. l'he doorkeeper states
that almost instant lyt_Nd shots were
"II red , and that Fisk leaned up ag,ai nst
the wall and said. lam shot. He
felt to the. floor, and lingered until
0 10:4:5 the next day when he expired.
I T would, perhaps, be well for those
who are just now engaged: in "reaj
ii< certain persons out of the Re
)publican party to look .baCk a little
into our past history. In IS4B the
Whigs elected General Taylor by an
overwhelming majority. In fact the
Majority was decisive enough to in
duce the leaders of the party to con
clude that they were to be the ad
ministrators of the Government for
unnumbered years to come. Hence,
when Whig politicians of lesser note
and agoodly number of the rank and
were unceremon i ously " .
read •
out Of
the party," and informed that they
"must go to the Democracy, where
they belonged. " Thus shorn the
Whig party went into the succeed
ing Presidential contest and not
withstanding it had the country's
greatest military chieftain for a lead
er, it had only strength enough to
carry four out of the thirty States
then composing the Union. That
was the experience of the Whig party
in declining to allow a little free
think ing within its organization.
In 1856 the Democrats elected Mr.
Buchanan by a large majority of the
electors. The leading men in that
Organization thought the verdict then
rendered implied a perpetual lose
of power to them, and that'no condi
tion of things could arise to divest
the Democracy of the control of the
ooverninent. When, therefore the
Lecompton controversy came up the
1/entocratic leaders ejected everybody
from the Democratic door who re
fused to think as they did or act as
t hey prescribed. Douglass, B rod er ick ,
Geary and their partisans were all
"read out" of the party at that time.
In the next Presidential Struggle the
Democracy were too weak to carry
the election, and in fact from that
time to the present they have remain
ed riven-and powerless in the country.
Our point in referring to these
scraps in the political history of the
country : It is only a month or
so ago that it was found necessary to
count over the bonds and money in
the Treasury at Washington to see
''whether the twoclerk - s who had been
detected as defaulters the previous
week were -the only ones. A short
time before that another clerk had
been found out helping a knavigh
Congressman to pet payment for the
sham claims of sham soldiers. A
short time before that it was found
that a paymaster had made away
with t.:106,000 ; almost the same day
it was found out that an assistant
postmaster had stolen $150,000. Since
then-a man : whose business it is to
keep the oroverntrient and the public
informed orthe condition of the 'Na
tional Banks is foiind to have been
silent when he ought to have report
ed, and "to have been silent for
money. "- Hence a week:Or two after.
Congress convened, oo the Ist of De
cember, Senators Sumner,. Trumbull,
Schurz, Tipton, and a number of oth
er prominent Republicans, insisted
upon an investigation of alleged
abuses. This was resisted by the
Conklings and Chandlers in the Sen
ate, but finally carried, and a Com
mittee istow at work to ferret out
the scoundrel* in our party who have
sie.yeeeded in<Mitaining official posi
tions in the Government. The ap
pointment of the Committee should
. have ended the wrangle, but it has
niit; and the Conklings and Chand
lers, and all that brood of politicians
who live and fatten on public treas
uries, are now engaged in "reading"
Trumbull, Sumner, Schurz, Greeley,
and everybody else out -of the Re
publican party, who have not been
willing to blink at Republican ras
ealities, or magnanimous enough to
allow Itepubliean thieves to go un
deteebd And unpunished. When
these Senators, and all other Repub
licans, who ins4lBt upon knowing
which of our officers are honest and
which are dishonest, or who claim
the right to expresS a choice among
Republicauo for the same office, are
." read out`'? of the party and stay
"read out," it seems to us the Repub
lican organization will be about n
able to elect a President in 1872 as
the Whigs were in 1852, or the Dem
ocrats in 1860.
MESSAGE.
7b the Senate and House of Represep
:tativeS of : the Cimmonweetith 41
Pennsylrania.
GENTLEMEN' : —You have, for a
sea.son, separated yourselves from
private business and
_,perwnal Inter
ests, and - come from ditlarent soak=
of the State clothed with the powers
of more than three and a-half mil
lions of free, intelligent and Inde
pendent people, to serve them in
your representative capacity and
to determine upon public affa irs, in
such manner, it is hipped, as may de
serve the blessings ofGod and the gra
titude of men. It is becoming, there
fore, to advance to these duties with
winds untainted with party acrimo
ny, unswayed by selfish or interested
motives, and with fervent aspira
tions of praise and gratitude to the
Great Preserver of nations, states
and individuals, and to mingle our
humble and devout supplications for
His guidance and approbation in the
accomplishment of the task assigned.
I am not insensible to the magni
tude and importance of the subjects
before me, nor to the responsibilities
imposed ; and , approach them with
diffidence and misgivings, conscious
that some ethem require more ex
tended research than time and space
could be allotted to their elucidation.
In compliance with the duty pre
scribed by the Constitution, I trans
►nit, for your information and that of
the people, a statement of the condi
tion of the finances, schools, military
and other matters of interest, with
recommendations of such measures
as are deemed of sufficient impor
tance to be presented for your consid
eration.
FIN
After thorough examination of the
reports from the accounting depart
ments the following statement is ,
submitted :
itErapli. •
Balance in - Treasury. Nov. SO, 1870, $1,302,942 82
Ordinary receipts daring the fiscal
year ending November 30,13:1
gxtraordinery receipts from the V.
S. Government on acct of Penn's.
war claims, applied to the payment
of the State debt
total in Tress'y during year ending
November 90, 1.071 $.8,000,838 44
Disbursements.
Ordinary expenses paid
during yr ending Nov
30. 1071... . • $3.018,019.9%
Loans &c.. redeemed:=• 2,420, 1159
Interest on loans 1, - 83,Cr35.9l
Total disbursements -- 111,034,079 0.5
Balance in'Treasury Nor•. 30. 1371.__.51.475,90s 59
Public Debt.
The public debt Noy. 30, itao, was $31,111,651 90
Deduct ain't paid by Sinking Fund
Commissioners during the year
ending tins. 30. 1871.12.113.3b.63
Amount paid by State
Trans during same time 13.311.5.1
Total public debt, Noy. al, 187E._ $28,930,071 73
The following statement shows 4he
nature of the indebtedness of the
Commonwealth, Nov. 30, 1871 :
Fcuulect Debt, &e.
Amonnt of over-due kiaus $11.0( t. :6
do payable 1572 .t IS7:, int. 6 pr ct 3,7146.550 00
do do 1872 & 1877. int. spr ct 43 iislt 00
do do Itcri S M 2. int. 6pr ct 7.K90.550 00
do do Pin, Interest. 5 per ct. 3,at9.71 1 0 00
du 4 1 ,1 1S S, interest 5 per ct. 290,00 00
do do. 141. interest 6 per et. 400,010 10)
do do 1892, int tl pr ct 9.271.it50
do do 11132, interest 5 per ct. 1,119.010 (10
do do ltt•ii. hiL 4q per cent. 112.000 00
Total Funded debt..... $2:4,..466.113 16
o;f:int - lett Debt, I iZ:
Relief notes in circulation. $116.317.00
Int. certiticates outstand'a I:l,Ust; 51
Inl.certiticatesunclaimed 4.4.14
Domestic creditors' cut itl
cams.
4-1 G 7
113,921; 57
Pub. debt N0v..11, "71,alabovestated $V.1,071
The Cotninis.sion , , , rs ot the Sinking Fund
report assets remaining in their hands, as
follows, - to wit :
Bond. of the Pa. It. It. Co.. secured
by lien on the Philadelphia S Co-
Inn3llia Railroad
Thirty-five bnd', of the Allegheny
Valley It. R. Co., each for IllU0,01.),
guaranteed by the Pa. R. It. Co..
Northern Central Railway Co. and
the Philadelphia and Erie It. It.
Co.; payable $lOO.OOO annuilly. be
ginning, January. lap, with 6 per
A mount of aarets.....—
Amount of Public debt t irt,34ll,fß. 79
Deduct am't of &stmts.—SU:M.ooo IV
Cash halftiee in Treaeu
ry, No% ember 30, 1871 1,4:11,8114 59 -
Balunee,of pub. debt unprovided for t18j0.3,263 14
In obedience to the sixty-seventh
section of the appropriation bill, ap
proved May 27, 1871, the State has
'mite(' for the relief of the citizens of
Chanibersburg and vicinity, for war
damages adjudicated under former
acts, certificates of loan to the amount
of two hundred and ninety-nine
thousand seven hundred and fbrty
eight dollars and ninety-one cents,
which sum bears interest at six per
cent payable semi-annually at the
State - Treasu Ty.
The books of the Auditor General
and State Treasurer show the to
tal indebtedness of the Common
wealth, on the first day of December,
1866, was thirty-seven million seven
hundred and four thousand four hun
dred and nine dollars am/seventy-seven
cents. Since then, and up to Novem
ber 30; 1871, the sum of eight million
seven hundred and twenty-four thous
and three hundred and thirty-eight
dollars and four cents has beed paid.
The reduction during the year end
ing November 30, 1871, is two mil
lion one hundred and thirty-one thous
and jive hundred and Ninety dollars
and seventeen cents. The avarage rev
duction during the last five years is
one million seven hundred and forty
four thousand eight hundred and six
ty-seven dollars and sevenlyilive cents.
It will be observed, in the table
exhibiting the nature of the Indebt
edness of the Commonwealth, the y
amount of the loans now overdue is'
$2,45112,69:1 IG. This sum can, with
out doubt, be paid as rapidly as the
holders will present it to the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund. The
bonds payable in 1872, and deman
dable in 1877, amount to $3,879,4i* 00.
These can also be paid within the
live years prior to their muturity,
at an average of $765,880 00 per an
num.
For many years the general appro
priation hills have been withheld
from the Governor until about the
time of adjournment, when he must
either sign them without proper in
vestigation, suspend the means to de
fray the operations of the govern
ment for the ensuing year, or call an
extra sessiOn of the Legislature. It
is earnestly desired that the appro
priation bill be taken up, discussed
and passed at an early period during
the session, to enable the Executive
V) give it that thorough examination
which its importance demands.
ll'ar Claims
In my message of January seventh,
I informed the Legislature that
"the balance in favor of the General
Government for Pennsylvan la's q uota
of direct tax levied in the sere
states for war puand for cash -
from the United rrit:s, amounting
in all to nearly two millions of dol
lars, has been settled in full by the
allowance of claims for extraordin
ary expenses Incurml t hy the State
during the war. In consequence of
the lapse of time since the remaining
claims were contracted, the want o
sufficient vouchers and explanations,
and the - difficulty of finding the par
ties, some of them being dead, by
whom they should he made, render
their settlement difficult, and in
many instances doubtful, the accom
plishment Of which, however, will
be vigouronsly pursued, and the re
sult laid before the Legislature.'i
Lately publicattention has been
persistently directed to the stibject of
these claims, and their collection
from the National Government; and
in view of the action which it may
be your duty to take in reference
thereto, i the following facts, - showing
what these claims consisted of, the
measures taken by the State for their
recovery, and the success resulting
therefrom, are submitted to aid you
in your deliberations.
By a statute of Congress, approved
July twenty-seventh. 1861, entitled
"An Act to indemnify the States for
expenses incormi by them in defense
of the United Stat e s, " it is provided
"That the Secretary of the Treasurybe, and he is hereby directed, out of
any money In the Treasury not oth
erwise appropriated, to pay to the
C3owernor of any State, or to his duly
authorized agents, the costs, charges,
such St ate
properly Incurred by .
such Slate for enrolling, subsisting,'
clothing, supplying, arming, t quip
ping, paying and transporting its
troops employed in aiding to sup
pre-Ai the present insurrection against
the United States, to be settled upon
proper, vouchers ,to
,he filled and
pawed upon by the proper account
lug officers of the Trestiry."
By another act of CongreA approved
August sth, 1861, entttled "An Act to pro
vide increated revenue from imports to
pay interest on the public debt, and for
other purposes," there was levied a direct
tax upon the several States, Territories,
and the District of Columbia, of twenty
million dollars.with the privilege to those
Slates of collecting and paying the quota
of their tax lute the Treasury of the Uni
ted States, of a deduction or allowance of
fifteen per cent. as compensation for the
expe Isom attending the collection. Penn
sylvania's portion cf this tax amounted to
$1,940,719 33, - the payment of which the
State assumed.
The 53d section of the statute last-2re
ferred to provides: "That the amount of
direct tax apportioned to any State, Ter
ntory or the Dist ict of Columbia, shall
be liable to be paid and satisfied, in whole
or in part, by the release of such State.
Territory or I:As:rick duly executed to the
United Suites, of any LIQUIDATED and DE
TERMINED CLAIM Of such State, Territory
or District of equal amount against the
United States: PROVIDED. That in case of
such release, such State. Territory or Dis
trict shall be allowed the same abatement
of the amitunt of such tax as would be al
lowed in case of payment of the ivamei n
money."
Under the act of Congretre first refer.
red to, of Jab 47th, LIR, claims on
ttyr part of the little against the
tilted States were tiled. amount-
ing In the aggregate 13,111,219 19
These claims were Bled in six differ- ,
eat installment& vs follow, vls
lot fled March 1. ltoti
2d " Jane 11, 8.14,X117 90
3d February 20. 81.1184 91
" May 4. 1870
" ....... 1.57.9M1 18
Alt" June 3COM —... 7 .127 91
tali " May 25. 83.737
Amonat of eltdme fined,...._....._..53,1724118 10
It was in reference In the first and sec
ond instalments of the claims so tiled, that
my pi-ctlecessor, Gov. Curtin. informtsi
the Legislature. .lan. 7, 1863, that on the
14th of June, 1862, the quota of direct tax
due by the State had been " paid to the
United States, partly by u relinquishment
of a portion of the sums claimed by this
State from the Government. and partly in
cash. atter deducting the 15 per cent. al
lowed by act of Congress (or prompt pay•
meat." The settlement thus assumed to
have beenpie , :ted, and which. on the in-
Jormation leported to him. Gov. Curtin
suprsed to have been complete, was based
upon an arrangement. as understood by
the State authorities, shown by the follow
ing figurer:
Amount of direct tax.. $134 1 1.719 33
6.458."44 %5
70.9,710 67
Deduct 15 per cent
2,131,590 17
Cash paid by the State to the Untt.al
States., Jane 80, ItitU -
Pmportion of war claim, pet off by
the 5tute.......--•.--...._._ $1.304,711 43
It subsequently transpired, however,
that at the date when Governor ('urtin as
sumed the above settlement to have been
completed, nto portion of the State's claims
had been " liquidated and determined "
the '• proper accounting officers cf the
Treasury ' of the UniteeStates, as requir
ed by the stacrites of 'Congress. approved
27th July and :ith August 1801. Indeed,
it was not until Nov. 1, 180:i, that any
portion of the States' claims had been "li
quidated and determined" by the United
States officers, and even then the only sum
allowed amounted to oNE HUMMED and
TWELVE dollars and FIFTY cents. Still,
on September ✓O, 1801, the United States
made an advance to the state o n accoun t
of these claims of $1106,000, and for this
cash advance the State stood debtor to the
United States until the claims were "liqui
dated and allowed, - So that on the books
of the National Gitvernment the State ap
peared debtor for,
Ist quota of direct tax....._ $1,046,719 93
id rash advanced by United States to
the State, September 10_1861. 116.000 00
$5,900,000 00
53.334,713 J 3
Lrvi cash paid by the State to the
United Si l atee, Jane 30, Mil. 350,000 00
'Mit gn i % WAN ' :
against the United States were understood
oaf properly supported—to be consider
ably in excess of this amount. To-enable,
the State to have secured the benefit of the
rehateinent of 15 per cent. nn the quota of
diriict tax, amounting to $292,007 90, it
was absolutely necaisary, under the stat
ute: of July 27, and August 5, 1861, that
the money should either be paid out of the
Treagury to the United States, or that the
claims of the State against the National
Government, which had been "disallowed
and suspended" (except the credit of $112.-
50, above explaiped,) for five years, should
be "liquidated and determined" 1 33- the ac
counting officers of the government. It
was under these circumstances that the
Legislature of the State, to 1867,-by joint
resolution, authorized the Governor to
appoint "a special agent to collect disal
lowed and suspended claims against-the
United &ales," `'whose compensation for
that purpose shall lint exceed ten per cen-,
tum of the amounts thus collected, and
shall be paid out el such collections."
As thus authorized, it became my
duty to appoint a competent person
to attend specially to the interests of
the Commlnwealth in the collection
and adjustment of these claims, and
under the authority conferred upon
me, I appointed Mr. George 0.
Evans, of Phi L..del ph ia, w haat) recom
mendations for efficacy and faithful
ness were so strong, that I had no
hesitation to place in his hands the
agency required by the act of Con
gresS of July 27, 1861, and the joint
resolution of the Legislature. It %V ILS
not expected that he would ever suc
ceed in paying oft a debt which seem
ed to be greater than the amount of
the claims than on file ; nor was it
expected that he would succeed, un
der the best circumstances, in obtain
ing more than a few hundred thous
and dollars out of vouchers, which
had for upwards of five years, been
"disallowed and suspended," and
deemed almost without value.
$9,400.000 00
10,876,808 59
Mr. Evans, upon his appointment,
immediately gave his attention to
the duties assigned him, and through
his success in paying the entire debt
due the General Government, I was
able to communicate to the Legisla
ture of 1868, the partial settlement of
the claims referred to. It is due to
Mr. Evans to state, that reference
was of too meagre is character to place
the result of his servia4r- fairly and
fully before the public. Through
his labor, the claims of the State,
which hjd for yeats been "suspend
ed and disallowed" were "liquidated
and determined" by the accounting
officers of the National Government,
and being thus "liquidated and al
lowed," the State for the first time
became entitled, under the provis
ions of the act of August 5, 1661,
to the above sum of .t.:N2,007 90, as
the rebatement on the quota of the
Coiled States tax.
The credit thussecured to the State,
deducted from her quota of theidi
rect tax, left a balance thereon against
the State of $1,614,71! 43, and from
this sum there was to be deducted
the payment made by the State on
account of this tax on JuneBo, 1862,
of $3.50,000 00—reducing the liability of
the State for direct tax t 051,304,711 43.
This indebtedness, as also the cash'
advanced to the State on • September
20, 1861, six months before the first
in‘talment of claims had been tiled
or4the part of the State, of $606,000 00,
were paid by Mr. Evans by the col
lections wincn he sucreeded a mak
ing Upon-the claims "liquidated and
determined" in favor of the State is
already explained.
By act of Congress, the State was
entitled to a rebatement of fifteen
per cent. on her quota of the United
States tax, provided it was paid before
the first of September of that year.
The State had forfeited both of these
proposed reductions for prompt pay.
mont by her delinquency in not pay
ing the tax for five years. But,not
withstanding all this, Mr. Evans7Rtt
only obtained for the benefit of the
State, the rebatement of the fifteen
per cent. on the amount of the tax,
but a release of "the interest which
might have accrued on the entire
claim of the United States.
The claims collected by the State
from the United States, are as follow:
Ist. November 1, 19C8 , ....... us 50
2d. Nrty I, 180.. -..,
. 1.999,11 i 01
ad. W.tober 27, 1901 103,651 40
4th. Angast2^. 18:o 143.845 09
sth. April 11, 1811. 187,821 59
6th. May 15, 1871...............
7th. Jima 18, Int
$2,010,4e1
The*: colliectinns the !special agent ac
count!, for as t Mows::
Ist. May 2, 1887, paid debt due by the
State to the United States, being bal
ance of quota of direct lax__ . _ . 41
May!. 1857 . re-pald cub advanced to
the State by the United Slates, Sep.
tember 20,18671 . .. GAM 00
2d. Paid to State Treasury as follow :
April 20, 1871, ca5h,._....,..5131,0a, 59
May 18.1871. cash,. ...-... 2112,167 57
June 1871, cash:: .—. 298.711 ocl ,
July 21, 1871, cash. . _ ... 2:1,9117 53
llia constaission of 10 per ct.
on amount collected; re
mined from collections, 291,046 01
-----65,910:469 11
From these result it will be seen that
the present condition of the claims against
the National Government stand thus:
Am'i oLelaims Medea Wore shown, $1,172,218 13
Of which there have been allowed &
collected r 2.010,46011
The balance yet in momenta it 1P961,7111 OS
Farther claims on the, part of the State
can, I am informed, tie fairly made,
with rood prospect of collection, to
Abe amount of.
Making the amount of suspended and
outstanding claims j . et to be col-
C 161,743 03
Credit 3fo6ilier of America.
By the 4th section of the act approved
May first, 18118, taxing corporations, it is
declared:
That the capital stock of all companies what
ever. Incorporated by or under any law of this
Commonwealth ...............shall be subject to pay
tax Into the Treasury of the Commonwealth annu
ally, at the rate of one‘half mlll for each one per
tent. of dividends made or dethued by such corn
parry.,
The taxes received during the last
four years from corporation stocks
have annually exceeded one million
dollars, aid are now about the 'one
si xth part of the revenne of the State.
"The Credit Mobilier of America"
is a corporation Created by the Leg
islature of Pennsylvania • and under
the vast powers conferred by its char
ter, .it undertook the construction of
that great national, work, the Union
Pacific railroad.: The first contract
WAS made With a Mr. Hoxie, for two
hundred and - forty-seven miles, at
the eastern terminus of-the road, and
east of the one-hundredth meridian,
for the consideration of fifty, thous•
and dollars per mile. This witraCt.
was assigned by Hoxie to the Credit:
Mobilier, and the road was built by .
that company. In the execution of
the contract certain profits were made
and dividends divided by the cor
poration ; and the taxes thereon to
the State of Pennsylvania were vol
untarily paid Into the Treasury.
Soon afterwards another contract was
made with Mr. Oaks Ames, for the
construction of six hundred and six
ty-seven miles of said road west of
the one-hundredth meridian, for an
aggregate consideration of forty-sev
en million nine hundred and fifteen
thousand dollars. This part Of the
road was constructed under the latter
contract • and out of the profits aris
ing ther efrom about the sum of nine
million dollars was declared as divi
dends, and paid to the stockholders
of the Credit Mobilier. But when
the State demanded her taxes on
these immense profits, payment was
refused by the corporation, on the
grounds that the dividends• tbou •h
paid to, and receiied ny, the stock
holders of the corporation, and in the
precise amounts and proportions in
which they severally held stock in the
company, were yet Raid to them as in
diridy.alB, and not as stock-holders. To
rnake , gcxxi this defence sundry pa
pers, agreements and contracts were
produced, and especially a tripartite
agreement between Oaks Ames of
the second part ? and the Credit Mo
biller of the third part, by which,
and the accompanying parol evi
dence, it was contended the corpora
tion
was not responsible for the taxes
claimed, amounting to about one
million dollars. The accounting of
fleets of the State, with counsel em
ployed by the Auditor General, as
sociated with the Attorney General,
prosecuted the claim with zeal and
ability, and on the two separate tri
als in the court of common pleas of
Dauphin county recovered verdicts
e nd judgments against the corpora
" Tile utter was OULUILICUI °Vein Der
1869, for $407,483 39, and the sec
ond, December 24, 1870, for 610,391 03.
The defendant took writs of error;
and the Supreme Court reversed the
judgments, and in the opinion of a
majority of,the judges certain prin
ciples are declared which are consid
ered fatal t i ci l reovery by the State.
If this co tion, created by the
laws of Pennsylvania, by the legerde
main of a tripartite agreement, and
other contracts and proceedings to
which the Commonwealth was not a
party, can thus evade taxation upon
its capital stock, I can iinaging no
good reason why every other corpora
tion may not, by a resort to the same
ingenious contrivance, cesape the
payment of taxation on their capital
-tuck, arid thus over a million of dol
len. annually be lost to the State
Treasury. In view of this impend
ing danger, I earnestly invoke your
prompt and careful consideration of
this whole subject, and recommend
such action as will in the future effec
tually protect the interests of the
Commonwealth.
$1,189,997 /9
292,007 UU
$1.654,711 43
350,000 00
CONSTITUTION' A/ REFORM. 6
The peopleat the last election hav
ing proclaimed unmistakably in fa
vor of a convention to revise the
Constitution, it will doubtless be the
pleasure of the Legislature to pro
vide the necessary legal machinery
to awry out thb popular will on this
important su bject. I cordially sym
pathize with this movement, and in
my lug annual message presented
my views thereon so fully that a repe
tition of them is deemed unnecessary,
but to' which.special reference is
made. A careful revision of our
fundamental law, by men qualified
for that duty, is imperatively de
manded by the highe s t considera
tions of public welfare.
Connected with this, in a consid
erable degree, are the questions oc
the establishment of a "Court of Ap
peals." and the appointment of a
commission to revise—the tax laws
and to equalize taxation. Both of
these measures are; important, and
are urged upon mY 4 cousideration by
intelligent men from different parts
of the State. But, inasmuch as the
constitutional convention may, with
propriety, undertake the te-organiza
tion of our judicial system, and as
taxation should be based upon and
made conformable to the require-
merits of the Constitution, I incline
to the .. .opinion that general legisla
tion on these subjects had better be
postponed until the action of the pro
posed convention shall be known.
R EASION A L APPORTIONMENT
fhe second'section of the first arti
cle of the Constitntion of the United
States, as modified by the second sec
tion of the fourteenth amendment
thereto, defines the principles and
basis of congressional representation ;
and imposes upon each State the duty
of dividing the same, every ten years,
into Congressional - districts, each
containing I LS nearly as possible
the ratio of inhabitants adopted
by Congress, based upon the enu
meration of the Xational census
of 1870. No more important du
ty than tills apportionment of the
State into Congressional districts is
likely to devolve upon the present
Legislature; and I bespeak for It
that tureful and patrefotic considera
tion which is required by the mag
nitude of the interests involved.
THE Al I. LFORIP A,N D NI ATAII ORAS
RAILROAD COMPANY
About the close of the session of the
Legislature in 1870, an act was piss
ed and approved, entitled "A supple
ment to the Milford and Matame
ras Railroad Company." The fourth
section of this enactment seems to
have been intended to take from the
State, and give to - the company, the
ten thousand dollars bonus, paid Into
the State Treasur,y annually by the
New York and Erie Railroad Corn
pay, under the fifth section of the act
of 26th of March, 18-16. Soon after
the adjournment, my attention was
directed to the subject, and to guard
against lanl caused the Attorney
General tO eve notice to the NeW
York and Erie Railroad Company
that the State would look to that
corporation for the payment of the
imbed bonus, - as he (4 not
withstanding the .passage • •••• he Sup
plement referred To. I rd the
latter as having been enact and ap
proved, through inadvertence, in the
hurry of a closing session, and as
hasty and „Inwnsiderate legislation,
at variance with the settled policy of
the State, and highly prejudicial io
the•Pubile interests; and. I
therefore'
earnestly repeat the recommenda
tion in my last annual message for
the immediate repeal of this obnox
ious law, or at least of that. part, of it
which relates to the bonus. The
State having long since abandoned
the policy of
_paying money out of
her Treasury for the construction of
railroads, their is neither equity or
justice in allowing this enactmen,t, to
remain in force.
2t),167 457
M 4,71511 el
EDUCATION.
Every citizen is deeply interested
in the management and welfare of
our common schools, and in the cause
of general education, and should re
joke that in the prosperity of so great
a trust he is charged with an appro
priate share of responsibility. In
proportion as the character of public
instruction is elevated, the vast mul
titude who emerge from our schools
will be properly prepared for the ac
tive duties of life, and "the weighty
responsibilities of American citizen
ship."
Thirty-seven years hii've elapsed
since the common school system was
introduced into Pennsylvania, and
the general prosperity of the State has
ever since been commensurate with
the advantages that have heen afford
ed to its rapidly increasing popula
tion. Those whoare instrumental in
its introduction, and those who have
devoted themselves to perfecting its
operations as to methods of teaching,
the adaptation of buildings, and all
other means of education, ruv fully
appreciated and compensated by all
good and intelligent people. But,
much tbt tetnains to be done to per
fect ite inmate purposes, and it must
not be said of us, now upon the field
of action, that we are permitting the
good work to languish in our hands.
No just complaint should be allowed
as to its efficiency, or that its great
and important ends are not being ac
complished.
ICO.OOO 00
It was certainly the purpose of the
founders of our common school sys
tem to give every child in the Coin
moilwealth; without regard to his pe
cuniary or social condition the ad
vantages of sufficient education to en
able him or her to engage in the suc
cessful transaction of the ordinary
branches of business, and to obtain
and maintain a respectability which
ignorance can never acquire. Thus
far this has not been fully accom
plished; for I am informed there are
at least seventy-fiVe thousand chil
dren in the State who attend no
schools whatever. It is unnecessary
to inquire into the reasons for this
shameful neglect. The evil exists
and demands an efficient remedy. It
may probably be found either in com
pelling, or in holding out induce
ments to parents and others havl
children in charge—whether rich r
poor,—to afford them the benefite,
for at leastli reasonable term of years,
of our, public schools. Those who
neglect this duty are unfit guardians
and deserving of severe reprehension.
Parents are not the sole owners of
their children. The hitter are the
property of the State, the prosperity
of which materially depends upon
their future usefulness. They are
emphatically her children, and have
an indefeasible right to demand her
protection in their youth, that In ad
vanced life they may in turn become
her protectors. let tfiem be proper
ly reared, trained and cultivated, and
they will grow up to maturity loving
the hand that fostered them, and feel
ing a deep and lasting interest In its
welfare for the paternal care they re
mived. And thus many who would
otherwise be neglected may become
an honor to themselves, and bright
and shining lightsp the moral, 50....
....
of the Comtnonweal h. • But let th
be neglected, and what are the 1 -
verse results? Idleness and ignore .e
are the prolific source orvice and
crime. They will fill our alms-houses
with youthful vagrants, our prisons
with convicted criminals, houses of
infamy with dissolute wretches, the
perlieus of our cities with miserable,
drunken and half starved vagabonds,
and cover our "Potter's fields" with
the graves of those who might have
been, with proper instruction, orna
ments to society and serviceable to
their country. These statements are
fully sustained by the reports ot pris
on inspectors, wardens, physicians
and philanthropists who have given
the subject careful/consideration; and
it has been clearly demonstrated
that an exceedingly small percentage
of the saffering beings who ffrowd our
prison's and poor-houses have receiv
ed even the rudiments of an ordinary
educii ion or moral instruction dur
ing their childhood. This condition
of things admonishes those having
charge of the public interests of a
great responsibility, and that the ap
plication of effectual remedies admits
of no delay. Therefore, such legis
lation is reCommended as will remedy
any defects in our school system that
have hitherto failed to make it thor
ough, coin prehensi VC and universal.
I would advise a more lit oral wh
ey to be adopted in regard to the
compensation of teaehers in the pub
lic schools, that the highest order of
talent and the' bent qualifications for
the responsible and important duties
of instruction may always be seen red.
On this occasion I have omitted the
statistical statements exhibiting the
condition of the different branches of
the School Department, and respect
fully invite your attention to the
',ltrefully prepared reports of the Su-
Pretintendent for a detailed account of
the Normal, Agricultural. Oitrinion
and Soldiers' Orphans' Schools and
Colleges, and to the suggestions and
recommendations contained therein.
His long and successful career as an
educator eminently entitles them to
your attentive consideration. I also
recommend an appropriation Of five
hundred thousand dollars for the con
tinuance of the Soldiers' Orphans,
Schools, for the school year termina
ting May :il, 1873.
NATIONAL GUARD
The accompanying report of the
Adjutant General will be found an
interesting document. It is replete
with valuable information in regard
to which every citizen of the Com
monwealth is deeply concerned. The
present condition and efficiency of the
military organizations of the State,
recognized as the "National Guard,"
is in most instances such as to give
general satisfaction. From a very
small beginning, at-the close of the
war, they have assumed an attitude
most credita/ile to the patriotic ardor
of our young men; some of whom,
during the past year have been ena
bled to avail them elves of an oppor
tunity to prove their usetblness in the
field.
The effective force of the National.
Quard is at present nineteen regi
ments and three battalion'S, coinpris
ing, with unattached organizations,
three hundred and eighty-two com
panies, viz : Eight artillery, twenty
cavalry, and three hundred and fifty
four infantry.• Of the regimental or
ganizations, thirteen are in the First
division, one in the Second, three in
the Eighteenth and two In the Ninth.
The aggregate of enlisted men is six
teen thousand seven hundred and
thirty-four, and thecotumissioned of
ficers number one thousand one hun
dred and forty-two. The Fifth brig
ade of the First divisitin, organized
in accordance with an act of the last
Legislature, is composed of three re
ginuots of colored troops.
The entire force is handsomely
equipped, and generally well drilled
and dtscaplined,and prepared to meet
any ordinary emergency in which its
services may be required or demand
ed by the constituted authorities.
The riotous condition of affairs in'
Luzerne county during the months
of April and May last, demonstrate
the necessity for and efficiency of
these voluntary military wgarnzts
lions. For a full account-+f these
=
dlstarbancm, if- the peace, end the
opeOttions of the volunteers ordered
lnto'service, you are referred to the
repo - it of Major General Edwin S.
()Aherne, commanding the Ninth di
vision of the National Guard, which
will be found; in the report of the
t
t i
Adjutant Cie erul. - From this docu
ment and cth r facts daily communi
cated to me d ring the existence of
the Scranton roubles, It' 13 evident
that our citizen soldiery cannot, be
toahighly esteemed_for their servi
ces on that occasion; and their use
fulness is demonstrated should, simi
lar, or any' other civil disturbances,
hereafter occur.
But for the prompt appearance and
Judicious management of the Nation
al Guard on the ocotsion of these
riots, one of our most prosperous
cities might have been reduced to
ashes, millions of property destroyed,
many valuable lives sacrificed, and
scenes of general ruin and devasta
tion produced.
By act of the Legislature provis
ion was made for the expenses neces- .
sary for the suppression of the dish
turbances in Luzerne county. They
amounted to thirty-seven thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven dol
lars and thirty-sixvcents. The vari
ous items comprising this sum, prop
erly audited, and paid by the State
Treasurer,
will be found in detail in
the report of the Adjutant General.
The history of the volunteers in
the late war is completed and ready
for distribution. It embreees. five
royal octavo volutnnes, and bears
evidence of being a work of Much
labor and research. Accompanying
this you will receive the final repor '
of the Historian. •
WRITS OF ERROR IN CRIMINAL CASES.
At the session of 1870, the Legisla
ture passed au act, entitled "An Act
to allow writs of error in eases of
murder and voluntary manslaugh
ter," the first section of which pro
vides that a writ of error "shall be
.1f right, and may be sued out upon
the oath of the defendant or defend
ants, at) in civil cases. The second
section makes it the duty of the judg
es of the Supreme Court, In all such
awes, to review both the law and the
evidence. The importance of this
subject, and the neglect of the Leg
islature to act upon it in response
to the request in made my last an
nual message, makes it incumbent
upon me to repeat my recommenda
tion. Before this enactment the law
required the defendant to allege that
sonic error had been committed by
the court on the trial, and to show
cause, within thirty days, why the
writ of error should be granted ; but
this law gives a writ,. whether any
error is alleged or not, and allows the
defendant seven years in which to
issue it, according to the practice in
civil eases. Heretofore the Execu
tive dj4 not ordinarily issue the war
rant kir execution of any criminal
until the expiration of the thirty
days within which he was permitted
to apply for his writ of error. - That
limitation of thirty days being uuw
virtually repealed, and seven years
substituted therefor, is it expected
the • warrant shall be withheld fur
the seven years? If not, when may
it properly issue? And- if issued at
any time within the seven years,
may not the criminal supercede it at
any time he pleases by his writ *of
emir? And inay it not be reasona
bly expected that this will be the
practical result in many cases? This
would Settill like trifling with very
serious mutters; and I respectfully
submit whether the act should be re
pealed, or very materially modified,
without delay. In my message of
loth February, 1870, returning the
Lill with my objections, I gave sun
dry reasons Why it should not be ap
proved, and the views therein ex
' pressed remain unchanged ; and the
Supreme Court of the State; in the
Slueppe case, expresses its opinion of
• this enactment, as follows:
"It is not improper before closing
row we in reference to the
act of 1870, to craw intention w Jvaxac
' of its defects, and to the radical
change in our criminal jurisprudence
it will produce. It was passed for
this case r -tytit owing to the Govern
or's veto it came too late. It is an
other evidence that laws which are
the offsfring of feeling are seldom
wisely fraitied. t.lt commands this
court to review the eridence and to
determine whether time ingredients
to constitute murder in the first de
gree were proved to exist ; and yet
itl forgetfulness of the formerjlaw, it
provides no means to take, preserve
and bring up the eridence. This, the
first attempt to act under it, proves
its Inefficiency, the judge below re
turning to our certiorari that he was
not able to make the return of the
-evidence. lie is not bound by law
tp take the testimony or to certify to
At. A bill of exceptions brings up
only 50 touch of the evidence us may
be required to explain the point of
law comained in the bill.
"The effects of this liana seems not
to have excited atten4on. It has
changed the whole doctrine of the
criminal law as to the speed and cer
tainty of punistiment, and left to the
felon both theAlope and a door of es
cape not °nil from the law's delay,
but by prison breach, and all the va
rious means of avoiding retributive
justice. At this moment, two cases
occur to, my memory of convictions
of murder in Allegheny county, de
laytsi by dilatory motions, where the
prisendoors were opened by unknown.
means, / and the prisoners escaped
forever. Any murderer may, under
this law L--though like Probst he may
have murdered a whole family—
take out his writ of error, without
limitation of time or condition,
whether in prison under sentence, or
stepping upon the trap of the gallows,
with cause, or without it, and sus
pend his ease until the next term of
the Supreme Court. No one could
condemn bite, if the death warrant
not preventing, he should wait till
time term of the Supreme Court be
passed, and then take out his writ
of error to delay the execution Of his
sentence for it whole year. That on
ly-security to the public, the exam
ination of the case and allowance of
the writ for cause, is repealed.''
I'ItoCLANIATIONS Von ELECTIONS
Complaints have been made to ine
pia want of uniformity in the Sher
iffs' proclatnalons for . elections, to
which I deem it important to invite
your attentien. There are sundry
local laws on the subject ofelections,
to which the local proclamations
must necessarily eon form, The elec
tion laws are generally unifofm; and
there are no good reasons why the
main body of the sheriffs' proclama
tions should not also be uniform.—
For many years scarcely any two
proclamations nave been :Mimi and
they seem in many instances to have
been prepared with more regartl4o
supposed partisan advantages than to
the plain requirements of law. Many
things, are included which are unne
cessary, and frequently other things
are excluded which the law positive
ly requires. This evil should be rem
edied ; and I mu suggest no better
way of doing it than for the Legisla
ture to authorise the Secretary of the
Commonwealth or the Attorney ( ;en
eral to prepare and distribute such a
form of proclamation as the law pre
scribes.
ILA I LIIOAD CONSOLIDATIONS
The consolidation of railroads and
railroad companies has lately become
quite common, and the intrests in
volved are very great. The laWs
heretofore created, authorizing, this
to be done only require that the ar
ticles of Merger sball be filed in the
office of Secretary of State, but confer
no authority for recording.. In view
of the magnitude of these interests I
recommend that authority be given
to the Secretary to record, In . suitable
books, all articles and agreements of
consolidation and merger heretofore
tiled, and all that hereafter may be.
Presented for that purpose.
CAPITOL ..t.N D CAPITOL - GROUNDS
A suitable place is desirable for the
proper exhibition of the, painting of
the Battle of Gettysburg, and the
flags now stowed away In the office
of the State Historian. Few 13er3OnS
visit Harrisburg who are not desirous
of viewing, not only the painting,
but the worn and tattered colors ter
ried triumphantly over / many battle
fields, by Our brave soldiers during
the recent war. ? These should not be
hidden from public inspection as so
much useless and condemned rub
bish. The rooms in the Capitol used
by the State Historian and the Board
of ,Chtultles, would, conjointly, an
swer the purpose indicated; and but
small expense teed be incurred to
put them in proper order.
The Legislature has frequently had
under consideration the propriety of
purchasing a small piece of land at
the east corner of the Capitol grounds,
necessary to complete the square. I
recommend that further efforts be
made to secure the object indicated,
and that the iron fence enclosing the
grounds be completed.
CODIFICATION OF TuE LAWS.
In my last annual message the fa
vorable consideration of the Legisla
ture was invited to the revised civil
code ; but no action was taken on It
other than the appointment.of a . Joint
committee of the two Houses to ex
amine it and make report at the pres
ent session. The commissioners in
formed me that, in the interval of
time, they have ingrafted into the
code so much of the legislation of last
winter a. 9 was necessary to harmonize
the whole, and have also made some
corrections of their earlier work, and
that production is now in the
hands of the committee.
COAL MINES
During the Session of 1870, the
Legislature passed a law "providing
fol• the health and safety of persons
employed in coal mines," which has
been productive of beneficial results.
Yet there are deficiences to be sunpli
ed in order to-fully accomplish the
desired objects, In a previous mes
sage I endeavored to make it appear
that no extensive coal mine could be
safe without more than one outlet,
and not even then unless secured by
ineombustible material. The recom
mendation that at least'two openings
should be required has been incorpo
rated in the law, but that regarding
the use of wood in their construction
was unheeded. It is comparatively of
little importance how many means
of exit there may be if these are
choked up with the flames and smoke
of burning timbers. This was dem
oristrated in September last in the
terrible calamity at Pittston, which
followed so soon after tbat of Avon
dale, and was less horrible only be
calise less extensive, by which the
lives of eighteen miners were sacri
lit2ed, and which, with the proper
precaution against fire, might prop
erly have been saved.
A still more recent casualty sug
gests another amendment to the act
referred to. By the reprehensible
pekctiee of robbing the supporting,
columns, the roofs of the 'Miles, the
overlying surfaces of which are in
sonic places covered_wlth houses, sink
into the vacuum, causing the destruc
thin of matiy thousand dollars worth
of property., as at Scranton,.7llyde
Park and Wilkosbarre. a should,
thtl..refore, be made unlawful to re
move the coal supports without sup
pls,•ing their place with others of sub
stantial masonry, or something equi
valent.
,The reports of Inspectors of Mines
fu f fnish much statistical information
and other valtiable and interesting
matter, exhibiting their usefulness
and Vindicating the propriety of their
appointment.
COM Pt' 1 &"' AT 1 N
, The small-pox has, during the past
year, made its appearance in the ci
ties and popti lons districts of the State.
tn July last it assumed an epidemic
character, and its ravages still con
tinue. During the last six ionths,
it Philadelphia alone; over eight thou
kind cases were reported, of which
eighteen hundred and tieventy -nine
proved fatal. On this point, the Port
n..,v.siittian and the ifealtlvOttiour of
that city, in their report of December
say "it i, a deplorable shame
that ten hundred and eighteen lives
(the number reported up to that date)
have been sacrificed this year, which
Could and should have been preserved
by the known means of prevention."
From this statement it appears that
one per cent. of the population of that
tity was smitten with the infection.
Auld that the mortality exceeded 23
per cent. of the macs reported. The
i eohleinie has spread widely over the
Hate, and many neighborhoods have
,greatly suffered.
'l'h, cause evidently exists among
ourselves, and it becomes our duty to
devise means to arrest its progress,
and to enact such legislation as will
protect our people against its recur
rence. This is a delicate subject, but
it is one which so dceple affects the
,welfare of our 4 itizens, and the gen
:end interests of the State, that it be
comes toy duty to speak frankly and
to the point. And it is also one in
which every member of the General
Assembly is concerned. Eminent
utedieal urea unhesitatingly declare
that thousands of lives have been sac
rificed. for want of proper sanitary
laws. There are none such in the
Suite ; and if they are not speedily
enacted a weighty responsibility will
rest upon wh4llll the duty devolves.
I quote from a recent work by Dr.
P. 11. Chavasse, an eminent English
surgeon, and 1)r. F. H. Getchell, lec
turer, Jefferson Mtslical College, the
following paragraph :
"Small-pox is a pest. It is worse
than the plague; for if not kept in
subjection it is more general—spar
ing neither young nor old, rich nor
poor, and commits greater ravages
than the plague ever did. Small-pox
is a disgeace to any civilized land, as
there is no necessity' for its presence.
If vaccination were frequently and
properly performed,small-pox would
.be unknown. Cow-pox is a weapon
to conquer .stnall-pox, and drive it
ignominiously from the field. My
firm belief, then, is that if every per
son were, erery Revell gears, duly and
properly vaccinnated, small-pox
might he utterly exterminated. But
as long as there are such lax notions
on the subject, and Fu h gross negli
gence, t he disease will always be
; for the poison of small-pox
never slumbers nor sleeps, but re
quires the utmost diligence to eradi
cate it. The great 1)r. Jeuner, the
discoverer of cow-pox as a preventive
fur small-pox, strongly advocated the
al 601 ute necessity of every person be
ing vaceinnated once every seven
years or oftener, if there was an epi
demic of small-pox in the neighbor- I
hood." These eminent phygicians I
also aver that very few fatal cases are
recorded as occurring after vaveina
tion, and these may be considered as
only exceptions to the general rule,
anti sonic of them might he traced
to the vaccinnation not having taken
effect. They moreover say that per
sons who take small-pox after vac
cination are seldom pitied, and the
disease assunicA a comparatively
mild form. The necessity, therefore,
for a compulsory ramination law and
its utility is also demonstrated by
unanswerable statistics, contained in
the report of the portysician, here
with submitted, and Co which you
are mostzespectfully referred.
A STATE BOARD OF HEATH.
Many eminent medical and other
scientific gentlemen have suggested
that the organization of a State Board
of Health; under the auspices of the
Legislature, would be greatly con
ducive to the general welfare of the
people of the Com monwettip. After
mature deliberation I thoroughly ac
cord in this. opinion - . Local boards.
of health May answer the purposes
for which'they are established , but
their fields of operation are limited,
and they cannot accomplish the
objects rtintemplated by the ap
pointment'of a general State Board.
The prevalence of yellow fever in for
mer yearsi . :which spread beyond the
boundarieeassigned to the Philadel- .
phia Board; , the devastation produc
ed by the sinall pox during the past
year; the fact that the Asiatic chol
era is steadily Marching over its old
track to oar very doors ; and the
many,other influences which cod-Stantl threaten the health of our citi
zens, seem Imperatively to demand
the creation of as efficient a sanitary
institution as legislative - wisdom can
possibly dcvlse. The Board could be
formed somewhat Similar to that of
Public Charities. The expense_ ,to
the State need be no greater, while
the benefits to be derived are incal
culable. The head of the Board
should be athysicien of undoubted
respectability : . in - regard to every
necessary acquirement, and largeex
perience in the practice of his profes
sion, while the Board might consist
of five or more medical men resident
k in different parts of the State, who
would perform the duties, if not grat
uitosly, at least at every moderate
east. The general objects should be
clenrly specified and defined; and each
metnber should exercise a careful su
per Vision over the sanitary condition
of the district of the State to which
he might be assigned.. The appoint
.meat nj such Board cannot result
otherwise than in great sanitary re
forms.
REMOVAL OF TIIE QUARANTINE.
The propriety of removing the
Quarantine has for a: long time been
a mooted question. Popular opinion
decidedly favors a changeauni in a few
i i
years it will be an it perative neces
sity. The existing zaretto was es
tablished nearly a ntury ago in a
sparsely settled district. Since then
its neighbornood has become thick
ly settled, and many dwellings
and towns are springing up in its
immediate vicinity. The rapid
growth of the city of Chester, and its
being made a port of entry, will ne
cessitate the removal, Besides, there
are cities and villages of considerable
size far below thequarantine station,
on both sides of the • river,' which
should receive the protection now
only inadequately afforded toThila
delphia. it should be located at the
mouth of the Deleware river, or upon
the bay, if a proper situation for the
erection of the necessary buildings
can be obtained,
No argument is necessary to show
that quarantine, to be effective, shout
be as far remote from thickly popu
lated districts as possible, and hence
he necessity for the change sugges
ted.
To effect this change the co-opera
tion of the• States of Delaware and
New Jersey is desirable and impor
tant, in order that a joint Quarantine
for the protection of the three con
tiguous States may be established. I
recomend that two commissioners be
appointed to correspond with sim
ilar commissioners of the other States
named, for the purpose of success
fully accomplishing this greatly de
sired object. •
THE POWDER MAGAZINE.
The removal of the powder maga
zine in Philadelphia from its present
location is a subject demanding
prompt attention. It is nearly (lin
t iguous to the city gas works, coal oil
- fineries, the new League Island
navy yard, many manufacturing
establishments and dwelling houses ;
and consequently an explosion of the
magazine might result in great loss of
life and destructioq of property. The
magazine should be in some afore is
olated district.
PUBLIC CHARITIFN
YOU will, in due time, receive a
full report of the transactions of the
I Board of Public Charities during the
past year. The usefulness of the
board will be flown by the facts to
be presented. Several suggestions as
.to the improvement of its organiz:►-
tion and management will be made
in the report, to which your attention
is invited. Its importance to the
t cause of humanity and the interests
I of the Commonwealth is generally
acknowledged.
IN NI &MORI ANI
During the last few years it has
been my melancholy duty to chroni
cle the death of a number of eminent
citizens, who had either heretofore
been, or were at the time connected
officially with tho Commonwealth,
and at the present time I would (14
injustice to my own feelings, were I
to omit to notice the fact, that three
noble and patriotic sons of Pennsyl
vania, whom the people had lately
honored with their efinfidence, have
terminated their earthly career with
in a brief period:
lion. George Connell, member of
the State Senate from the Fourth
Senatorial district, died in Philadel
phia on the .'6th of October last, aged
fifty-six years. A brief tribute to his
many virtues and excellencies is due
to him its a faithful public, servant.
During, the early part of his life he
was engaged in merchandising,
afterwards in real estate and law
buisness, and subsequently, from
1859, a period of twelve years - , was a
member of the State Senate, during
several years of which time he was
chairman of the Committee of Fi
nance. lie was elected by a majority
of over seven thousand votes in Oc
tober last to his fifth term. His
death leaves a vacancy in the Senate,
and will cause a void in political and
social circles of the State that will not
easily be filled. His faithful and
valuable services will long he re
membered.
lion. David Stanton, Auditor
General elect, departed this life on the
fifth of November last, aged forty
two years. Ile was a physician,
having graduated at the Cleveland
Medical College, and at the Univer
sity of Pennsylvania. During the
late war he was professionally en
gaged in several branches of the army,
viz: Surgeon of United State-. Vol
unteers, Superintendent of Hospitals,
Medical Director of the. Northern
department, and at the close of the
war brevetted Lieutenant Colonel
and Colonel, He continued actively
engaged in his profession at the time'
of his death. He was a scholarly
refined and thourough gentlemen ;
kind in his deportment andeminent
ly skilled in his profession. His de
parture is the more deeply lamented
as he had just become the people's
choice for another and more extended
field of honor and usefulness.
J. \V. I►ickerson, Esq., of Medford,
departed this life on the 26th Decem
ber last. He had distinguished him
self as a successful teacher of our
commOn 'schools, and as county
Superintendent.. lie was a young
man of ability and much promise of
future usefulness, and wits elected,
last October, :t member•sf the House
of Represesntati yes from the district
composed of the counties of. Bedford
and Fu!ton.
I'AItDoNS
Among the most einbarru,:sing and
responsible cloths required of the
Executive k the exercise of the par
doning poN% er. There k scarcely a
petition for pardon made. upon
which strong conflicting, interests anti
opinions are not brought to bear, all
of . .vhich must receive close and un
prejudice4l scrutiny in order that
mercy and justice may alike be satis
fied, This demands. ninch lime
no small amount of patience. The
pleadings of relatives friends and hu •
man itarians must be heard and duly
considered on the one hand, and on
the other the action and decision of
the courts, and in many cries the
earnest protests of either sincere or
malicious prosecutors. And after his
decision is, fairly given in favor of
an unfortunate convict. the Execu
tive must, in almost every caw, be
prepared to encounter acrimonious
criticism from parties who have nev
er given the subject one moment's
consideration.
During the past year the applica
tions for pardons were one thousand
and twenty-three. Of these, sixty
were granted, less than six per cent
of the entire number, being one to
every sixty thousand inhabitants of
the State. in proportion to the popu
lation, in which committees are ap
pointed to exerciWhis power. Ac
companying this message will be
found a pardon report, in conformity
with a plan adopted the first year of
my administration.
• These reports
are made for the purpose of showing
that no secrecy adheres to the exer
cise of the prerogative in question,
and to inform the Legislature and
the people, every one of whom h a ,
an Interest in the subject, what
Sons have been adduced for the
eration of persons convicted of crime,
and 'what personal influence s h ave
been employed for the aceompliA.
went ofthat object.
(X)NI UTATIONI4 oP IMPRISONNIEXT
The act approved M a y 21 ,
au.
thorlzing commutations upo n
terms of persons convicted of crime
has produced a decidedly salutar,;
effect. - The disciPlitto of tile . priso n ,
is reported as beinggreatiy
. proyeil
by the voluntary good conduct of all
desirous of availing theniselv of
the merciful provisions of the t aw .
and . teformatory influenee l
hacr
been manifest in many ea,e,, t, y the
goo d behavior of those who h ave
been the fortunate R•cipient s of it,
benefits. The improved habit, of
prisoners dufing their continemtv
have gone with them into privat,,
life, and the wisdom of the Legi,L.
lature in passing the law has thus h ence
signally confirmed. In accorrin,l.
with the act referred to commenda
ble conduct on the part of the pri K ,
ner, such As will merit and reet.ive a
favorable certificate from the wank
of a prison, with the approval of iii
board of inspectors, seCU rc_-4 the ;f i t.
lowing deductions from the tern ~t
sentence, viz:
"One month on n h of the: brit
two years ; two months on tech sac•
seeding y ea r to the fifth year; an d
tehre months on each following yf tr r
to the tenth ; and four month,
each remaining year of the termq
sentence."
The number of convicts dirrettli to
be discharged, under this act, W ore
their terms of sentence had c-xpi r ,,L
from the State peniterrtiarit., an d
county prisons, during the pd-t y r , 4%
amounts to five hundred arrri
three, and it 1- a gratifying favi
thus far 1 have not heard of
of them returning to habits of
6 ENRA I, REM ARKS
Herewith Is submitted a.efina r , u .
niaition from the President of
United States, in regard to the
ty-seventh article qt the treaty
eluded in Washkigton on the eighth
day of May last, between the l-:nit,ll
States and Great Britain. It rt later
to the navigation of'the lake 7., river,
and minis along the northern bon.
daries of the United States. 1,
which, and the accompanying cony
of the treaty, your attention i, 11i
vited.
In accordance with an existing law,
the banks in the Lointnon wealth art
required at stated periods to pubil.-4
a correct statement of their busing
transaction., and financial condition.
A law• . sin] liar in all respects should
be passed in regard to all saving fund
institutions.
A re-survey of the geological and
mineralogical re.._ , ,urees of the State
has on several occusitais been recom
mended. The sulject 6 agt, tin com
mended to vl , ur consideration.
The report fif James wurriTl,
Fish onlitni,4ioner, a itl ke laid In.
fore you ; from. which it - WiliAkcetli
that although the Work as.signed
is progressing slowly, it is surd>.
accomplishing the desired result,
In previous messages legldativ..
gtention has been called to suudry
subjects upon which no, action h.,. !
been taken. Among the most Hi:-
portant of these is the creation ,ran
insunince department, the protect, r.
and multiplication of our ti horn
and the establishment of a bun-au f
statistics. ' With regard to the tali r.
it is important that the resouros
the State should be more thorougifir
ascertained and understood tli4n
they are at present. The extent
value of our oil, salt, coal and if-!,
fields are unknown, and there is
reliable information to be oktainisl
from any one source concerning :tw
amount of these wild staples,
the value of their annual produchun.
The saute may be said of all our pr,-
ductions, whether they result fr , ,ni
mining, manufactures, agricultUre
or commerce
should ili . oo
recorded in this proposed bureau
such facts and statism , as are aces:
sible, concerning the cunditiot,
wages and treatment of ail classes ut
working people. Facts un all ther
and other suhjocts relative to. b. ,
business and productions of the Snito
should he collected and properly 1 . ,:
corded by an officer appointed fur
that purpose, who would riot only
keep them easily accessible to
persons desirous of using than, Lt.:
publish them annyally for genet:,
information. The expense of stn h,
bureau would be insignificant
compared with the udvantages to
derived therefrom.
The obnoxious doctrine of fro.-
trade is again raising its ilYtir,v4i , a.l
with a view to destroy, as far
soine of _the Hunt
interests of the State and nation
it is hoped and expected that our
Senators and Representatives in (
gress will interpose in solid phajaux
between its advocates and tilt' 21CliAll•
plishmerd of their designs.
My opinions, heretofore so fully
and freely expressed in relation to a
tariff protective of our product , and
manufactures, and especially open
salt, coal, iron and steel, remain uot ,
only unchanged, but are greatly
strengthened by reflection and 01-
servation. Any atbmipt to reduce
the protection now afforded c:turplt
but be regarded as an effort to beacnt ,
foreign interests at the eXpclaSt . yfc
our Home Industries, and I.) 'Ave \
our toilers on a par with the ill-paid
labor of foreign countrics,
must eventuate in the dc,truction
the very influences which ha' , , 'OW
the war, made us so prosperou
people,. and laid the foutalation. ,
suet] great individual and natiot;:ti
wealth. The aveable teaching
experience on this important subject
should not be unheeded, and
Lion on it should be for the N 1 1:;iro
of the people and the, nation. It
should untietsitatingly pioteet
jean labor, maintain its muipen-a
tion, hold out inducements to cavi
talists for investment, give the ri ., -
dueer a home market, and afford the
amplest opportunity for the devel
opment of the unbounded resources
of the country, and not for the bene
fit of those who are industriously
endeavoring to lure our eapitali,t
to financial ruin, and bring about the
impoverishment of our niechani , -
and citizens who are now prospen)u
ly engaged in all branches of tradt
and tdustry.
An "International Congress on tit,
Prevention and Repression of Crinw,
Including Penal and Reforniatoo
Treatment," has been appointed :-
be held in London, on the :Id of Jul .
1872. By resolution of Conan-,
C. Wines, LL. 1)., has been
Commissioner of the United State-
The philanthropic objects and t"'
teial results contemplated are to.
numerous to be here set forth.
accompanying doibuments will tn!-
Pish all necessary inlorninti ,
I.2ommisSioners from nearly kv ,
`civilized nation are expelled to
present, and a number of our ow 1
Stales will, doubtless, be represen l•
It is suggested, very properly, OA
the Legislature of Pennsylvania ""
thorize the appointment of one '' r
more Commissioners to repre , cill
the State in this important Congo-,
Upon all national questions tlw,
views.then entertained and advanced-
In iris' last annual tnessage reino,ll
unchanged. On this acvaunt,
gether with the belief that Cottgrc"
will soon dispose of the subjects ti""
discussed, and others that have •intt
been brought prominently before the
public, I deem it unnecessary t"
copy ••:iur time with any especnii
rematics on the affairs of Ow n.ern
I conclude with a sincere I ar' -
est desire that your session May
characterized by universal kintn
and generosity, while on in
part I
will be pleased to glv:e a cordial con
currence in every measure calculate e'
y
to adyance the interests of our con-
mon constituents and the gener 3l
prosperity of the aim monoealth.
JOHN W. GEARY.
ExEcurtVE CHAMBER,
Harrisburg. January 3, 1871.5