VOL. 48 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE, Po the Senate and Ilouae of Rqwesenialirrs Chnimonwealth of Peonsy:ivnia the GENTLEMEN :—ln obedience to re quirements of the Constitution I have the honor of transmitting to yon sty sixth an nual message. Since your last meeting the general course of events, both State and National, has been so propitious as to afford abundant cause for mutual congrat ulation, and of thanksgiving to that Al mighty Providence whose will controls the destinies of all. While we have been ex empt front the calamity by fire that has befallen the metropolis of a great sister State, her misfortune has inured to the benefit of our people by the enlistment of that sympathy for the suffering which is one of the most ennobling sentiments of the human heart. The seasons, though not so favorable for the productions of our soil as in some past years, have been suf ficiently fruitful; and no general epidemic has appeared to disturb the pursuits. or fill with sorrow the heat-is of oar pooniation. Oar mining industries. manufactures and internal commerce are being constantly enlarged and extended, and their enter prising proprietors are generally receiving remunerative returns. A great political conflict has occurred, resulting in a signal triumph of the sante principles that were asserted in the resto ration of the Union. the amendments of the Constitution, and the reconstruction of the States. The victory in Pennsylvania was decisive of the victory in the Nation ; and will be remembered as an inestimable contri ution to the harmony, prosperity and glory of the country. The election of the soldies, yho -is first in war," to the office that makes him —first in peace," was an appropriate exhibition of natiaual grat itude, and inspires the deepest feelings of satisfaction the hearts of his country men." While the Constitution wisely with h ids from the Governor all power of in terference in legislation, it imposes upon him the duty of laying before the General Assembly such inlitrmation of the state af fairs, and recommending to their consider ation su,h measures as he may deem 'cape <tient and important to the public welfare. I ant happy to inform you that pe and good order have been. maintained by the enforcement of just and equal laws. and the legitimate exercise of authority continues to find an enduring basis of sup port in the intelligence, affections and moral sense of the people. The credit of the State remains unques tioned abroad, because her public faith has been inviolably maintained at house. The following condensed statement of the re eeipts, expenditures and indebtedness of the Commonwealth is respectfully sub anitted : Receips. lewee in Trenmury Nov. no, 1:;71..51,47a,50s 59 Or.linary receipts luring the Seen! year ending Nov. ZO, 1572, Total in Trenmiry during year end. ing Nun. 30,1872 - DiS4/97:iententS. ampnases wad during year ending NU, 30, 1372. 5: 9 ,000,631 55 Loans etc.. redeemed... 2,176.326 00 Interest on loans paid.. 1,706,032 SS Total disbursements.. .--$7,142,99J 4: Balance in Treasury No r. 30, 1372—51,432,455 61 Public Debt. The pubic debt on Nov. 30,'7., was Add Chambers Certiti cotes Add Agricultureal Col lege Land Script fund, held in trust, ns per Act approved April :1, 1372 .t , 28,950,071 299,74.9 91 500,000 00 •-629,779,520 94 Deduct amount paid by Commission ers of the Sinking Fund during the y3Ar eadiag Nov. 39, 1972 Public debt, Nov. 30, lsT2 Deduct asset,' in Sink ing Fund u 9,300,000 00 -And cash balance in Treasury 1,482,455 61 :Amount of assets aut cash _ _310,782,455 61 Balance of public debt unpruvided for 516,521,039 03 which can be extinguished in ten years by the annual payment of one million six hundred thousand dollars. During the last six years payments ou tin debt have bean made as thllows : Awount paid in 1867 • $1,794,644 50 Do ._.IBOB 2,414.816 64 Do 1369 472.406 18 Do 1870 1.702,879 05 Do 1871 2,131,590 17 Do 1872 2,476,326 00 Total payments Being a little over tioen.ly-nine per cent. on the debt due December 1,1866, which was then 837,704,499 77. B;nizing Fund. In raniarkiaz upon this subject, I trust it will be instructive to refer, briefly, to saute of the facts relating to the accumula tion and payment of the public debt, and the origin of the assets arising from the sale of the public improvements. However wisi our predecessors were in opening avenues for trade and commerce, and however great were the benefits re sulting ti the people from the internal improvements of the State, it is obvious, that while those of other States rarely failed to become sources of revenue, the management of ours wassueh as to produce results widely different. A lar g e majority of the tax-payers, therefore, after long and patient endurance, becoming dissatisfied with their management, demanded they should be sold; assuming it would be a measure of economy, and would prevent an increase of the public obligations. The construction of the improvements resulted in a public debt, which, in 1852, reached its maximum. f 41,524,875 37. The interest, premiums and other expenses that have been paid upon the debt, fr. , in its incipiency to • November 30, 1872, sum up 876.845,744 99 and make the entire expenditure on account of the public works, 8113,370,720 36. In pursuance of law the State canals and railroads were sold in 1857, for eleven mil lion dollars in bonds; upon which the State has received $1,700.000 00 in cash, and $9,300,000 00 remain in the hands of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, as follows, viz : Bonds of the Pennsylvania P.ailroad Company. secured by lein on the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail road 55,800,000 00 Thirty-fire bonds of the Allegheny Valley Railroad Company, each for $lOO,OOO, guaranteed by the Penney/vania Railroad Company, Northern Central Railroad Com pany. and the Philadelphia and Brie Railroad Company. payable $lOO,OOO annually, beginning.•tau nary 1875, hearing 5 per cent. in tercet from January i , 1'42 Amuont of n, The proper and efficient management of the finances is one of the most important duties of the administration of the State W- - , ~. , r . .., - ‘--- ,±, ,--, ri r, L.' ino do.n. E_ a, -, 1: D 1,., .: :' ' ournat . a., .1 7 ' . : :: 7lt . t e '" ' 4 . .i. it VIIMEt _____) •:.,,...., . goVernment. The collection of the reve nue; the economical expenditure; the safe keeping of the public moneys, and well guarded appitopriatien bills, are always questions of deep interest to the tax-pay ers ultheState. • It is a lasting honor to the people of Pennsylvania, that they have never, even when struggling under the most oppressive burdens, permitted' the integrity of the State to be doubted, and now it cannot be otherwise th .n gratifying to them, to learn the rapid extinguishment of the public in debtedness, the greater part of which was incurred for improvements, which, as here in already shown, utterly failed to be ad vantageous to her coffers. The rapid reduction of the State debt, and the reduction of taxation, have gone hand in hand throughout my entire ad ministration, and have constituted a mark ed portion of its policy, attesting, at the same time, the concurrence and wisdom of • ;he Legislature, and the fidelity of those who have been the cuStodians ol the public funds. This policy should be continued, and no attempt to cover up or conceal the actual expenses of the government should be made for the purpose of obtaining the people's consent to appropriations, or en terprises of doubtful propriety ; which pro ' positions, if coupled with a condition to raise the money by immediate and direct taxation, would be unhesitatingly rejected. The Legislative appropriations, during the last six years, made iit aid of the vari ous institutions fir the support of the deaf, dumb, blind, insane, feeble-minded, friendless, wanderers, orphans, soldiers' homes, hospitals, universities, houses of correction, penitentiaries, and thepayment of military expenses, incurred during the war; expenses of government, common schools, and soldier's orphans' schools, amount to about 617,000,060,00. The expenses of the soldiers' orphans' schools alone, during the same time, is $3,- 467,534.11, and, although it is a most no ble and patriotic expenditure, it is, never- . theless, and unusual one, and if such a necessity had not existed, the reduction of the State debt, during their existence, would have be , ni nearly fifteen million dol lars. During the past six years, the current of legislation has been steadily in favor of reduced taxation, Not only have numer ous local laws been enacted,. exempting churches, cemeteries, schools, hospitals and other institutions from taxation, but many general laws of the same character have been passed, as is shown by the following enumeration : By the "act to amend the revenue laws," approved, February 23, 1866, all real es tate in the Commonwealth was thereafter made exempt from taxation for State pur poses. By the act approved March 30, 1866, all persons who served nine 'months or up wards in the military service, or who were honorably discharged therefrom by reason of wounds or physical disability contracted therein, and their property, were exoner ated from all bounties, and per capita toe “nary - mums : _ _ 7,118,637 47, $5 . .625,446 0 t The act Of April 29, 1867, repealed all laws requiring payment of taxes to the State on sales of loans and stocks by nue- tioneers. By the act of April 10, 1867, all trustees, or owners of property to the vales of ty five thousand dollars, used ibr soldiers' orphans' schools, were exempted from all "county, road, city, borough, poor and school taxes." By the act of April 4, 1863, and the supplements thereto, "all mortgages, judg ments, recoguizauces, and moneys owing upon articles of agreement for the sale of real estate," were made`'-exempted from all tatxatiou, except for State purposes.". • •By act approved January 3, 1868, all laws therein recited were repealed, which imposed taxes upon "the shares of stock held by any stockholder in any institution or company, incorporated under the laws this State, which in its corporate capacity is liable to, and pays into the State Treas ury the tax on capital stock imposed" by the acts therein recited; 2,476,326 00 327,303,494 61 The act of June 2, 1871, repealed so much of the law of April 29, 1844, as im posed a tax of two per cent. on salaries, trades. offices, occupations and professions. And by the act of April 3, 1872, the sixth section of the law of April 21. 1854, was repealed, which imposed a tax of oat, half of one per cent. on the capital stock of all corporations creaied under laws "to enable joint tenants, tenants in ccmmon, and adjoining owners of Mineral lands, to manage and develope the same." In view of these facts, the practical ques tions now are, can any further reductions be properly made? And if so, on- what subjects r _ _ .$10,992,662 54 heretofore on several occasions I have invited the attention of the Legislature'to the importance of adopting a more liberal policy towards those citizens who are en gaged iu industrial enterprises which em ploy large numbers of working men, and tend to develop the resources of the Com monwealth. Involving great , risks, and requiring for their successful conduct a large amount of capital, these operations have been, in the main, conducted by means of ,ssociations, ontanized under the general laws which regulate the incorpor ation of manufacturing, mining and im provement companies. These laws, while they resemble in their principal features the liberal systems in force in other States, fail in their ostensible purpose of encour aging manufacturing industry, because the privileges they grant are enormously bur dened with taxation. This may be illustrated, by supposing the case of twenty persons, who cash subscribe five thousand dollars to the stock of a com pany organized for the purpose of produc ing nil, or mining ore or coal, or manufac turing cotton or woolen goods. iron or steel, or any other commodity. The fund thus created must be expended in lands, buildings and permanent improvements, which arc taxable jb' al, puToses to the Caine extent as if they were owned li/f an individual operator. In addition to this the company must pay a bonus of one-fmrth of one per cent. to the Commonwealth upon its sock amounting to' he sant of two hund red and fifty dollars. It is hereafter lia ble.to an annual tax upon its capital stock at the rate of one-half mill for each one Per cent. of dividends made or declared. In case of no dividends having been made or declared, Men three mills upon the ap praised mine of the stock. . Also, a tax of three per cent. upon the entire amount of net earnings or hzeome. Also, a tal:office per cent. on all interest paid to bondholders and other creditors. (For all these taxes, see act of May 1, 1898.) An individual, wealthy enough to fur nish a hundred thousand dollars in similar business, - would be wholly free from these exactions. The State imposes none of these burdens upon him. It does not keep an espionage upon his business, or .500,000 00 9,300,000 00 demand from him sworn statements of his annual profits. it discriminates in his favor against the association of small capi talists which it professes to encourage. And without sharing in any of the stock holder's risks, it makes itself a partner in their profits and follows them with a grasp ing hand, and a never-ceasing official vigi lance of an inquisitorial character over thrir affairs. Such conditions arc unknown to the laws of New England, New York and other rival manufacturing States, which, with out exception, carefully prohibit duplicat ing of taxes upon their own industry. Stock in manufacturing companies is gen erally taxed by them at its value, like oth er personal property, but first the value of all real estate represented by the stock is deducted, and made taxable like the pro perty of other individuals in the region where the landsaro located. It is by such liberal provisions that these States have fostered their industries and maintaineJ a monopoly of capital ntid supremacy in man tinctures. The western and southern States, finr many years our customers, are beginning to be our rivals : and desiring to draw to themselves the benefits flowing from di versified industry, they are enacting the most liberal laws for the encouragement of coporate and-individual efforts to establish manufactories, and in addition to this, towns and cities are giving large subsides to secure the erection of mills and facto ries within their limits. Notwithstanding the discovery of large bodies of coal in the western States, and their close proximity to vast masses of pure ores, Pennsylvania would still possess at least equal. if not superior, attractions for the investment of capital, were it not for her oppressive tax laws; all of which have a tendency to drive capitalists beyond her borders to seek lo cations less burdened for their investments. Nothing but very strong necessity could justify such a variety of taxes upon the same thing. And if justification ever ex isted, I believe it to exist no longer. The time has come when, with proper diligence in collecting and economy in expenditures, the State can well afford a reduction of taxation ; and the legislation in that di rection should be such as to relieve the undue burdens of taxation from every form of productive industry. I would, there fore reccomMend that the enrolment tax upon private acts chartering industrial companies, and the bonus upon stock of such companies when organized under the general laws, he considered a full equiva lent to the Commonwealth for the privi- loges of a charter; and that all Stite; tax es upon 'capital stock, net earnings and divided of manufacturing, mining mid improvement companies, and all co-opera tive associations, be repealiA. This reduc tion will amount to $549,554.23—the sum collected last year. I also recom mend the repeal of that source of revenue known in the Auditor General's report as "Tax on Loans," which amounts to $192,- 407.28. It is confidently believed that with these proposed reductions, which amount all her current expenses, the interest on the public debt, and make an annual re duction of at least onemillion five hun dred thousand dollars upon the principal. Numerous comumpications, signed by many enterprising and intelligent citizens, continue to reach me, on the subject of a geological and mineralogical survey, urg ing me to commend it to your careful consideration. In any annual inessig.24 of 1870 and 1871, I laid before the General' Assembly the necessity for a continuation of the surveys already made, in order that the mineral ogical resources of the State should be mote fully and perfectly ascertained : and expressed the opinion that tho results would be interesting end valuable, not only to our citizens individunlly, but to the entire country. . . Assurances have been given by the officers of the "United States Coast Sur vey" of the great interest they will take in our State, in the event they carry out their intention to cross the continent to connect the "Ocean lines of Coast Sur veys." This connection will pass through Pennsylvania, and will materially assist in determining and establishing one or more points in each county through which the line will pass, aid in triangulating so far as to enable us to rectify our county maps and connect them in a correct map of the State. And as •the State Geologist pro gresses with his studies and examinations, he should cause to be accurately repre sented upon the corrected maps, by colors and other appropriate means, the various areas occupied by the different geological formations, and place them in the posses-' sion of the people, for their information, prior to the completion and publication of a full account of the survey. A State map of the kind indicated, with all the discoveries marked in proper colors thereon, would give to the thousands of visitors from our own cou•itry and from foreign lands, who will attend the Centen nial celebration, some approximate idea of the incalculable wealth beneath the soil of our State; and would have an import ance in their sight that could be conveyed to them in no o. her possible manner. The expenses of ageological corps, prop erly organized. and such as would be com petent to perform the duties required, have been carefully estimated, and will not exceed forty-five thousand dollars for the first year, and need not be quite as much annually thereafter. In recommend ing this measure two years ago, I said: ' "For want of a proper bureau of statistics, and a corps of observation and publication to collate and relate the facts of cur geolo gy and mineralogy as they have appeared, the State has already suffered severely. Much valuable information has been lost, never to be recovered; and but little cer tain knowledge of past mining, and other scientific operations, has been preserved to govern and assist the future engineer. It is, therefore, neither wise nor just policy to delay this work under the pretext that it may he were perfectly effected at some future time. There is a present necessity for it, though the time never will come Wileir such a work con be considered per fect. New developments in mineral re sources, as well as additional acquirements in scientific knowledge, will oonstantly be made as long as the world exists, The sooner, therethre, in my opinion; a thor ough survey is authorized, the better it will befor the prospective interests ofthe State, as well as for its present necessities." The golden destiny of the Pacific States may well be envied; but our coal, ore, oil, lumber and soil are a much better founda tion for wealth and pernianent greatness than the products of all their placers, and the transient prosperity they have pro duced. Let us build upon an enduring basis and the world will forever pay a golden tribute to our products and indus tries—the true wealth of Pennsylvania. HUNTINGDON, PA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1873 By an act approved April 12, 1872, es tablishing a Bureau of Labor Statistics and of Agriculture," the Governor was authorised to appoint a Commissioner of that department. Accordingly Thomas C. MacDowell; of Dauphin county, was ap pointed. lie immediately established his office in the Capitol building, as required by the act, and commenced the work of collecting the necessary information and arranging the statistical tables, in proper and convenient form to be laid before the Legislature, and far distribution among our citizens. The functions of the commissioner em brace the examination of nearly all the varied industries of the State, and arc defined in the act as follows : "The duties of such officer shall be to collect, compile and systematize statistics, with reference to the subject of labor in its relations to the social, educational. industrial and general condition, wages and treatment of all class es of woaking people, and bow the same effect our permanent prosperity and pro ductive industry. It shall also be the duty of such Bureau to collect, collate and classify statistics relating to the mineral, manufacturing, agricultural and commer cial productions of this Connnonwealth." The fourth section makes it the duty of the chief of such Bureau to report annually to the Legislature, in convenient form, the result of his investigations. The act does not appropriate auy mon ey to defray the necessary contingent ex penses of putting the Department in wcrking order, nor does it prescribe the manner •of obtaining the information re quired, or that it shall be furnished; and it leaves the commissioner without any means by which he can obtain it, except by the voluntary act of those engaged in business. These were evidently over-sights which will doubtless be corrected by an appropriation, and by the passage of such enactments as will enable the commissioner to procure, from the proper sources, the information required to carry out the intent and meaning of the law. When it. is remembered that Pennsyl vania ranks second in population; second in manufactures; sixth as a wheat grow ing State. and• first in point of mineral wealth and resources, among the States of the Union ; it should not be a question of dollars and cents, whether her vast and varied resources shall be left to be devel oped by the slow process of casual discov ery, or be properly introduced to the notice of capitalists at home and abroad, by authorized and official - statements of 11104. The information that will Le furnished, will not only be of great practical value to the citizens of the States, but. it will allord the representatives of the people, who are charged from. year to year with the re sponsibilities of legislation, the best and inset compendious source of information, the iniportanee of which can only be es timated by experience. Pennsylvania stands pre-eminent timber mineral resources, possessing, as she does, the only known anthracite coal •fields, of any consequence, whilst her iron ores, and _oil are a source of inexhaustible wealth, that defir.ls-von, T rat-atimir.--: ft,w items en ly are necessary to prove the c3rrectness of these remarks. The production of coal, from the anthracite regions, in 1820, was 365 tens; in 1870 it reached the enormous amount of 19,951.585 tons, and it is es timated the product will be swelled in 1872, to upwards of 22,000,000 tons. It the increase in the production of authra cite coal has been so rapid and wonderful in a period of fifty-two years, who can estimate its growth within the next half century? The product of our bituminous coal fields, in 1874, foots up 14,968,465 tons. The two make an aggregate of 31,- 920,050 tons for that year. Meanwhile, the development and growth of the oil production of the north western counties, almost challenges the credulity of our people. FroM august, 1859, when Drake sunk the first well, t , the close of 1864, the production was 221,000,000 gallons, yielding the sum 0f529,820,000. In 1864, about 62,000*00 gallons were refined, the average price of which, in bond, at New York, (sixty-two cents per gal lon,) gave a value of 638 440,000. The • entire production, up to 1868, was 327,- 692,524 gallons, equal to 8,493,339 bar rels of crude oil. There is t‘o doubt the future reports of the commissioner will disclose an equally rapid increase in the production of oil, and other facts concerning it not less gratify- ing. The remunerative prioes paid at present for pig metal is iadueing the erection of a large number of first class furnaces, which will materially increase the wealth of the State, and give a new impetus_ to other branches of business dependent upon their . products for active and profitable results in the near future. There are other questions of much in terest to the public welfare, which can only be evolved with any degree of certain ty by careful investigations; such as those' effecting the healtli, comfort and general well being of the people, but more espe cially the industrial classes, who arc the main dependence of the state for its con tinued prosperity. The question of labor, in all its relations is one that constantly engages a large share of attention, and the subject can only be intelligently and prop erly legislated upon, after th 3 researches of the statistician are laid before the Leg islature, with such accompaning testimony, us will reduce to a demonstration the abusses . which exist in our social system. Much might be said in this connection, but your patience shall not be unduly taxed by mere extended observations, as I am confident the question of labor, in all its relations, cannot fail to engage the serious attention of enlightened and patriotic rep- men toti yes. In view or all the filets connected with the Bureau of Statistics. I most earnestly bespeak for it liberal appropriations, as well as the ibstering cm; of the Legisla ture. On the night prior to the adjournment of the LogiQature at its last session, a bill was submitted for my approval apportion ing the State into Cengessional districts, for the period of ten years, under the na tional censu-4 of 1870. The enactment was highly objectionable in many of its fea tures; and Congress than had under con sideration a suppltauentxl bill proposing an increase of representatises, that would give one additional member ;a this State. This afterwards became a lay, thereby giving to Pennsylvania twenty-even members of Congress instead of twenty-six, as provided forin the legislative eractment of the last session. The latter htving failed to re ceive Il.secutive approval, the Congression al elections last Getober were held under the former law, and the three additional members apportioned !o the State were chosen as members at hr - e by the vote of the whole people. Heace, the duty of en acting another apportionment bill devolves upon the present Legislature, and I re it that careful and patriotic con sideration required by the magnitude of the interests involved. The sixth section of the sixth article of the Constitution declares that— "A State Treasurer shall be elected an " finally by joint vote of bath branches of "the Legislature." Bat the Legislatures by joint resolution, passed at two consecutive sessions, and ap proved by popular vote at the last October election, has amended this part of the Constitution, by striking out the section above quoted, and inserting in place there of the followinr. • "A State Treasurer shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the State, at such time, and fur such term of service as shall be prescribed by law." The adoption of this amendment will be of 2ially proclaimed on the second Tuesday. of January, 1873, and will supersede ex , is:itr. laws for the election of State Treas urer'by the Legislature. Inasmuch as so provision seems to have been made by law fir filling this office, from the first Monday of May next until an election can be had by the people under the amended Consti tution, I invite the attention of the Legis lature to this eandition of the subject, and recommend such action as will carry out the amendment, and in the meantime se-', cuts so important an interest of the Com monwealth. The several duties imposed upon the Executive and Secretary of State, by the act of the last session authorizing the con vention, were duly pertl.mnied. The dele gates having boon chosen at the October election. convened in this city on the 12th day of November. The convention, after completing its organization, appointing its committees, and adopting rules :or its gov ernment, adjourned to meet at Philadel phia cm the 7th of the present month. Careful revision of our fundamental law is imperatively demanded by the high est considerations of public, welfare ; and it is.c.mfidently hoped the action of that body may be such as to meet the just ex pectations of enlightened public opinion. Atuy of the laws now upon our statute books were designed to fortify the ballot box against corruption and fraud, but practically they have often been rendered impotent for that purpose, and even for the prevention of false returns. Numerous complaints hive been made to ice on this subject by many highly respectable &ti 'zens, who have requested that I would, once more, urge it upon the attention of the Ivislature, and ask the passage of more stringent enactments for the sup pression of such crimes against the rights of the citizen, Redress for these wrongs is expected from the Constitutional Con., vention, and it is hoped the public expec tations will be realized It is believed, however, the Legislature can remedy. some of the evil:, complained of, and your atten tion is earnestly invited to the subject, in order that whatever is practicable may be done to guard the purity of the ballot-box, and the rights of electors., . . The attention of the Legislature is again incited to the importance of writs of•error in Criminal eases, and reference is made to my last two annual messages for the argu ments and reasons why there should be additional legislation upon this subject. With groat propriety, the Superintend ent, in the opening of his able report, con gratulates the people upon the continued growth and prosperity of our public schools. Their progress is clearly indicated by comparing the expenditures of the last six years, with those of the six years prior to 1867, viz : Total cost for tuition float un to 1872 521,576,15S 61 Total coot fur with. from 1661 to 1606 12,741.061 71 Incre.e. 55,833,196 90 Total expenditures of the system from 1861 to 1,72 ..42,952,152 11 Total expenditures of the system from 1861 to 1856 Tomes-. 323,361,002 60 Pennsylvania, less ihrtunato than tinny of her sister States, has uo school fund.— The legislative appropriations amount only to about. six haudred thousand dollars an nually; but the people, in the several dis• tricts, voluntarily vote all other moneys necessary to support the schools. The foregoing statements briefly exhibit the deep and increasing interest entertained in behalf of popular education. Intelligence and virtue are conceded to be indispensable conditions of the perma nent existence and prosperity of any'forea of government. The necessity of these supports increases in proportion as the area of freedom and privilege is enlarged. It follows, from these unquestioned maXinis, that the demand for general education is more imperative in the United States than in any other country. Our Constitution recognizes the people as the inherent source of all power, All participate in the great act of creating the country's ru lers. The ballot decides all questions of choice, and fills all official positions, from that of the chief magistrate of the nation to that of the lowest town officer. This supreme and resistless power of universal suffrage, at once suggests the absolute ne cessity of universal education. The trtith of these premises admitted. no argument is required to establish the conclusion. The (num school system doubtless owes its origin to a common conviction that no people can be properly and permanent ly self-governing, whose intelligence is un equal to the comprehension of their rights, privileges and responsibilities, or whose virtues are too feeble and imperfect to re strain them from a violation of those du ties which they owe to their (boater and to each other. When the system was introduced, thir ty-eight years ago, it was generally viewed in the light of an experiment. The act creating it made its adoption dependent upon the vote of the people in their res pective districts, Their reluctant avid tar dy acceptance of the priceless hoop is neither matter of surprise to us, nor re proach to them, when all the circumstan ces aro duly considered. Its present pop ularity is indicated by the entire absence of complaint, and a still wore signifioant roadinesl, by the people, to assume the ex panses requisite fin• its .constant improve ment and efficient application. Doubtless many years mast elapse before the full fruition of its influences can be received, but, meanwhile, it will be gradually mould ing the pepular mind into more perfect conformily with the requirements of our free institutions. Fortunately the old plwjedice against the syste-a no longer exists ; but hub:pence, to a lamentable extent, occupies its place. From the report,of the Superintendent it appears that the number of children in the State, who do nut attend school, exceeds seventyfivc thousand. This criminal neg lect is most prevalent in the cities. In Philadelphia twelve per soot. of the chil dren between the ages of five and fifteen years do not attend school. But mere sig nificant and alarming still, of the whole number registered as attendants, forty-six per cent. arc absent from the daily ses sions. In the State at large the unregis tered amount to six per cent., and the ab sentees to thirty-three per cent. And, ..s was naturally to be expected, the resulting ignorance from this neglect has proved a Fruitful source of crime. Sixteen per cent. of the inmates of the State prisons are un able to read. Obviously, therefore, it in not sufficient that the State makes ample provision.— Such measures should be immediately adopted as would secure a universal parti cipation of the benefit. The children are not to blame. They naturally prefer free dom and amusement to the confinement and studies of the school room. Parents and guardians are the parties with whom the State must deal. She owes it alike to her own peace and security, and to the highest welfare of the children who are to be her future citizens, to see that t . ey shall be rescued front the perils of igno rance. After careful and anxious deliberation upon all the facts, and their inevitable consequences, I recommend the adoption of a compulsory system of education. That a law to this effect will encounter objec tions is not to be dotOted ; for in view of the probability of such a measure, its op ponents have already commenced to mar shal their forces. In Norway, Sweden and Prussia this system was first adopted and such have been its salutary effects that other Euro pean governments have made haste to fol low their example. Austria, admonished by the defeat at Sadowa, France, by the crushing disaster at Sedan, and England by the possibility of areal "battleof Dork ing," have decreed by statute that all their children shall be taught to road and write, influenced by a conviction that knowledge gives increased growers in war as well as capacity and integrity for the peaceful pursuits of life And it is a fact of stri king significance that none of the States that have passed such enactments have abandoned or repealed them. In passing from this topic, of paramount importance to the future well being of the Commonwealth, I unhesitatingly - express the hope that the day is not distant when through the Bureau of National Educa tion, seconded by the concurrent legisla tive action of the States, every child in the American Union, without reference to creed, caste, color or condition, will be. thoroughly and effectually instructed in all the elementry branches of English ed ucation; and that uniform text books, set ting forth the true history and theory of our National and State governments, will be provided and introduced into all the schools of the country, Approximation. of thought and opinion on these subjects is of vital consequence to the permanence 1 of the Union, and the stability of our re- 1 publican institutions. Had such a measure been opportunely initiated the war of the rebellion would scarcely have been possible. Staid you &tem your powers inade quate to enact suitable laws upon this sub ject, the Constitutional Convention, now in session, should not hesitate to habilitate you with such authority, and thus lend their aid and influence in making Penn sylvania the vanguard in the great mission of universal education. From the report of the Superintendent of Soldiers' Orphans' schools, and other sources, I feel fully authorized in assuring you they were never before in a more flourishing and prosperous condition. Every child, legally eligible, and having made application, is now admitted to these schools, The whole number of admissions since 1865 is 6,429; the discharges from all causes 2,902, leaving in attendance 3.527. No larger number will probably hereafter be attained, and it may confident ly be expected that this number will be subject to an annual reduction of at least 500, until the system shall have accom plished its mission. The entire expense of these schools to the State, since they went into operation in 1863, is $3,467,543 11. Their cost during the last year was e 45,345 47. It is estimated by the Superintendent that the future expense, to the period of their final extinction. will not exceed one mil lion five hundred thousand dollars. The health of the children has been ex cellent. Their exemption front small pox, while it was prevailing all around them, is remarkable; and no stronger evidence of good management and the propitious re sults of systematic vaccination, could be adduced. The exemplary conduct of the pupils after their discharge is one of the most gratifying circumstances connected with their history. The following state aent of the Superintendent will be highly satisfactory to the Legislature and the people: "Front the beginning of tbsse schools to the present, the greater part of the children who have received their ad vantages have been honorably discharged. And from facts in the possession of the department, it appears that' more than ninety-eight per cent. are daing (cell, and seem likely to become upright and useful citizens." Among the States of the American Union, Pennsylvania stands pre-eminent in her .‘ears for the soldier who has borne the battle, and for his widow and orphan children." Her noble scheme for clothing, educating, maintaining and adopting the orphan children of her soldiers who gave their lives in decease of the National Union, is her own invention. In this the generosity of her people has been imitated, hut not equalled by those of any other State. To her will forever be accorded the leadership in this work of patriotic be nevolenee. It will form the brightest page of her history. It will seal the devotion of her people to the common country; and our legislators, in view of its benign influ ence will continue to accord a cheerful and liberal support to a system so fruitful iu blessings to the orphan children of our martyred heroes. Upon no material interest of the State is the influence of education more salutory than that of agriculture. Pennsylvaitia, by wise legislation, has authorized the pur chase of the exoriniental farms, and the establishment of a College, all of which are now in successful operation, and the result of the scientific working of the farms have already added much practical knowledge upon the general subject. The Agricultural College has just closed a most prosperous year—the number of , students being 'one hundred and fifty— which exceeds that of any year since the opening of the institutioo. Any one, of three courses, is optional to the students, viz: Agricultural, scientific or classical, to all of which is added a general course of military iustruction. The admission of females, which was first permitted sixteen months ago, has thus far worked exceedingly well. Thirty young women have availed themselves or the op portunity thus afforded to obtain a first-' class education. All students are taught to regard lab. r as beneficial and honorable. The rule of the college requiring ten hours manual labor per week from the students is cheer fully complied with, and results advan tageously to their health and comfort. This State institution is pre-eminently the People's College. Its preparatory de partment receives students at a low grade, as well as those mare advanced. The school is "cheap enough for the poorest and good enough fur the richest," either in mind or elate; and it affords healthful exercise, instruction in useful labor, and free tuition in every branch of its ample courses of study. For the details of the organ'zation of t..e National Guard, and the general business of the Adjutant General's Department, your attention is invited to the accompa flying report of that officer. At the close of the late war the State was without a single military division, and the few scattered companies which existed at its commencement had been, generally, disbanded by the enlistment of their mem bers in the active military service of the General GoVernment. In 18GG the militia of the State com prised only eight volunteer companies. Since then four hundred and eighty-three have been organized and one hundred and sixty-eight disbanded—the latter princi pally on account of the almost . entire want of encouragement and support from the State, and their own inability to maintain themselves. To this fact is mainly attri butable the reduction of the volunteer force in the First division (Philadelphia) during the past year. The Legislature, at its last session, having repealed all laws by which any military fund could be raised in that division, left its organization en tirely dependent upon themselves and the voluntary contributions of citizens. The organzations of the National Guard, not yet disbanded. consist of fifteen regi ments and six battalions ; comprising, with unattached bodies, three hundred and twenty-three companies, viz : Six artil lery, eight cavalry, and three hundred and nine infhntry. The aggregate of enlisted men is 13,566, and of commissioned offi cers 1,126. Convinced of the necessity, in time of peace as well as in war, of an efficient mil itary three to maintain the civil authority, I have at all times entertained a deep in terest in tho military department of the State, and it affords me pleasure to say that the present condition of our volunteer organizations is as complete as is practica ble under the admitted imperfections and illiberal provisions of our military laws. Whets: "the greater security of life and property" is tile question involved, it would seem superfluous to employ argu ments to convince any property holder, business man. or good citizen, that it was his individual interest to support a system designed to uphold the civil authority. But as practical illustrations, of recent date, I may refer to the scene ofJuly,lB7l, in the city of New York, as well as to those enacted in our own State. at &ran durine• the months of April and May, of the sal& year, and still more recently followed by the disturbance of the public peace in July last, which so seriously threatened the city of Williamsport. The civil arm of the law was paralyzed, and peaceable citizens were at the mercy of the rioters. Appeals came from the divil ans charities and the people. for the protection of' the military against tumult which they were unable to quell. The military of the nearest division promptly responded to the call of the Executive, the majesty of the civil law was vindicated in the suppression of' the disorder, and at comparatively tri fling cost to the State, the peace And quiet of two of her flauriching cities were re stored, immensely-valuable property pre served, and very many honest and indus trious laborers enabled to resume the work on which the subsistence of themselves and their families depended. Such occurren ces surely demonstrate both !Jae value and necessity of A well otganized and thor oughly disciplined National Guard to main tain the civil authority. I cite these cir cumstancee us uu act of official duty, and from a desire to avail myself of this oppor tunity of leaving on record my apprecia tion of the importance of such action, on your part, as will maintain a well equipped, disciplined and reliable State military force. For a full statement of the disturbances at Williamsport, and of the operations of' the military called into service, on appeal of the civil authorities, you aro referred to the official statement of Major General Jesse Merrill, commanding the 11th Di vision, which appears at length in the Adjutant General's report. -The discreet and judicious conduct of the Major General, and the officers and men under his command on that occasion, not only won the approval of the citizens of that community, but entitles them to general commendation, Provisions should be promptly wade for the payment of the expenses necessarily incurred on pay rolls and accounts duly audited and certified by the proper offi cers; the amaunt of which will not exceed fifteen thousand dollars. The period determined upon by the Leg islature for the delivery of the picture of the battle o 7 Gettysburg, painted for the State by P: F. Rothertnel, artist, having arrived, no place in the Capital, or other public buildings at Harrisburg, was found suitable ib e its reception and exhibition. Finding that the picture could not long remain rolled up without considerable in jury, and, perhaps, total destruction; with the approval of several members of the Senate and of the Goose, I consented to place it in the hands of the Park Commis sioners of Philadelphia, subject to the or der of the Legislature. A building 140 feet long and 43 feet wide has been erected in Fairmount Park for the reception of this historic painting, within a few hundred feet of the Green street entrance. The site is the very best that could have been selected to afford the public easy aecess. The gallery is perfe.et ly adapted for the safe keeping and proper exhibition of the picture. Under existing laws many important documents are filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, which, fin , greater security, ought to be recorded in suitable books for that. purpose. Prom inent amo igthose referred to may be enu- 'aerated papers relating to the merger and consolidation of railroad companies; the increase of capital stock and bonded obli gations of corporations under both general and special laws; correction of errors, and confirming corporate organizations; exten sion of charters and diSsolutions of corpor ations; the change of name of corporations and the looatian of their principal offices ; the acceptance of the provisions of act of Assembly by earFrations; and contracts to which the State is a pariy. This list might be extendea, but enough has been given to indicate the grave importance of the interests involved, and the necessity for the utmost care in preserving, in pro per and accessible shape, the evidence of such transactions. I therefore recommend such enactments as will confer the author ity required upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The State authorizes the publiction of statute laws, and the di,,,ribution of them to sundry enumerated officers and persons. Justices of the peace and aldermen are re quired to carefully preserve the copies received by thzni and hand them over to their successors in office. But the annual volumes being large, and bound only in paper covers, it is almost impossible to preserve them whole for any reasonable time. I recommend the passage of a law requiring them to be properly bound be fore distributi a. The eminent and philanthropic gentle men composing the Board of Public Char ities have carefully investigated a number of subjects which they deemed of sufficient importance to lay belbre the Legislatu e. Among them may be specially noticed Prison Discipline—a question now gener ally occupying the attention of statesmen and philanthropists throughout the civil ized world; the condition and treatment of the insane and the workings of that class of institutions known as local charities. founded and conduced for benevolent purposes. These asylums are located in various parts of the State, mostly, however, in Philadelphia and Pittsburg.They are performing an excellent work—relieving the sick, indigent, infirm and neglected portions of our population. The General Agent has devoted a considerable portion of his time to their inspection, the results of which will appear in his able report to the Board, in which he exhibits their character and the largo amsunt of private charity bestowed upon them. This board was organized during my administration,and I have entertaiued a deep and lasting interest in its labors. Thegen- Omen who compose it voluntarily devote their time, without compensation, to this noble work of benevolence. The impress of their intelligent efforts is every where perceptible; and the large annual contri butions of the State to charitable institu tions have, under their snpervision and examination, been properly and systemati cally applied. The third volume of their reports will be submitted at an early day. It will present a large amount of statistical infor mation, and many interesting facts and valuable suggestions upon subjects of great importance. I canna too strongly com mend this Board—the great regulator of State charities—to the favorable consider ation of the Legislature, and recommend such appropriations for expenses and ad ditional enactinL tits as may be necessary to increase its efficiency. - From a personal inspection of the pen!. tentiaries i I am able to bear testimony to the evidences that were everywhere man ifested of their general good management and excellent discipline. The Eastern penitentiary has long been deservedly regarded as the model prison in which the "separate" or "individual treat_ merit" system of imprisonment is applied, and the annual reports of its faithful Board of Inspectors, embracing their oh nervations and investigations, show that they have elevated the subject of crime punishment almost to the dignity of a sci ence. Among the circumstances that attracted my attention was the insufficient number of cells to carry out the "solitary confine ment" principal, and the incarceration there of a number of boys and youths for first offenses, and of females untrained in crime. Sometimes two or more in one I cell where thus unavoidably brought into associatiLns which could scarcely rail to produce contamination of character and morals. I would, therefore, recommend that the Legislature enable the courts to sentence minors and fetra'es to the county prisons, where with proper teaching— training in some handy.craft business— and with due attention given to discipline, the object of punishment would be more effectually attained; and the penitentiary, thus relieved, would have cells sufficient for all ordinary purposes. It is a great mistake in almost all cases of minors con victed for their first, and often trivial offence, to send them to a State's prison ; because the punishment is less in its effect than the idea of degradation iu the after life of the prisoner. Such persons should be punished in the locality where the crime was committed, and the disgrace would not be so likely to permanently affect the character after the discharge of the pris oner. From 1829 to 1871, inclusive, only three hundred and forty-six females were received in the Eastern penitentiary, and of this number oue hundred and twenty seven were minors These facts would fully justify the propriety of such action by the Legislature as has been suggested. The Western penitentiary contains am ple space for present demands. It is con ducted on the "combined" system of "soli tary" and "congregate" imprisonment, the w“rkings of which are giving entire satis faction to all concerned. The commissieners from this State to the International Prison Congress, lately hold in London, England, report that twenty-one governments were represented, principally by men who have made crimi nal legislation and penal treatment a study. America sent seventy-three delegates, re presenting penitentiaries, asylums and re formatory institutions. Among these were ninny experts in every branch of penology. The deliberations of the Congress contin ued ten days. Its results are difficult to estimate ' • but it is hoped the great inter ests of humanity involved in the proper treatment of crime will be happily subser ved ameng all civilized nations. The managers of the "Pennsylvania Br form School" (late the Western House of Refuge) propose to change their location from Allegheny City to a farm, containint: 503 acres, in Washington county, seven teen miles from Pittsburg, near the Char tiers Valley railroad, and adopt for its government the best features of what is known as the "family system" of juvenile reformatories. These will mainly consist in the abandonment of walls, bolts and bars for confining the children ; and in an earnest effort to govern them through sym pathy and kindness, and prepare them useful occupations. The Board will ask an additional appro priation to pay for the land and improve ments. Of all my official recommendations, I deem those most important which relate to the public health. Facilities for the material development. and the accumula . . tion of wealth, estimated at their higheq, value, arc of but minor consequence when compared with the preservation of life itsalf: "All that a man hath will he give for his life!" At the time of presenting my last annual message, small pox was fearfully prevalent in Philadelphia and in NO. 3.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers