VOL. 49. The Huntingdon Journal , J. R. DITRBORROW, PUBLISHERS AND PROPRIETORS, °girt ON the Corner of Kid nod Washington streets, Tan HUNTINGDON JOURNAL 18 published every Wednesday, by J. D. DURBORROW and J. A. Nam, under the firm name of J. It. DURBORROW & Co., at $2.00 per annum, is ADVANCE, or $2.50 if not paid for in six months from date of subscription, and $3 if nut paid within the year. No paper discontinued, vuless at the option of the publishers, until ail arrearages are paid. . . Na paper, however, will be sent out of the State unletis absolutely paidifor in advance. . . Transient advertisements will be inserted at TWELVE AND A-HALF CENTS per line for the first insertion, SEVEN AND A-HALF CENTS for the second, and FIVE cairn per line for all subsequent inser tions. - --- - Regular quarterly and yearly business advertise ments will be inserted at the following rates : SuilBml9mlld 3ml6ml9mlly 1 Inch 3101 4 501 55C 300 Vcol 9OOllB 001$ 2713 38 2 . 500 E 00.10 00 12 00 " 24 00 3131,0 50 85 3 " 700 10 0014 0018 00 4 "3400 50 00 85 80 4 " 800 14 00 1 20 00121 00 1 col 36 00 GO 00 1 80 100 Local notices will be inserted at Firings CENTS per line for each and every insertion. All Resolutions of Associations, Communications of limited or individual interest, all party an nouncements, and notices of Marriages and Deaths, exceeding five lines, will be charged TRY CENTS per line. Legal and other notices will he charged to the party having them inserted. Advertising Agents must find their commission cutable of these figures. . Ali advertising 7xecounta are doe and col'ectable schen the advertisement is once inserted. JOB PRINTING of every kind, in Plain and Fancy Colors, done with neatness and dispatch.— Hand-bills. Blank., Cards, Pamphlet., Abe., of every variety and etyle, printed at the !shortest notice, and every thing in the Printing line will be execu ted in the most artistic manner and at the lowest rates. Professional Cards, A P. IV. JOHNSTON, Surveyor and • civil Engineer, Huntingdon, Pa. Orrice: No. 113 Third Street. aug21,1372. DR. H. W. BUCHANAN, DENTIST, No. 223 Hill Street, _____ HIINTINGiDON, PA July 3,'12. CALDWELL, Attorney -at -Lqw, D•No. 111, 3d street. °Mee formerly occupied by Messrs. Woods b Williamson. [apl2,ll. DR. A. B. BRUMBAUGH, offers his professional services to the community. Office, No. 523 Washington street, one door east of the Catholic Parsonage. Dan.4,'7l. "fil_ J. GREENE, Dentist. O ffi ce re -1-td • moved to Leister's new building, llill street Frentingdon. fj0n.4;71. GL. ROBB, Dentist, office in S. T. -• Brtwn's new building, No. 520, Hill St., Huntingdon, ra. AC. MADDEN, Attorney-at-Law . • - 091oe, No. —, Hill acreet, Huntingdon, Pa. [ap.19,'71. FRANKLIN SCHOCH, Attorney- KR • st-Law, Huntingdon, Pa. Prompt attention given o.l'll legal business. Office 229 Hill street, corner of Court House Square. [dee.4,72 SYLVANUS BLAIR, Attorney-at efl • Law, Huntingdon, Pa. Office, fill street, hree doors west of Smith. [jan.4'7l. JCHALMERS JACKSON, Attor• • ney at Law. Office with Wm. Dorris, Esq., No. 403, Hill street, Huntingdon, Pa. All legal business promptly attended to. Ejanl6 IL DURBORROW, Attorney-at- J• Law, Huntingdon, Pa., will practice in the several Courts of Huntingdon county. Particular attention given to the settlement of estates of dece dents. Office in he JOURNAL Building. [feb.l,ll, W. MATTERN, Attoruey-at-Law J • and General Claim Agent, Huntingdon, Pa., Soldiers' claims against the Government for back pay, bounty t widows' and invalid pensions attend ed to with great care and promptness. Office on Hill strett. Ejan.4,ll. S. GEISSINGER, Attorney-at- L• Law, Huntingdon, Pa. Office one door East of R. 31,Speer'e office. [Feb.s-ly J. HALL 31r9SER. K. ALLEN LOVEL, L OVELL & MUSSER, Atto,:taells-at-Law, HUNTINGDON, Special attention given to COLLECTIONS of all kinds; to the settlement of ESTATES, Ice.; and all other legal business prosecuted with fidelity and dispatch. in0v6,72 RA. ORBISON, Attorney-at-Law, . Office, 321 Hill street, Huntingdon, Pa. [may3l,'7l. JOHN SCOTT. S. T. BROWN. J. M. BAILEY LCOTT, BROWN & BAILEY, At torneys-at-Law, Huntingdon, P. Pensions, and all claims of soldiers and soldiers' heirs against the Government will be promptly prosecuted. Office on Hill street. Dan. 4,71. WILLIAM A. FLEMING, Attorney at-Lsw, Huntingdon, Pa. Special attention given to collection., and all other legal basins.. attended to with care and promptness. Office, No. 929, Hill street. [apl9,'7l. Hotels JACKSON HOUSE. FOUR DOORS EAST OF THE UNION DEPOT, HUNTINGDON, PA, A. B. ZEIGLER, Prop. N0v12,13-6m, MORRISON HOUSE, OPPOSITE PENNSYLVANIA It. R. DEPOT HUNTINGDON, PA J. 11. CLOVER, Prop. April 5, 1871-Iy. Miscellaneous "PIC BOBLEY, Merchant Tailor, in • Leistor's Building (second floor,) Hunting don, Pa., respectfully solicits a share of public patronage from town and country. [octtfl,72. RA. BECK, Fashionable Barber • and hairdresser, Hill street, opposite the Franklin House. All kinds of Tonics and Pomades kept on handand for sale. [apl9,'7l-6m T_TOFFMAN & SKEESE, Manufacturers of all kinds of CHAIRS, and dealers in PARLOR and KITCIIEN FORM. TITRE, corner of Fifth and Washington streets Huntingdon, Pa. All articles will be sold cheap, Particular and prompt attention given to repair ing. A share of public patronage is respectfully solicited. fjan.ls,l3y WM. WILLIAMS, MANUFACTURER OF MARBLE MANTLES, MONUMENTS. HEADSTONES, &C., HUNTINGDON, PA STER PARIS CORNICES, MOULDINGS. &C ALSO SLATE MANTLES FURNISHED TO ORDER. Jan. 4, 71 FOR PLAIN PRINTING, FANCY PRINTING, GO TO THE - JOURNAL OFFICE .1 1 :1 .„. 0u r a is he 111_ I II 111, Governor's Message. Gentlemen of the Senate and House Representatires : J. A. NASH, Since your last meeting a grievous pub lic calamity, in the guise of a financial panic, has visited the country, having in its train a series of disasters. The indus trial pursuits and monetary interests of the State have become greatly depressed, the wealth of many of her leading capital ists and most public spirit citizens has been wholly swept away, the business of her corporations paralyzed, the machinery of her manufactories arrested, her mineral, iron, oil and other productions greatly de preciated in value, and poverty and want brought to the firesides of the humble homes of thousands of her honest and it dustrious citizens, who toil for their daily bread. To remedy these evils, underwhich all our industries are languishing, so far as relief can be administered by legisla tion, it is' barely necessary to suggest., should be the first duty of your honorable bodies—a duty which I feel assured will be undertaken with care and deliberation, invoking to its aid a fair share of humanity and the highest practical wisdom. In any measures looking to this object it will be my pleasure heartily to co-operate. It is gratif ; log to observe that while many of the most substantial securities in the ma let were more or less depressed during the recent panic, the finances of the State were unshaken, exhibiting un mistakable evidence of the stability of the State credit. The following statement, showing their satisfactory condition, will challenge attention : Debt Redeemed. During fiscal year ending November 30, 1373 Six per cent. loan Five per cent. loan Chatnbersburg certificates. Total, Receipt,. During tiecal year ending November 30, 1873 : Balance in Treasury, Nov. 30, 1872.. 1,482,455 61 Receipt• 7,076,723 20 Tutal Dicoursemente. During 'seal ygar ending November 30,'1873 : Ordinary expenses .4,666,325 67 Loans redeemed 1,504,672 70 Interest paid on loans 1,563,029 20 --$6,734,027 57 Balance in Treapury, Nov. 30, 1873.. 1,825,151 24 Funded Debt. • Six per cent. lonns $20,540,580 09 Five per cent. loans— 4,972,3 M 01 4} per cent. leans 87,000 00 23,599,934 01 Unfunded Debi. Relief notes in eirculation-96,249 00 Interest certificates outsand- ing 12,049 02 Intermit certificates unclaim- [41V71. Domestic creditor's certifi- cates 44 67 Chambersburg certificates outstanding 84,829 61 Do do unclaimed 267 22 Total public debt, Nov. 30, 1873 25.793,821 94 Bonds in Sinking Fend. . Bonds of the Pennsylvania Rano id Company 05,700,000 Bonds of the Allegheny Val ley Railroad Company... 3,500,000 9,200,000 Cash in Treasury, N0v.30'73 1,825,151 11,025,151 21 Indebtedness unprovided for $14,773,670 70 In 1874 the receipts from all sources Will he $1,500,000 less than the receipts of 1873, while the expenditures will not be diminished. This loss of revenue is largely due to the repeal of taxes bearing heavily upon the industrial interests of the Commonwealth, and partly to the pros tration of business. The receipts in 1875 may be about the same as those of 1.874, but the expenditures will be greater, owing to the additional outlay necessary for schools, Legislature and Judiciary, un der the new Constitution, which will then be in full force. Notwithstanding this enormout decrease in the receipts, and in crease in expenditures, it is hoped and be lieved, that by the most rigid economy in every branch of the government and mod erate appropriations, the revenues in the future will be sufficient to meet all the demands on the Treasury, and leave a balance to reduce the indebtedness of the State, as required by the Constitution. I am in accord with those whe believe as the debt decreases there should be a corres ponding relief afforded to these interests that bear the burden of taxation • but at this juncture I would regard any further reduction of the revenues as unwise. In our list of taxes, howerer, may be found some that are not strictly -uniform upon I the same class of subjects," and very un fair in their operation, and I think, there fore, a revision of our tax laws is now de sirable if not necessary. In compliance with the constitutional amendment of 1857, the Legislature in 1858 created a sinking fund for the pay ment of the interest on the State debt, and for an annual reduction of the princi pal in a sum not less than $250,000 per annum. In addition to the securities des ignated by the amendment, the revenues arising from certain taxes were assigned to this fund. From that time, each sue cceding year ; the interest on the debt has been punctually paid, and the portion of principal redeemed instead of amounting to $250,000 has grown to the immense sum of one to two millions per year. The reason is a simple one. The revenues set.' apart for the sinking fund, by the natural, growth of the special taxes, have become annually much larger, while the amount required to be paid on account of interest, by reason of the rapid decrease of the pub lic debt, has every year become smaller, and in this way the annual credits to the, sinking fund have swollen to proportions never contemplated by the original friends of the measure. As an illustration, it is simply necessary to say, that the revenues flowing to this fund were last year over half the entire income of the State, or $3,500,000, while only $1,500,000 were needed to pay the interest on the debt. In the mean time, the annual revenues allot ted for general purposes has been less than the amount of the annual appropriations of the Legislature, and the Legislature clever having made provision for the differ ence by a reconstruction of the revenues, it became necessary for the Treasurer to pay the deficiencies of appropriations out of the funds properly due to the sinking fund or suspend payment. This condition of affairs places the Sinking Fund Com missioners in an anomalous position, from which it is manifestly the duty of the Leg islature to relieve them, The progress of the work of preparation for the Centennial is realizing fully the expectations of our people. The distin guished gentlemen charged with the de tails of this vast undertaking are striving zealously, with great intelligence and in dustry, to perfect all the arrangements in a manner commensurate with the impor tant and conspicuous position our,Republic occupies among the nations of the earth. A becoming regard for the dignity and honor of the country, we can hope, will now in duce the General Government, and all the States, to extend to.the Commission such material aid as will secure this enterprise from every possibility of failure. The city of Philadelphia, whose generosity, in dif-. ferent ways, in behalf of the Centennial, has elicited commendation from all quar ters, ceded to the Commission an eligible site in the midst of her beautiful park, whereupon the proposed buildings for the exhibition, the plans of which have been adopted, arc to be erected. This site was formally transferred and dedicated to its special uses on the 4th of July last, in the presence of a large concourse of citizens. Upon that occasion proclamation of the President was made, wherein the celebra tion and exhibition were commended to the people of the United States, and a cordial invitation given to all nations who may be pleased to take part therein. With this act the project became a na tional one, and co-operation was invited and expected from the whole nation; and it is a pleasure to observe that the differ ent States and Territories are earnestly moving with a view to such contributions as will place the celebration not only upon a sound financial basis, but make it a suc cessful exhibition of their various resour ces and industries. To stamp the Cen tennial, however, with the character of a national enterprise, it rmq receive assis tance direct and substantial from the Na tional Government. Congress must set the seal of-its approbation upon the work of the Commission, and manifest not only an interest in this great undertaking,. but a determination that in its proportions and gandeur the American Exposition shall eclipse all those which have preceded it in Europe, as the development of our resour ces, the expansion of our grand railway system, and the diversified employment of the arts and sciences in all the avenues of our industry surpass those of the old world. .$1,36,800 00 . ]53,112 46 . 42,760 24 1.504,672 70 Pennsylvania must not neglect this op portunity for the display of her rich, va ried and inexhagstible products, nor relax her efforts to rescue the exhibition from every mischance to which indifference or distrust may expose it. It is true her contributions have been large, but she must not forget that the nation has sig nally honored her people by designating her metropolis as the place for the propos ed celebration, and she must show by re newed exertions that she appreciates the distinction. Pursuant to an act of the Generpl As sembly, approved June 2, A. D. 1871, the people, by a large majority, voted in favor of calling a Convention to amend the Con stitution of this Commonwealth, and the General Assembly, by an act approved April 11, 1872, provided for the calling of the same, and in compliance with its provisions the delegates thereto assembled at the State Capital, at Harrisburg, on the second Tuesday of November, 1872, and adjourned sine die on Saturday, December 27, 1873. The Constitution adopted by the Convention was submitted to the qual ified electors of the Commonwealth, on the third Tuesday of December, 1873, and by a certificate of said Convention, on file in the office of the Secretary of this Common wealth, it appears 253,560 votes were given for, and 109,198 votes against the New Constitution. 8,559,178 81 4,448 38 198,887 93 In the schedule of the New Constitution it is provided that it shall take effect on the first day of January, 1874. In the act calling the Convention, it is provided that the returns of the votes cast for and against. the New Constitution, "shall be opened, counted and published as the re turns for Governor are now by law count ed and published," and when so ascertain ed and certified, •'the Governor shall de clare by proclamation the result of the election." The Constitution of 1838, as well as the New Constitution, provides "that the returns of every election for Governor shall be sealed up and transmit ted to the seat of government, directed to the President of the Senate, who shall open and publish them in presence of the mem bers of both Houses of the General As sembly." The Constitutional Convention. the last day of its session, passed the following preamble and resolution : WHEREAS, It appears by the returns of election in the several counties of the State, held on Tuesday, the 16th day of December, A. D. 1873, that the New Constitution has been adopted by a ma jority of one hundred and fifty-four thous and three hundred and sixty-two; there fore, "Resolved, That His Excellency, the Governor, be informed by the President of the Convention, of the result, and that he be respectfully requested to issue his proc lamation thereof without delay." I respectfully call your attention thereto, that there may be no unnecessary delay in the counting of the'vote cast for and against the New Constitution; that I may in con formity with the provisions of the act cal ling the Convention, and in compliance with the resolution of the Convention, promptly issue the proclamation. - The New Constitution having been ap proved by a very decided majority of the people, it is expected that all citizens will yield cheerful obedience to its behests, and unite to strictly and faithfully enforce its provisions. As each day's experience reveals the methods of administration, the conviction grows stronger in my mind that good gov ernment depends not so much upon writ ten laws as upon the disposition of the people to comply with the demands of the laws, and the determination of those dele gated to execute them, to see that their mandates are enforced. Reform, it will be conceded, cannot be obtained by mere con stitutional enactment, nor by surrounding offices ard trusts with additional restraints. The world's history from the earliest ages has shown that no code of laws, how ever comprehensive or restrictive, - will evade man's ingenuity if bent upon over stepping their bounds, and wise and ne cessary as the provisions of the new Consti tution may be they will never secure the ends designed unless sustained by a strong, active, healthful and intelligent sentiment that will interest itself in public affairs. It will not suffice to enact that integrity and fitness are essential qualifications for office, unless the people see to it that none with out these qualifications are selected. It is the indifference and inattention of electors to their primary political duties, connected with nominations and elections, that de . - spoil the law of its sanctity, and afford se curity to those who wilfully disobey its re quirements. Men do not fulfil the obli gations of citizenship by merely enjoying the protection our institutions afford. To perform his whole duty to the State every citizen shon!cl actively engage in political concerns when the recurring elections in voke his attention and interference. In HUNTINGDON, PA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1874. our system of government every man en titled to vote is invested with a grave public trust, and if, through indifference or neglect, he fails to discharge the sacred duties it imposes, he is almost as culpable as the other who deliberately violates the law. With this new departure in our or ganci law, let there also be an accompany ing resolution on the part of all good citi zens that they will attend diligently and conscientiously to the selection of men for office whose dignity of character and intel lect will be an adequate guaranty that the new Constitution will be safe in their keeping. Upon the present Legislature devolves a duty involving great care and labor, and which if discharged, as I believe it will be, with a proper regard for the public inter est, will redound to its credit and honor. To you is committed the important trust of moulding existing regulations into con formity with the change about to be in augurated in the fundamental law of the State. Bring to the performance of this high and responsible duty all the wisdom you possess, divest yourselves of all selfish considerations, devote time and thought to the work, and with the New Constitution as your constant guide, build up a good and symmetrical system of laws, and let us so far as it lies in our ability start the State forward upon her future career, clothed with ample powers to extend ber enterprise, and fulfill her great destiny. To another consideration I invite public attention. All special enactments are not necessarily bad leis, while it may be equally accepted as true that all general enactments are not good laws. I enjoin upon the people of the whole State in creased vigilance in their watch over all legislation. Attempts will doubtless be made to obtain special objects through the instrumentally of General laws, which, while they may benefit one interest or lo cality, might prove very oppressive to oth ers. Let every citizen who has the inter est of the State at heart lend his assistance to the Legislature and Executive. to detect and frustrate such schemes. The interesting report of the Superin tendent of Common Schools will command your thoughtful attention, because of the important subject of which it treats, and the many valuable suggestions it contains. Pennsylvania, it will observed, is making decided progress in the cause of education, increasing the number of schools, enlarg ing each year the sphere of instruction, extending the time within which school ing may be obtained, and supplying more of the conveniences necessary for the com fort and health of scholars and teachers. For years, in this State, doubts of the practicability of a system of public schools beset and crippled the cause of education, but judicious and careful management has happily dissipated all this mistrust, and our people are now united in the convic tion of the utility and wisdom of free and universal instruction. Those concerned in the administration of public affairs are expected to devote to the vital problems of education the time and consideration they deserve, and I have no doubt that the present Legislature will look into and pro vide remedies for many of the deficiencies that still exist in our present school sys tem. Prominent among the defects is the lack of proper training and other qualifi cations of the teachers of the schools. "Of the 15,003 teachers receiving certi ficates to teach the year, only 374 were found to have a thorough knowledge of reading, writing, arithinetic, geography and grammar, and that practical prepara tion for their profession which insures success," is the startling declaration made by the Superintendent of Common Schools, There must certainly be a radical change in this regard, if we would have our chil dren attain even the rudiments of an or dinary eduction. Tho necessity of estab lishing Normal schools wherein students are especially qualified and trained for teaching is conspicuously shown in these statistics, and it 114 a gratification to know that twelve of these useful institutions have beea erected or are in process of erection in various parts of the State, and when all are furnished with an able corps of instructors, we can confidental hope the graduates therefrom will largely contribute to supply this pressing need of good and competent teachers. To afford some in ducement., however, to teachers to prepare themselves for the duties of their profes sion, and some assurance of the public ap preciation of the difficult, responsible and delicate work they perform, I am satisfied they should receive increased compensa tion. Dissatisfaction exists also and complaint is m-de about the frequent changes of school hooks, entailing expense upon pa rents, and subjectino• ' pupils to novel and perplexing methods of acquiring lessons that mystify more than they instruct. There seems to be an urgent demand for more training of a technical-kind, that will fit children for mechanical pursuits and the practical duties of life. I suggest, therefore, that school boards be authoriS ed to make provision for giving instruc tion in industrial and mechanical drawing, both in day and evening schools ; also that schools be established wherein trades may be taught, or arrangements made fur such instruction in connection with schools al ready established, so that skilled mechan ics can be graduated, and the principle in culcated that there is nothing ungraceful or undignified in honest and hard labor, and that the handwork. of the skillful ar tisan will confer in the future as noble a title as any to be achieved in professional callings. - More thorough examination of the sub ject strengthens me in the conviction that the State must adopt some mode to compel the attendance of those children whose pa rents are unwilling or unable to allow their offspring to avail themselves of the benefits our school system affords. The solution of this important question pre sents grave difficulties, lint I expect to see them all surmounted. Some plan must be devised to snatch these children from the career of idleness and crime to which ig norance will consign them. By far the greater portion of the inmates of out pen itentiaries never attended schools, or bad the advantages of education. Is modern civilization unequal to the task of rescuing the children of the indigent and the crim nal from such a fate ? The views expressed in the report of the Superintendent of Common Salmis upon this very point, embrace, in my opin ion, a feasible plan to secure the attendance at school of every child in the State. anal earnestly solicit your consideration of that part of his report, with the additional sug gestion, that when these poor or vagrant children aro gathered into ; schools or homes, that the industrial plan be engraft ed upon the conduct of these institutions, so that those taught may also acquire use ful trades. Observation shows that a man thoroughly acquainted with a trade is se cure against many temptation that opens the doors of the prison to great numbers whose hands are unskilled and who are unused to any steady or exacting labor. In the able and comprehensive report of the Inspectors of the East4rn Penitentiary for 1872, among other details of value is found this significant statement: that of the 240 convicts admitted to prison dur ing the year 1871, 90 per cent. had never been apprenticed, and 56 per cent. bad never attended school. These figures are eloquently and painfully suggestive of the relations indolence and ignorance bear to, crime. No act of the State ever secured her more honor than that which pledged her people to the care and education of the or phans of the soldiers who fell in her ser vice, and no part of her policy has reflect. ed so much credit upon her people as the fidelity with which they have been redeem ing that promise. The generosity which former Legislatures have displayed in pro viding for the maintenance and instruc tion of these orphans will now, I am per suaded, bespeak tor them like consideration and favor. I feel constrained also to re new my proposition that seine measure should be taken to furnish these children with trades. During the past year the gentlemen composing the Board of Public Charities have fulfilled the important trust commit-. ted to their care with their wonted fidel. ity and zeal. The results of their labors clearly demonstrate that true philanthro phy, well guarded and directed, can be of great practical service to the State. The numbers of the criminal, pauper, insane and other defective classes that are in some degree dependent on public sup port, must always be large, and the pro blem of caring for these multitudes in a way to decrease their number, and so add to the productive force of the community, is one which addresses itself with great force to the attention of the Legislature. In the light of the reports of the Board of Public Charities and Prison Inspectors, and of my own investigation, I am firmly of the belief that the system of commutation whereby the term of a prisoner is shorten. ed by reason of his good conduct, has been productive of reformatory results. By ex amination, also, I am possessed of this other conviction, that for the purpose of awak ening the self-respe.t of a prisoner, and to provide him with some incite ment to good behavior and industrious habits, every inmate of a prison should be instructed in a trade. When com petent to do the work belonging to his particular trade the convict should receive while iu prison as compensation for his la bor, a portion of his earnings, to be given to his family if necessitous, or if lie has no fitmily, to be reserved for his own uses when released. Accustomed in this way to toil for these dependent upon his sup port., the prisoner, when liberated will be apt to carry into life the skill and habits of industry thus acquired, and make of him self a useful citizen. Society is as much interested in the reformation as in the punishment of the criminal, and experience shows that teaching him a trade contrib utes to that end. The hospitals for the insane, under the control of the State, are steadily aecom plishing the beneficent work for which they are intended. The hospital at Harrisburg has been full during the whole year, and at the time of the last report the inmates were considerably in excess of the number that can be properly cared for in this in stitution. The building will have to un dergo a series of repairs and improvements to make it a safe and comfortable home fqr these placed there for treatment. The hospital at Danville has been in op eration about a year, and at the latest re port had 160 patients, and at the rate at which patients have been admitted, • will have More that/ its complimen t before anoth er year has elapsed. It is desirable that the additional wings to this hospital should be pushed forward to completion at the ear liest possible day to provide for those greatly in need of accommodation. To insure the delicate and peculiar treatment required fur the insane, too much care cannot be exercised to prevent these hospitals from becoming crowded. The commissioners appointed under the act approved Aug. 18, 1873, to select a site and build a hospital for the insane of the ten north-western counties of the State, fixed upon a property at Warren as the most eligible for the purpose, and their selection has been approved. This prop lefty contains 330 acres of land, 800 acres of which are arable land and cost $33,000. The number of the insane in the north. wes -IMrn section of the State, who imperatively require the accommodations to be furnished at this hospital, admonish us of the neces ity for the immediate construction of the buildings. The suggestions of the committee of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania, appointed to prepare a memorial to the Legislature in reference to the proper care and treat ment of insane criminals, which will be submitted to you, merit your respectful consideration, The hardship and impoliey of associating this class of the insane with those sent to hospitals for medical and moral treatment must occur to every ra tional mind. The restraints necessary to secure the few criminal insane in every hospital bear with like rigor upon all the oc cupants, to many -of whom the unusual confinement is extremely hurtful, while it is obvious that if the ordinary dicipline is observed this criminal class are liable to escape and renew their depredations so ciety. Nor do the intimate relations that must exist between the innocent and the criminal insane confined together improve the morals of the former, while some sen sitive minds among these poor unfortunates feel degraded by enforced contact with those who have been expelled from society for their crimes. It seems to be the duty of the State therefore to provide for the separate confinement of the criminal in sane. I still adhere to the principles laid down in the Mifllinburg and Wood's Run vetoes of last session. Recent events have dem onstrated the necessity of fixing proper limitations to the power conferred on these moneyed 'corporations, and have afforded a practical illustration of the wisdom of rigidly confining them to objects that are recognized by the people as distinctively belonging to such institutions. When a discount is permitted to become also a sav ings fund, a trust company, an insurance company, to buy and sell real estate, and to have the rights and privileges of a building association, it is difficult to de termine what arc its legitimate functions or what security a community has for the safety of its deposits. I have always en tertained serious doubts as to the proprie ty of banks of discount paying interest on deposits, and am now convinced that this 'pernicious practice should be prohibited. Money will always flow to banks paying interest on deposits, and the large surplus thus aggregated seduced by attractive of fars is sent to the great money centres where it gives more impulse tospeculation while the sections from which it is drawn suffer in all their enterprises from the higher rates ihey are compelled to pay for the money remaining at home. This sys tem of purchasing deposits was confess edly one of the principal causes of the fi nancial crisis of 1857, and of this year.— When banks have large deposits on - call, and have their loans on timo, in the event of any great stringency in the money mar ket, disaster is almost inevitable. Within a few years many State banks have been chartered, with the captivating names of savings banks, designed to at tract deposits. These banks and savings funds are entirely distinct in organization and purpose, and should never be associa ted in their management. The one is a bank of discount, intended to supply the wants of business, the other is simply a repository for people's money, limited to small amounts to each indi% idual, the aggregate of the amounts thus recieved to be invested in mortgages on unincumbored property worth double the amount of the mortgage, and in secure public stocks, in safe porportions. A bank is conducted with the avowed object of benefit to its stockholders; a savings fund is pre. , umed to be managed entirely in the interest of depositors among the laboring classes, or those of limited means and business quali fications, and the essential requisites of which are such prudence and safety in the disposition of the funds as will best en hance their value for the benefit of these classes of depositors. Men in charge of savings funds should have no personal ends to serve; should be above tempta tions and receive their highest reward in the good accomplished by inducing a sav ing habit which, once fixed, leads to pros perity. . . Th'it objects of trust companies should be equally specific and well defined. Some of these companies are invested with very extensive powers, arc the deposito ries of immense sums of money and charm ed with the keeping and management of vast and important trusts. It should be the duty of the State to see that their af fairs are administered with fidelity, not on ly to the individuals who confide in their management, but to the public who are interested in the security and stability oKthese companies as barriers to wild speculation and its consequent financial panics. . . . Allow me to suggest, therefore, that all State banks, savings funds and trust com panies be made subject to the examination of a committee appointed by proper au thority; that these institutions be requir• ed to publish quarterly statements, under oath, of the amount of their assets and liabilities and the names of their officers; that by a general law their stock holders be made personally liable for double the amount of stock held by them; and that they be compelled to have constantly in their vaults a cash reserve of ten per cent. of their net liabilities. These exami nations, reports and restrictions cannot be hurtful to institutions of established credit and high character, while they will disclose the unsoundness or mismanagement of those that ought not to exist. The Department. established by an act approved April 4, 1873, for the supervi sion of the insurance'inte:ests of the State. west into operation on the first Monday of May last. By the terms of this act the Department is self sustaining, and in no way a burden upon the public treasury. While Pennsylvania can boast of some' strong and substantial insurance companies li it must be acknowledged that the want of, system in the organization nud manage went of these corporations, and the reckless manner in which the Legislature has grant ed special charters, together with the en tire absence of restraining supervision, have introduced defects that cannot be too soon remedied. The capital with which fire insurance companines have been per mitted to begin, and continue business, is in most eases entirely inadequa'e, and im mediate steps should be taken to place in surance in this State upon a firm and en during foundation. To this end, Irecom mend the enactment of a law providing for the organization and regulation of insur ance companies, both fire and life, which shall require a certain amount of capital as a prerequisite to commence business, and designate the kind of investment to be made. It may also be advisable to compel companies already organized to have, with in a reasonable time, the entire amount of their nominal capital actually paid in and invested in good securities. Fire insur ance, excepting that conducted within a limited sphere upon the purely mutual plan, requires capital, and this capital should be actual and not in the illusory form of stock notes. Taking into consitl ation the enormous sums paid annually by the citizens of this State in the shape of premiums to insurance companies they have a right to demand the largest meas ure of protection against recklessness and fraud. The operations of the Fish Commission ers have excited a lively interest among our people, on account of the novelty of the enterprise and the benefiti s arise from the successful prosecution of their labors. Fish culture, it. is now conceded, has passed beyond the realms of experiment. and its success in the future is only to be measured by the wants of our people and the capacity of the stresmc, rivers, and lakes of the country. Pennsylvania is' singularly blessed in the superior advantages she possesses for the cultivation of fish. Abounding in wate s admirably adapted to their needs, in the insect and other food they supply, there is uo reasonable obstacle to stockin. , our rivers and streams with innumerable and delicious fish of various and even rare kinds. The work assigned to the commission has been diligently pursued and promises substantial results. Availing themselves of the use of Mr. Seth Greene's patent, the Commissioners succeeded in hatching, at Newport, Perry county, where the water is peculiarly fitted for the purpose, about 2,700,000 shad, which were turned into the Juniata river ut that point. Two thousand six hundred black Sass were also distributed in the Susquehanna, Lehigh and Juniata rivers during the months of July and August last, and through the kindness of Prof. Spencer F. Baird, United States Fish Commissi9ner, 27,000 Califor nia salmon have been planted in the Sus quehanna and its tributaries. The bass are not migratory fish and are very proli fic. Two or three hundred were' placed in the Susquehanna, near Harrisburg, in 1870, and the rapidity with which they multiply is manifest in the great nto»bers of this beautiful and choice fish that now are found in the river in that vicinity. The law of 1873 authorizing the Fish Commission, directed that four fish-ways should be constructed at different dams on the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, so as to enable shad, on their spring incursions from the sea, to make the ascent of these streams. The question whether shad will ascend an artificial way is still, however, a mooted one, and encountering this doubt, the commission, in the exercise of what will be deemed a sound discretion, em eluded to erect but one fish-way, and that at the Columbia dam. This way is 120 feet long by GO feet wide, is very gradual in the incline, and made as nearly conform able as possible to natural ways over which shad do undoubtedly pass, and will sff,rd a practical test of this experiment. If in the spring it is found shad do pass up this fish-way, the others required by law will be constructed without delay. The hatching-house erected by the Com missioners, near Marietta, and supplied with water from an inexhaustible spring, is said by those familiar with the subject to be complete in its arrangements and fur nished with all the necessary appliances for the propagation of fish. The capacity of the house is equal to the proper care of 700,000 young fish, and is susceptible of enlargement. if required. The Fish Com missioneis of New Jersey recently End a conference with those of Pennsylvania, with a view to obtain from their respect ive States such concurrent legislation as will best promote the shad and.other fish eries in the Delaware river, and to so bar monize-the laws of the two States as to pre vent a conflict authority. Any sugges tions resulting from this conference, and submitted for your notion, will, I trust, be respectfully considered. The report of the Commissioner of La bor and Statistics for the current year. em bracing many instructive details, will be read with interest. The organization of this Bureau within a very limited period has, of course, precluded it from making any extensive investigations, but enough has been done to demonstrate the necessi ty for such a department and the serviceit can render the people by enlarging con tinuously the knowledge of our resousses, trade, internal improvements, and the va rious processes of educatic4i and enlighten ment iu our midst. This bureau was created with the spe cial object of investigating the relations of labor and capital, to discover the cause of the frequent contests between employers and employed; to determine what share labor has in the progress and.prosperity of the State ; to examine with a view to its proper adjustment the question of wages, and to campare and collect facts that will afford a better understanding of the duty of the State to the laboring classes having in view their protection, amelioration and happine's. . . . No more worthy object invites research or should command public support, when we consider how numerous are these clas s, ‘ l, '- Commonwealth, how various are the fields fer their labor, and how much they have contributed to develope and build up our present grand industries. In this connection, the propriety of a State census, to be taken in 1875. presents itself with great force. It is of the utmost importance that in 1876, the Centennial year, we should have the most reliable and recent information possible of the extent of our population and products, and of the condition of our labor, agricultural and in dustrial interests, that we may acquaint the world with all our capabilities and thus prepare the way for tfie expansion of our trade and commerce. The wisdom of the new militia law is already apparent in the increased efficiency of the several commands, and the enthusi asticspirit aroused among the troops. Rig id inspectiins have been conducted by the Adjutant General, and the companies r.ot meeting the requirements of the law have been promptly disbanded. Still more en couraging and satisfactory results may be expected from the operation of the new system during the ensuing yeats.and I in voke the National Guard to renewed ef ficiency and perfect its discipline, that it may deserve the confidence and support the public are now willing to extend and be worthy of the great Stets whose safety and honor in some future crisis may de pend upon the character and valor of her citizen soldiery. The State having purchased the prop erties adjoining the Capitol grounds, with a view to their extension, I recommend the removal of the arsenal, situate thereon, and that an appropriation be made to pur chase a site and to erect an arsenal in some other locality. The service requires a building of this kind, and the cost of the repair of the present arsenal would prob ably be equal to the expense of erecting a new one, while the beauty and symmetry of the public park will be greatly enhanced by the removal of all buildings from that portion of the grounds. Your attention is particularly directed to that part of the report of the Adjutant General which refers to the sale of the old and purchase of a new site for a powder magazine in the city of Philadelphia, with a suggestion that the new site be sold, on account of its unfitness for the special uses designed, and the additional reason that to build a new magazine would subject the State to an expense of at least $25,000. The parties storing powder, under any proper restrictions imposed by . the 'city authorities of Philadelphia, will doubtless gladly avail themselves of the privilege to erect store-houses or magazines of their own, and the State will thus be relieved of a charge which may hereafter be the cause of the destruction of property and a consequent claim for damages. The report of the Surveycr General gives a detailed and very satisfactory ex. hibit ofthe business and condition of his Department. Attention is called to the valuable suggestions made in reference to granting warrants to survey lands and the enlargement of the right of pre-emption, both being shown by experience to be necessary to the better protection of those holding titles from the Commonwealth, and as the subject is of importance to a large class of our people, I earnestly com mend the same to your careful considera tion. In my inaugural address mention was made of the rich deposits of minerals found in every part of the Commonwealth, and a suggestion offered that it should be our earnest aim to determine the extent of these deposits and make them available and productive. To provide the highest possible knowledge of the character and location of our valuable minerals we should first institute a thorough geological sur vey under the supervision of gentlmen whose scientific attainments will be a suf ficient warrant that the work will be prop erly performed. To attain this desirable end, therzfore, I earnestly recommend that a geological survey of the State be made under the superintendence of a com mission to be composed of ten scientific or practical gentlemen representing different interests and localities, who undorstand the necessities for this survey and under whose direction it shall be conducted, the NO. 2 commission to serve gratuitously and to have the selection, of a geologist who shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by law. This survey should he made to embrace a chemical analysis of the different soils and subsoils of the State, and a simple and intelligible classification and descrip tion of the same, from which our farming community may gather some easily com prehended principles to guide them in the cnl!ivation of their land. so as to pr,vent its inip,verishment and increase its pro ductiveness. The late Governor William F. Johnston, in his annual message in January 1851, advised the selection and arrangement for publication of the large body of original papers in the State Department connected with our Colonial and Revolutionary history. In accordance with his advice an act was passed, and during subsequent admin istrations supplementary acts were passed which resulted eventually in the publica tion of the invaluable repository of Penn sylvania history, known as the "Colonial Records" and "Pennsylvania Archives The minutes of the B .ard. of War and Navy Board could not at the date of that publication be found, and have only been recovered since the commencement of my official term. They cover an important period of our Revolutionary history, and are accompanied by vouchers and corres pondence; including muster rolls of sol diers and the names of officers, marines and vessels of the Pennsylvania Colonial navy. As these minutes and accompanying documents are valuable in an historical point of view, and the Colonial Records and Archives incomplete without them, I respectfully call the attention of the As sembly to the propriety of publishing and preserving them. The American steamship company, an enterprise in which our commercial and industrial interests are sl largely concern ed, may now be considered an assured success. The beautiful and capacious steamers of the company have been making the passage of the ocean in the sane time as those of the old and established lines, and the number of the passengers and the freight carried are steadily on the increase. Philadelphia is now in direct communica tion with Europe, through the medium of a line of splendid steamers of herown, and from this time a new impulse will be giv en to her commerce that will be felt in every channel of trade throughout the State. A year's experience in the exercise of the pardoning power has confirmed me in the opinion, expressed in my inaugural, that it is unwise and unjust to impose this responsibility upon a single individual.— The importunities of distressed relatives, the personal appeals of men of character and reputation, the inconsiderate and in discriminate manner in which petitions arc signed by responsible parties, the absence of protests in almost every case, and the disproportion between the offence and the penalties frequently imposed, are all calcu lated to P Pillar 1,1414 n»d prevent ,p; Fs h t conclusion. When it is considered, also, that the Executive, in any application, is forbidden to enlist his sympathies, while his discretion is presumed to be proof against ingenuity and falsehood, the per plexity of his situation can readily be con ceived. It has been my constant endeavor to balance considerately the interests of soci ety and the claims of humanity, to sift carefully the evidence presented, and to arrive at a determination only after an the means of information had been exhausted. To compass this latter enJ, it has been the practice to procure the views of the judge and attorneys of the court who tried the offenders, and almost invariably have their opinions influenced my decision. Ap pended herewith will Le found a report of the pardons granted during the year. I especially invite your attention to an evil of considerable magnitude, which every year grows more aggravated, and in certain regions, at times, is the occasion of serious apprehension and loss. I refer to the wholesale destruction of our forests, the stripping our mountains and hills of their trees, resulting in an enormous dim inution of water for mechanical and fer tilizing purposes, and in great changes in the normal conditions of temperature and moisture, affecting the general health and at seasons bringing about devastating floods. These consequences. as the effects of this indiscriminate waste. are demon strable, and a wise legislation will fore caste the future and establish such regula tions as will rescue our descendants from the ills a perseverance in this practice wig certainly entail upon them. The act of 1840 exempting a certain amount of the property of a debtor from levy and sale, on execution or distress for rent, was intended forthe wise and humane purpose of protecting his family from sudden and absolute want. This benevo lent design is, however, often defeated. ard the law practically nullified by the harrassed debtor wavingthe benefits of the act to meet the exactions of his creditors. Do not sound public policy and humanity demand a supplement to this law that will forbid a debtor having a family waving the benefit of the exemption, so that a house hold may not be shorn, in an instant., of all the necessaries of life by reason of the weakness, recklessness or misfortune of its head, or to satisfy the greed of a grasping creditor? By the destructive fire which consumed the printing establishment of the State Printer not only did he lose largely, but a loss was also suffered by the State. At the time of the fire there was considerable work, finished and unfinished, on band, belonging to the State and to the Consti tutional Convention, which latter, by a resolution adopted on the last day of its sessions, authorized the Auditor General and State Treasurer to settle and adjust its accounts with the State Printer, Mr. Singerly. The State Treasurer and Auditor Gen eral. I am informed, desire legislation to enable them to carry out the resolution and intention of the Convention, and I would suggest the legislation you may adopt may also confer like authority upon them to equitably settle and adjust the accounts for printing, binding, and other work, finished and unfinished, done by Mr. Singerly, for the State as well as for the Convention. The Commissioners of the State of Penn sylvania, to the World's Industrial Expo sition at Vienna, have made a report of their observations. A number of sugges tions included in this report will be of val ue to those entrusted with the preliminary arrangements and superintendence of the exhibition to be held in Philadelphia in 1576, while the broad, liberal .and practi cal views expressed by the Commissioners will help our people to a more intelligent (Concluded on fourth page.)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers