Extr 9b -IV 41 ' ST.- Carbon Advocate GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. . i . Gentltmt 6 t the Senate and t&uie of Rmresent aUren Mo J oars assembled to dedlpnlo our uslvcs anew to the performance or tho duties or the rcsnontlb le .trust confided to our care Wo cannot bo nii mindful or tho magnitude or these trasts RifcMUJ t wisdom and courage recent ary to administer tliHn with fidelity aud Justice, and that wo mwr ot be wanting In nnr conception nr. or halt In our efforts to enfbrce what Is right, Jcttis rev trinity auk for tho Divine assistance that our a mMrieiice may bo enllghiientd and out liearta strepRthened lor tho task. 1 FMAnCBH. The i condition of tho finance of? tho tUnAc n MMblted 1 the s.bjolned statr.montsfdmom rtrntcs olea tly tho ability or our people to, my a 1 their Indobt Wnew as It accrues, and Is 'nnTnter ellng commtentat y upon the sPap!lclrynnd effi cacy orour tax system, but llk.uwlsa aVrdalnly ybowa tho itcccsslity tor come rnodlfl -aUon of tstlng laws for tho ulstrlbutloi , 0r revonnw tr the difficultly that beset lei' .fatlSn at tho last session are to bo avoided. 0 XkU Iteieet ,e Interestcertlflcato 10 48 Total; 1,335,497 63 nii;;.J!ft? tr? trending November 30, 1878: Balanee In trear NovembcT M i,-'- ' 8M!.M!? 1 i.... , 6,480,099 92 Tela!. 7.831,050 07 IHtburtemcriO. FJSL'J? ' expenses . .93,800,700 20 I'0?"81.' deemed 1,333,437 (0 Jntcree t on ioim im i ,3390 48 Alaneoln treasury Novem ber 30, 1878. 1. Funded Vebt. Elx per ccut. loan.,S18,ltS3,380 00 JKlvo per cent. loan. 4,803,341 68 -Four and a half per fi,o41,413 40 S993.20T 27 cent. ioau..i 17,000 00 S23,10J,G21 88 Unfunded Debt. Utellefnotos Hi cir culation $00,184 00 'Interest certificates outstanding 13,038 84 Iuterest certificates . uwj'.almed...... 4,418 38 Dcvorttlc creditors' rtlncatcs........ 23 00 Oa'imbersburg cer 'dftcates outstand ing o,f20 00 tJhambersburg cer tificates unclaim ed... 109 31 123,510 10 Total public debt $23j233,137 74 Sinking mtl Assets, railroad com 'jpany, 63,300,000, Janu ary?: 1870, as per schedule on filo In oftt-e. or state treasurer 55,132,511 36 CJmds of Allegheny VTalley railroad com parry , , , 3 ,400,000 00. 8,532,514 3(i 'Cash in sinking fund NovemDef-30 1878. 034.028 43 . 9.400,572 83 Indebtedness un provided for. S13,7C0,5C4 83 Tbo appropriations made far thn ftwnl yp.ii- enling November 30, '1675. exceeded the receipts w. n.u KStreilH 1UVU11UU IUIUI 1TOIO.5ZI.Z2, nnd with like appropriations and receipts tho deQoit for this year would bo doubled. Jit Is estimated, however, that the rcicnuo of this year will bo five hundred thousand dol nars less, than that of last year, which wonld imakothe deficiency nt tho end or tho current tflscal vcar about ono million llvo hundred thou, .sand dollars, unless the appropriations can bo s-educcd. The appropriations aro already mado for that part or the fiscal year embraced be. tween December 1, 1878, and Juno 1, 1870. , Moreover, tho principal appropriations, such as tor schools and tho .ordlntry expenses or tho government, aro fixed by tho constitution or by Iw, except those tot publlo charities, nnd llieeo will demand unusually larga amounts nt this Besshn by reason of their faOuro to recelvo any thing at the last., It is manifest, therefore, that tho appropriations cannot bo materially re. ouccd, and the'-deflclcuoy must bo provided for either by tho Jmpoeitlon of new taxes or tho diversion Into the. general fund of some or the revenues now aowlngtnto the sinklngfund. To levy new taxes at a tlmo whon the business and Industrial Interests nro prostrated would bo tin wise and a great hardship, and would justly meet with publlo condemnation. Tho necessity, therefore, of the ro-dlstrlbutlon of the revenues is obviously a duty that Is urgent, and demands your immediate attention. By virtue of a constitutional amendment, the sinking fund wag created tor tho purposoor gradually .reducing the publlo debt at a time when It exceeded forty-million 0f dollars. An Annual reduction or two hundred and fifty thou sand dollars, and the payment or Interest or the entire debt were Its only requirements, and thev have been faithfully, fulfilled by tho sinking fund commissioners smnetho crcafonof the fund In 1887. ltwlllalw bo observed by tho following statements, the most sangulno iiopcs of the (Tamers of the constitutional amendmo nt have been more than realized, during tho last eleven years the annual reduction of the debt averaging nearly a million and a half of dollars; Ppblle debt neoember 1,1804 sabJ7!),C03 94 Phbllc debt December 1 , 187 8 23,233,137 74 Total redaction In eleven years. , . . 16,140,408 20 Average annual reduction 1,407,860 86 Xlie appended statement will show the balance of tho estimated receipts of tho sinking fund, at the expiration or the fiscal year alter the re quirements of tho constitution will have beon compiled with: Tax on corporation stocks 62,100.(00 00 Commutation ef tonnage XlteV'Valiey "nK Interest on Allegheny Valley railroad bonds. Constitutional require ment of annual redue. tion of public debt. .. , ,8250,000 00 Interest on public debt. . 1 ,300,000 00 IIW.WW4 , loo.non in 170,000 00 2,830,000 00 ' 1,550,000 00 Surplus $1,280,000 00 It will thus bo seen with, the present dlstrlbu. tlon or the revenues, there will remain each year In the sinking rund, after the payments which tho constitution requires, over a million and a quarter of dollars, and when It la remcm. beted tWtbo Mml of Interest to be paid win pimu&ty decrejsft anif tho reffilptB bo giteaUr, owing lo thn 111l11r.il accretion of tho tutes, tho nmotintur this lmlanco wilt lid augmented itom year tornr. irthls surplus Is annually applied to tho extinguishment of tho dfbf, n cnrcrul rnk culatton wlllshnw.lhatlnten years thn entire Indebtedness of tbo stato will bo redeemed. However dcslrnWo this rcductlnn maybe, and gratifying ns It certainly would bo to tho ex. ecutlvo, un-rior whoso ndiulnlstratlou n large portion oflt would bo mado, yet tho diminution , V'ft xc 1873 to ,u0 amount of 0110 million 0f,p).ars.nnd the flvohundrcd thousand dollars add itlonnl expenses made ncces"nry by the new constitution In behalf of common schools, tho judiciary and leclslaturo.ind tho claims of de. serving iiubllc cliarltlcs, forbid this largo reduc tion ns tlio revenues mo now distributed. By another calculation It appears that by taking one-third of tho corporation tnx, which tho leg islature assigned to tho sinking-fund, and dedi cating this one-third to tho uses or the general fund, tho whole Indebtedness can still bo liqui dated In fifteen ycatB. Without additional taxa tion, n fund may thus be created, that with the other revenues of tho general fund, will, with prudent mansgement, possibly bo sufficient to meet all tho necessary and proper expenses of tho government, and 1 recommend that this chango bo made. At tho end or the last flical year thcro re mained In tho sinking fund tho sum of nlno hun dred and thirty-four thoustnd and twenty.clght dollars nnd llfty-nlnc cents. There can bo no further redemption of public debt until August, 1W7, ns all slato loans reimbursable prior to that tlmo havo been paid; nnd In the lnenntltno tho sinking fund, In addition to tho abovo nmount, wilt continue lo nccumtilato a large balance, which thcro Is no authority to Invest. I therefore recommend tho enactment or n law authorizing the sinking fund commissioners to Invest Iho surplus funds In tho bonds of the statu or the United States as thoy deem inot advan tageous,whlch,ln accordance with tho protlslons of tho new constitution, aro tho only Invest, menu that can bo made, and that thrso invest ncnlabe directed to boiundo monthly. EDUCATION. Tho crosnerous condition or our nubile schools nll'ords abundant occasion lr Just pride. Tho exhibit mado In Iho rcnortof tho superintendent' of public Instructions Is a grattf ing illustration ol'tho liberality und public splritof our citizens nnd an earnest pledge of what may bo expected ol'thcm when any great or bcncllce' t object enlists their sympathy ami support. Ten yearn ago tho commonwealth had ono thousand seven niinureii aim rorty-iiiteo graucu scnoois wiuiiii her limits; to-day there are llvo thousand six hundred nnd twenty-llvo. During tho lust de cade tho value or her school prnpcity has ap preciated rrom flro hundred and i-lxty-foiir thousand elghty-clght dollars and eight cents iu mu inuuons uno niiniircd ana luiy-niun innii' sand four hundred nudlllfeeiidoll.'irHnii.l idirtttv threo cents. In 1805 tho stato expended upon ucr nuoiicscnooisi nrco mi nonssix nnniircd ami thirteen thousand two hundred and thirty eight uuunrsana nuy-nvo coins in jsio 1110 outlay for tho same purpose was nlnn millions threo hnndrcd nnd slxtj-threo thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven dollars nnd seventeen cents. Thirteen thou-and eight hundred and slxtv-tlirec teachers nttended, dutltig tho lit year, tho Teachers' Instltults hld throughout tho com- niunwcnnu. jn lfuj inero wero only two thousand soven hundred and Blxtv-fivo In attendanco nnon tnelr sessions. Thcso figures aro eloquent of Iho generosity of our ciuzcns nnu incir amemucMre in.iacimutc tho attainment and promote tho progress of ed ucation. It Is Interesting to observe, likewise, that those employed In tho Instruction of our youth nppreclato this liberality of our people, and aro zealously striving to mako our school system so comprehensive nnd thorough that there will bo a fitting nnd just return for tho ex penditure Incurred. It Is 1111 accented minim that tho education of Its youth Is the lnoit im portant subject tliat can cngago tlic attention of a community. There Is no capital moro pro. ductlve, nor any more solid or safer bais for tho welfarotifn stato than the inculcation of sound principles nnd habits of Industry nmong Its children. It Is as trlto as it is a true saying, that idleness and vice aro great burdens to so ciety, and that virtue nnd industry contribute to Its welfaro and dignity. Ourtltio to thu re spect and grntltudo of posterity will therefore largely depend upon our cll'orts In bchair of ot'rlght education, nnd ltls for us to gravely consider whether wo nerfoim our whole duly by providing each year lor tho necessary expenses of the school department, and make no endeavor to extend Its usefulneis and benefits to now fields of Instruction. Is it not a reproach upon our wisdom, and when wo think of tho thousands of neglected children In our midst, may It not alo be said upon our humanity to expend 810,000,000 annually upon publlo education und find thou sands ot children who will not or cannot avail themselves of its privileges. No pcoplo havo contributed moro to the advancement of human comfort nnd tho abridgement or labor by tho ap plication or mechanical principles, or aro moro prollllo or Invention of n useful kind than A mer fcans, ami yet few countries give less attention to tbo development of this irenlus nnd tho stud v orthese principles in their systems of public In. f true tlon than our own. With such i-apab littles and the opportunities fur tho application of inc. chanleal principles at our very doors In tho un folding and manufacture of our preat resmirris. does It seem tho part of prudence nnd common senso to permit all this vast expenditure to bo jnwiu wunouc cmuracinc in 1110 plan soma methods of Instruction that will at least lit a smll number of children forfcomosncclallrado or occupation? jiy opinions upon tiietubjects or compul-jorv and industrial education are well known audit Is unuccessiry for mo again to advance them. They havo discovered themselves to mo after maturo and conscientious thought and Investiga tion, nnd aro founded, I bollevo, upon principles ot sound policy, and ns their discussion and uc cesslty aro cnlorclne themselves upon public at tention, I respectfully ask If the nature and Im portance of 3 our trust ns legislators do not exact of you some consideration In this regard. NOHMAL SCHOOLS. Tho methods of teaching havo been vastly Im proved lu tho last tew years, and It is conceded many or thcso methods aro the outgrowth or the normal schools ot'tho state, the teachers from which have contributed very materially to tho character and efficiency of the publlo schools. Some persons havo n natural fitness for teaching, but In most Instances the qualifications therefor nro acquired, and In no way can they bo so rcad lly obtained as by tho special preparation and technical Instruction received nt tho normal school, where the principles and practices of teaching nro Inculcated by experienced precep tors. U lie greater tbo number of thcso schools, tho higher we ralso their standard, and Uicraore thorough the Instruction Imparted within their walls the moro widespread will bo their Influ ence, and to securo competency and promotathe welfare of tochers and pupils alike, I trutt tho legislature will extend to tho normal sohools whatever assistance maybe needed to Insure their Increased eillclcncy and usefulness. soldier' onniANS. Tbo continued favor or the legislature lo tbo eehools wherein tho orphans or our soldiers aro maintained and taught, Is an agreenblo proof tf tho patriotism or our people. What prouder monument could we erect to U10 rcnnsylvanians who fell In battlo than to raro for and cducato their children ? There will bo little hope for our Institutions, when wo ccaso to bo grateful to those who bled or died In their defense. No moro responsible charge, and ono which docs more honor to her head and heart, has been assumed by the commonwealth than tiieso schools fortho support ami Instruction of our soldiers' orphans j and It Is of the gravest Imiiortanco that this trust should bo adminis tered not only In good faith to the state, but with a special view to tho comfort nnd careful educa tion or thcso unfortunate children. Ten years havo clawed suico tho close of tho war, nnd many of tho children of our deceased 1 oldlers havo reached years of maturity, livery year iuo niiuiucr lur wiioiu luusinTcuiusiprnvnio no come less, and It Is nnnarent that thcro Is no nc ccislty for the continuance iiffti many schools of 1111s uinii,iiDii luatuuiier me present systcmi with the number of tiunlls decreasing each vear. and tho receipts for their maintenance nnd I11 ttrnction correspondingly diminishing, tho pro prietors of these schools cannot conduct them without loss or ncressarlly reducing tho food, clothing or tuition of tho children. J heso pro prietors nro paid 11 stipulated rum for tho raro, tuition, clothing nnd food of each child. Tho sum pain is upon n uasis mat gives 10 cacu school, we will suimne. two hundred children. It Is manifest, when this ntirabor Is reduced to ono iiunurca, nnu an arrangeineurs nnvo uecn mado for tho caro nnd Instruction of two hun dred . cither thn nronrlctors or tho children must sutler; and to rescue both I rora any such mis fortune, 1 recommend that tho tuiicrlntendcnt ot public instruction bo directed to select the best schoo's nt thu most advantageous points, to which Shall bo transferred all tho children for whom provMon Is now made, and that this pro cess continue until tho Inst orphan child Is edu cated. Under this system, thcro will bo no temptation to maintain these schools perhaps to tho detriment of tho children, and the state will bo assured that Its bounty Is properly nnd Tully UCSIUWI'W. MUNICirAL dOVlinKMKNt. Thero h 110 iHilitlcal problem that, at Iho present lime, occasions tn much lust alarm, nnd Is obtaining moro serious and nnxlous thought than the government or cities, whoso ndmlnlstrn tlcn In many sections of tho country Is frnught with perils, not onlv to tho material prosperity of our pcopio out tu tno ucunro ami permanence, ol'tbu retiublte. Is It not Ihcrefuro Incumbent Upon thosowho nro charged with tho corductof puunc uuuirs,as wen usinovo wnonro concerned lor the good and honor of the country , to carefully nun diligently inquire 11110 1110 causes ui mesu mischiefs that attend upon tho ruloof our cities, and hco If they Fprlng from or aro tho actual de velopment of any Inherent defect In tho exist, lug systeinsor government, or'nro tho outcome of n merely transient tendency to extravagance. 111111. uy ns nuusuwiu wont ns "mi cucmuiti cure. A glanco at tho enormous debUuiid stu pendous schemes for public Improvements 1111. dertnken and In progress, or In contemplation by tho numerous cities of tho country, Is suffi cient Inducement to this Investigation, and will convince thu most skeptical that a speedy" and radical remedy must bo found lo nrrrst these extravagant expenditures, or the credit of our cities will be destroyed) and repudiation, to which resort soiUo havo nlreadybecn driven, will bo tho.only recourse from ruin. It will not do to mock nt tho volcoof warning nnd entrench ourselves lu tho belter that tho natural growth ornur cities and tho consequent accumulation of wealth and appreciation of property therein, will llquldato all tbo bonds this generation 'can Impose upon tho next, for experience and history alike leach that exlravngimco grows with Indul gence, nnd thn onlv safo, wlso and honest (course lur Individual nnd communities to pursue, Is to llvo within their'mcans and pay as they go. Tho exerclso of a local .jurisdiction by towns ami cltleshad Its origin In tho remotest antiquity. Tho vestiges of this power can bo traceil In (In exhmned remains ot tho ancient cltlcs'of I'lia,' necla and lCgypt. In tho municipalities of tlrceco political rights wero clearly defined, nnd each city was sovereign nnd acknowledged no authority but that of lb own creation. Under the rule of Homo wo discover our Ideat or tho modern municipality, as described by n distin guished historian: "A community of which tho citizens are members of tho wholo nation, all posf sslng tho snmo rights and subject to tho satno burdens,but retaining their administration of law ami government Inallloealmattersnbieh concern nut tho nation nt large." Of like char acter wero tho linmmillles and rights wrested from Feudalism by the cities of the mlddlu ages. Theso cities of tho nast were tho conservatories of sclenco and art, tho abodes of Industry and 1110 nurseries 01 puiuicai, iiiunu ami religious freedom, und totlieni wo aro' Indebted for tho principles of constitutional liberty and a knnwlciliToiil the nractlcal methods of miveru- meut so useful In the administration of our mil. nlclpal affairs. Tho cities of Encland obtained the rlchl of local self government about thnbegluiiliigof tho luiriei'iun ceniury, 111m lueaniumii iiinupuia tlon and wealth kent tmco with their Independ ence and freedom from the exactions of tho crown. Their political Importance likewise In creased as their political power was augmented, and wo fliidlhem graciously favored by kings and parliaments, lu tho latter hvlug a rcptc sentitlve of their own election. With enlarged privileges and gieatcr prosperity, however, there grew up Intolerable abuses, und measures had to ho tak-n to restore them to their original design as Institutions fur local govcriunent to bo controlled by those InttrcMed, and not by 11 fa vored low whoso only concern In their manage ment was to aojumulato fortune, it was mani fest that thcso corporations had outlived their usefulness, nnd becanio n positive evil. All thtir powers wero exceeded ; thoy arrogated to themehes others never coul'errcd; their coun cils wero self elected and chosen for Hie, and their legislation had 110 sympathy with and never rr tlectcd tho wishes of tho cltlzciH whoso rights nnd properly It was to affect. Jlal-adminUtra. tion was tho rule rather than tho exception In tholr, management ; property was wasted; money thoughtlessly nnd oxtrnvagantlv expended ; tho officers wero tho crratiu cs of tliclr Irresponsible councils, nnd looked lo them and not tho people fur continuance of favor, and every form of cor ruptlon, peculation nnd fraud wore tho product of a system which was originally Inspired by a lovo of freedom. 11 desire for equal und evict justice, and a conviction that this local or homo ruto would best conserve rnorigutsanu property of citizens. So ttagrunt had abuses bt como In tho administration of theso cities that In 1B33 tho English government appointed u commission ot inquiry to invejitigato tliu condition of her municipal corporations, and upon tho report of this commission, which was a painful recital of mal-adiulnlstrntioii, extrava gance misapplication or revenues, corruption and favoritism, a law was enacted, un der tho provisions of which thcso corpor ations wero ipodo to conform to certain uniform regulations, and their powers re stricted to tho lcglttmato and useful puriioses ior which tney wero creatcii. wur cuu s, conn, tics nnd towns nro similar to tho sub-dlvlslons that for centuries bavo existed In England, nnd form a system which, In the language or n learn ed American Jurist, "seem n part or tho very nature ot'tbo racotowblchwebi,long;"andupon this very point an eminent foreign writer, hav ing In view our republic, slgnlflcnntly says: "Lo cal assemblies of citizens constitute tho strength of freo natlnts. Municipal Institutions nro to liberty what primary schools ar to science; they bring it within people's reach; they teach men how to uso and enjoy It; a nation may es tablish a system of freo government, but with out the spirit of municipal Institutions It cannot have the spirit of liberty." It Is the genius or our institutions to bring tho agencies or govern ment as near as possible to the governed, and municipal corporations are tho instrumentalities by which this Intention Is most effectually sub served. Our cities, counties, towns, road and school districts exercise powers of local control, and It Is a favorite theory of our political sys tem that those who aro Immediately and direct ly Interested will bo more likely to administer their affairs with Intelligence and economy than acontral government at a distance, and uporl tills theory tho states bavo been divested of Bl uest all authority over their municipalities, upon which latter liavo been conferred most of tho agencies by which the government lsbrought Into direct contact with tho people. In tho dis tribution of power tiieso coriiorntlons having re ceived tho potential share In regulating tho con cerns of a largo portion of our ieople, and their health, comfort, enlightenment and prosperity must depend , therefore, In a great measure upon the wisdom and Juttlco of this local rule. Until n recent period Iho municipalities of tho country enjoyed and deserved Iho confidence and lavor of our people. They wero slmplo jit incir cDiisiiiuiious, economical 111 incir oxpcnai turcs, In tho main admirably govcniccl, with men of Intelligence, cxpcrloncn, character and properly In tliclr councils, who deemed It an honor, without compensation, to assist In their administration, nuil ns tho nub ile Improvements wero limited nnd only what were neccsary. tho temptations to nvarlco and corruption wero row; nnd peculation and fraud unknown. To-day It Is humiliating to observo tho cities of Iho United States cxposonur intciiigcnco nnu civilization to rcproacli and compared with tho malversation nnd mlsnov- crnmcntor somoof them, tho maladministra tion of the Kngllsh cities In 1835 seems respectn. Me. In tho management of a few of them Jus. tlcohas simply been mocked, taxation meant couuscanon, anuucois wero uccurauiaicu wiui such rapidity that tho annual Interest thereon is now crcntcr than tho whole tax lew for nil cornor- ato puriioses fifteen years ago. The aggregate 0 f iiieueuisoi iiiocuiesoiiuo unircunuiieK,nccoru Ing to competent authority, reaches the enormous sum of 8700,000,000, mid this amount Is believed to bo rather under than nbovo tho actual In debtedness. Is It strange that tho annual tax lew. Instead of bclm a few mills, now nvcrarfes in our most important cities two and 11 hair per centum upon the assessed value of property? It is wiui rcasonauio npprcncnsiou, lucrc- foro.. thnt tho twonlo aro earnestly nd dressing themselves to tho study of tho causes 01 11113 cvn, aim mo conviction 13 uccom Inn nldcsnrend that soino remedy must bo nro vlued that will go to Its very coro nnd work n radical euro. A tendency lo cxtravagancebegan to manifest jiscu 111 iniscouiiiry 111 louf, nnu was exnioiicu most conspicuously In tho Innumerable proposi tions for public Improvement of every conceiv able kind. Alngnltlccnt parks, extensive water works, splendid cltybiilldliigH, wide streets, with new and improved pavements, nro romo of tho lirolccts ution which lavish expenditures were made. Jn the frequent and Immense outlays of moneys iiiusiiuiucnzeu, numerous avenues ior fraud and peculation were opened, 'and officers connected with the disbursement of these great amounts, suddenly grew rich, nnd having, by reason of their control of theso expenditures, scores of adherents, they soon became tho arbi ters of tho taxation of theso cities. Irresponsl. bio themselves, they aimed to securo tho election of irresponsible men to city councils, that their corrupt practices might havo tho forms of law, nnd emboldened by Impunity and thesuplncuess or respectnblo citizens, they endeavored to con trol, and It Is alleged lu some muni cipalities did corrupt tho channels of Justlco and shaped Us decrees to suit their nefarious ends. Our cities formerly had but few wants; their charters were slmplo lu tliclr provisions, catlly understood) and conferred all tho powers neces sary for local gotcrnmeiit. Within tho last fow yens, howeycr, every department of local gov ernment lrom tho great city to tho small fcliool district, has been constantly applying to the stato legislature for extensions ot authority. Tho rights of taxation nnd appropriating private property for publlo use, aro extraordinary pow ers that no government should delegate, except lu cases of absoluto public need, and thu uso of tho power should bo limited by the necessity thatlnvokes Its exercise, and yet the legislatures of tho various states, lu tho last few years, havo scattered these extraordinary powers broadcast over the land, and In tho hands of Inconsiderate nnd Irresnonslhlo men. thev hnvo been mado un der thu specious plea of publlo improvements, mo engines ui oppression ami rouuery. jinny 01 tho bunions our neonlo havo to bear, have been created by the vicious habit of Issuing bonds at high rates of Interest for contemplated Improve ments. Multitudinous national, state, city, county, ward and school bonds havo been issued , tho smaller Imitating tho larger local Interests lu making thcso driittson posterity at rates of In terest ranging from four and a half to ten per centum per annum, nnd tho payment of tho In terest on thcso bonds, and of tho bonds them selves, as thoy mature, necessitates an nnnnal til xn tlon that Is oppressive, and a constant drai n upon Industry Rnd enterprise. The contrast nr. furded by ft comparison of tho government or the commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the govern ment or her cities is curious nnd Instructive. Twento-llvo vears neo a 1 ko snlrlt of cxtrava- ganco and mania for publlo Improvements pre vailed throughout the stato, and her pollov was marked by tremendous outlays In behalf of ca nals and other public works, and was the parent of a debt or Sl0,000,000, and or tho corrup tions and evil practices that aroused tbo pcoplo tn tho extraordinary effort which resulted In tho constitutional amendment prohibiting an In crease ol'tho publlo debt, and providing n sink ing fund tor tho payment of tha Interest, and an annual reduction of the principal. How dlf- lerent nnu gratiiying is tno spectacle to-aay. With n yearly Income scarcely exceeding six millions or dollars, und 11 stato with four millions of Inhabitants, tho tuxes havo recently been decreased and annually n largo portlon'ol"the debt paid oil', so that now the In debtedness amounts lo but 52:1,000,000. Of the revenues tor somo venra tiast. B2.000.000 havo been allotted to tho payment of Interest and tho reduction of the publlo debt, leaving liiruo miiuoni anu u nan iu 00 uevoieu lo 1110 iiavmcnt of tho exnensos or tho Government. which include provision for our magnificent sys tem or charities nnd schools, upon the latter or which alone, common nnd soldiers' orphans, 81,000,000 aro expendod each year. Tho debts or our municipalities, on tho contrary, havo been increasing enormously, ana apart irom 1110 pub llo Improvements for which a larco bonded In debtedness has been created, tho expenses or our cities and towns havo been growing annually with a pace that seems out ol" all proportion with their mces3ltles. Ono source or this additional expense is tho increased number or officials. Tho powers or government aro too diversified, and require too much machinery, That mechanism Is the best which contains tho fewest parts, and governments are not exempt from this law. Tho donlorablo rendition of some cities that nro overburdened with debt and with publlo im provcmonti unfinished, that must bo completed, Is tho result largely of undue and strained as sistance accorded to theso municipalities by the state governments. Legislatures voted them the largest posslblo grants or power, executives ap proved them, and the judiciary in some or the states have sustained every grant or power tm tax, where the amount to bo raised waa to bir dedicated to a publlo Improvement, even if the bcnollt wns remote and contingent, ns In the construction or railways at a distance rrom a cuyiouivert traaeioita maris, ana outer line projects. A well known and able writer assert, that our cities aro tbo rirev or jobbers, and the curse and puzzlo or our civilization, and that this Is moro tho result or tho system than the tault of the city officials. Honest men cannot be mado by legislation, but to tho power for evil of those who are dishonest or careless a limit can and should bo fixed. The principal source of abuse is not In tho disposition to do wrODg.but in the license to peculate anu piunuer. it is tno power to do that which Is done and not those whoaoMt, wherein we must find tho evil. Dis place those In the present local legislatures, and others will take their positions who will soon be given to llko practices. Wernnetnot forgot that there Is a grave dif ference between theconsclence of the Individual and the publlo conscience. A manwlllbesttate, unless he Is thoroughly dishonest, before he takes advantage of his neighbor, but the same man will not scruple a moment when his ap proval Is asked (bra project, which, under the gulso or a publlo Improvement, Is to despoil the wholo community or ft part or Us property. Again, it is an admitted fact that every publlo euteiprlso always costa more, and sometimes twtoa as much as n private ono, and the cost to administer the several departments in our cities Is a striking illustration of his truth. Is thero any gotxl reason why the cost or the management 01 thcso departments should tn soino Instnncoj bo Tonr or five times In excess of Iho amount paid fifteen year ago, whllo com pared therewith tho Increase of imputation nnd appreciation or property has been merely nomi nal? Doeslho Icillffcrcnco and Inertness with which this subject of tho government of cities has been heretofore rcgardid forbid tho hopothat there can bo unanimity or sentiment nmong citizens todcvlso and enforro measures that will eman cipate our cities from tbo Inevitable consequen ces of thcso reckless expenditures, or will they await until thotr property Is Irremediably mort gaged, nnd their honor nnd fair famo smutched vrllli the atalna of bankruptcy V, Tho Immunity from criticism nnd Investigation which thcso schemes for publlu Improvements enjoy, gives encouragement nnd protection to (every Inven tion of f raud and plunder, and iieoplo who are taxed and who supinely submit year nftcrycar to theso cxnctlons, aro to n great oxtont rcspou Bible therefor. The bulk of tho taxation In our great clllfs falls uron tho property holders; tho ms of the citizens do not feel Its burdens, nnd aro uncon cerned about tho publlo expenditure or rcjolco thereat and approve them whenthey minister to their enjoyment as do tho parks, or add to tliclr ptoteclion nnd benefits, ns do tho police and schools. This mass or citi zens forgetful of that cardinal principle or our Institutions, "that those must veto tho tax who pay It," control tho clestlons and send men to tho municipal legislatures, who.llko themselves, frequently bear none or tho publlo burdens, and ato consequently Improvident and wastcrul. A largo portion of our impulatlou Is therefore ' taxed without representation, for no sanoman will contend thnt this sort of representation Is the right for which our fat hers waged n seven years' war with England. Oan laboring men bo llevo thnt persistence Inthla policy will not work them serious and Tiermancnt Injury? Docs It require much foresight to see that this appropria tion of prlvato property by means of taxation, will drlvo manufactures, trade and wealth from our cities to moro congenial localities? Capital nnd enterprise will seek channels wherotho ful Icstficcdom nnd Iho greatest profits can bo ob tained, and It Is suicidal thus to dry up tho very sources of our prosperity. This sketch ol'tho municipalities or other coun tries and our own will, I hope, servo to show how essential they nro to republican Institutions and how llablo they aro to abuse. It admonishes nsthnt tho question of their government Is a delicate ono, tho consideration of which should bo approached with the greatest caution. Wo must tnko care that our efforts to mltlgato . tho evils wo feel do not beget others equally op pressive, and wo will thus havo chango without benefit. Fortunately, tho charters or municipal, nnllko other corporations, nro subject to altera tion by tho legislature, and that body can amend them at pleasure. In view of the lmjiortanco of tho proper regulation of our cities, becauso or the vital relations they sustain to tho trades and manufacturcsbf our most thriving communities, and tho welfare and happiness of their citizens, I recommend that tho legislature authorize the annflllllmpilf rf n l-n.n.nlD.ln.i nF nvnn.l.n..il persons to examine Into tho condition of our municipalities and prepare such legislation for tho consideration of tho legislature ns will, In their opinion, meet tho abuses sought to be remedied. It Is mv candid nnlntnn that all the legislation upon tho statuto books referring to municipalities Pliouiu no rcpcaicil nnu ft compre hensive and uniform endo enacted, tho main features of which will not be tho sublcct of pe rennial alteration. CBNTENNtAL. Whatever inlselvlnrrs havo hitherto possessed tho public mind about tho success of tho centen nial nro now liapplly dissipated, and It Is evi dent tho country lias awakened to tho convic tion that the exhibition Instead of being merely local, with which character tho Indifferent and distrustful would have invested it, will transcend Indignity and magnitude any or the expositions that havo preceded It In Europe. It becomes Pennsylvania, therefore, to bestir herseir and strive to have a full representation of her resources and Industries on exhibition. The commonwealth has mado vast contributions of means, and the energies of many or her best clt- . lzens have been ceaselessly ilavoted to tho pro-' motion of the enterprise, and she will bo false to her best Interests If tho display she makes Is not credltablo to her people and In keeping with her position among tho states. .Every city, town, county and township that has aproduct, whether of the soli or manufacture, should take caro that It has a placo In the exhibition. Our mineral resources should all be shown, and our lron,oll,coko,lurabcr,rallroad,shlnbuildlng, and nil manufacturing intcrestsshoulubo fitly repre sented. Kvery bencriolal, trado and commer cial association should havo charts or designs to showthclr purposes or benefits. Tho collections of scientific and art societies should bo exhibited, and our penal and reformatory Institutions and thoso ot charity, beneficence and learning. should In somo manner illustrate their management. Opportunities should be af- public and prlvato improvements in buildings, churches, bridges, water, gas and other works, and every means and facility furnished to tho stranger to becomo acquainted with the charac ter, cxienr, nnu variety 01 our prouucis mm me advantages or our stato as a place of residence and a field for ontcrprlso. To mako Ihlsdisplav will require constant and unremitting work on tho part of Individuals, firms and companies during tho short tlmo that remains beforo tho exhibition opens, and public and prlvato liberality should combine to effect tlds object. In conformity with an act passed at your last session , mo execuuvo nppointeu a com mission of pentfemen to be entrusted with tho superintendence and collection of the exhibition which Pennsylvania shall mako at the Centen nial. To perform this duty It Is obvious Ihey must have financial aid, and when we consider how vastjand multiform must be Its labors, and the short time left to discharge tho same, the sum allowed to defray the expenses should bo liberal and commensurato with tho Important share the commonwealth has taken In this great national enterprise. The character or the gen tlemen who wero appointed Is a surety that tho exhibition or tho state will bo all that zeal and fidelity to Its Intercuts can make It, ir means are afforded them to rulflll tho purposo or their appointment, and I recommend that an appro, prlatlon therelbre bo made at once. In this connection It Is proper your attention should be Invited to the neccssltyormaklngpro vlslon for the transportation and encampment of the military or tho state at somo period or the exhibition, to that suitable display may bo made or this branch or the public sorvice. Several or the states are making extensive preparations in this direction, and the military feature or tho ex. 1 hibltlon promises to bo credltablo to tho volun. tecr system or tho country. The various com mands throughout the country are perfecting themselves In drill and discipline, with a view to this encampment, and I feel asurcd the np- Ecaranceand bearing of our soldiers will reflect onor npononr state. Tho troops from this stato will probably bo encamped for a period of ten days or two werlcs in tho vi cinity or tho Ahlbltlon, to servo with out pay and supply their own rations, but, through the proper authorities they ask that the state will furnish them with transportation to and from the exhibition, and provide shelter for them while in camp. When we consider what little compensation the National Ouard receives for Its services, tbuj rcasonablo request of the commands that will muster, numbering perhaps eight thousand men, will, I am confident, meet with your favor. ISSANE. It la apparent to tho most casual observer that the hospitals for the caro of the Insane tn this stato are Insufficient for the publlo necessities. It la repeatedly asserted that Insanity Is lncreas. Ing In our midst, and without doubt thero aro many unfortunates of this class in prisons or poor houses, and homes of poverty, who are now incurable, who, could they have received proper treatment might havo been restored to
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