CA-IRBOItT ADVOCATE BZTRA. GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Gentlemen ef the Smite an I Haute of Repreien tulioet.' The year has closed with very little change In the commercial condition of the coun try. During last spring and summer there were Indications of the revival of coniidenos and a slight Increase ot trade ; bat too excitement at tending the election, and the delay In announc ing the result, appear to have checked the movement and revived the period ot Inactivity. The l'actof the tomporary Improvement, how ever, has given rise to a reasonable hope that we -.have reached the close of the panic and the be ginning of better times. It will be our du ty to contribute to that end and Indirectly aid In re storing confl lence, by a wise economy In appro iSTations, a careful management of finances and a conscientious dlschargo of oar official duties. The recelptsof the state, derived mainly from th" profits of corporations and business, have been somewhat reduced by the prolonged de pression. Notwithstanding this fact, however, the following tables and statement will show that the expenses of the government cm be covered without increased taxation. Owing, also, to the general desire for safe and permanent Invest ments, the state may save annually a consldcra hie amount of Interest by funding her over-due loans at a lewcr rate of interest. Becelpts and disbursements during the fiscal year ending November 29, 1876 : Ktctiptl. nalanceln treasury November 30, 1875 S99J,207 21 Receipts 6,078,893 37 57,072,097 64 Ditburltmtnlt. Ordinary expenses.... $1,505,813 82 Loans redeemed 254,187 0) Intension loans 1,327,399 IS 56,087,10 3 02 Balance In treasury November 20, 1676 SIWM rnnuo DIBT. Funded Debt : 'Over-due, not presented for pay ment, and upon which lnterestls stopped WM Tlve per cent, gold loan, payable August, 18T7 3'mm 00 rive per cent, gold loan, payable August, 1878... 273.M0 00 Sir per cent, gold loan, payable Au- gust, 1879 M O0,O0O 00 Five per cent, gold loan, payable August, 1882 395,000 00 XOUrauU OllO-aitll pet .tun ble August, 1882 Six per cent, currency, redeemable February, 1877, and payable with in live years Six per cent, currency, redeemable February, 1882, and payable with in ten years Six per cent currency agricultural college loan, payable 1922 87, COO 00 7,82,80!) 00 9,995,80' 00 500,000 00 22,865 021 58 Unfunded Debt! Belief notes in clrcu- latlon 190,182 00 Interest certificates outstanding 13,03? 51 Interest cerUflf&tes ...... unclaimed 4,48 38 Domestlo creditor cer tificate 25 00 Chambersbuig cer tificates outstanding Chambersburg cer tificates unclaimed . 144 GO 113,929 11 "22978 050 69 'Sinking Fund Aitett: Pennsylvania railroad bonds, representing Indebtedness Janu ary 31,1877 84,911,918 67 Allegheny Valley rail road bonds..... 310,000 00 Cash balance In sink ing fund 839,992 25 9,051,910 92 Indebtedness unprovided for J3,924,03077 BINKIHO rvnt. Receipts and payments for fiscal year ending November 30, 1876. Receipt!. Balance In fund November 19, 1875 934,028 49 One-.tuird tax on corporation stock . 7 16,170 79 Allegheny Valley railroad company Interest on bonds 252,500 00 Allegheny Valley railroad, bonds redeemed 100,00 ) 00 Pennsylvania railroad, commuta tion tax 461,00)03 S2,4C2,599 28 Paymenti ; l'ivo per cent, re deemed.! Six per cent, redeemed Relief notes Total ara'ntof loans redeemed Tremlum of gold for payment of Interest. Premium paid In pur chase of loan 251,187 03 28,432 96 12,331 24 Brokerage. Interest paid 1,327,399 16 PI ,022,007 03 Balance In fund November 29, 1876 UnuKn account Estimated sinking fund receipts and payments for fiscal year ending November 30, 1877 i Two-thirds tax on corporation stock Commutation of tonnagotux Allegheny Valley railruad tioud.... Interest on Allegheny Valley rail road bonds 839.992 25 4,751 0) 1,301,011 01 400,000 00 100,0,0 0) 162,500 01 Estimated total receipts 2,867,21125 Estimated interest on publlo debt 91,350,000 00 Council account. 1876. 4,751 00 1,354,751 00 Applicable for redemption of iW publlo debt L51?!4!?.25 Kntlea has been given bv the sinking fund commissioners from time to time, as the loans of the commonwealth became payable, tbat tr not presented within ninety days tho Interest there on would cease, of tuse overdue loans there are still outstanding SS1,21.58, which will be paid at the treasury, without Interest, whenever presented. No loans being payable In 1876, It UOC&IUO WIO UUbjr ui ,u. riMMtugj mil bUlUlUlO' sinners. In older to comnlvwitn theconatitu tlonal provision providing lor the annual reduc tion hi me public iieuv "uyasum not less man two hundred and fifty thousand dollars," to pur chase them In oprn market at a premium But during the next fifteen years no such contingen cy can arise. A six per centum currency loan of 87 ,832,8 X) 1 redeemable In February, 1SJ7, and payable In 1882. In August, 1877, a five per centum fold loau nf S3 245 SM 1 payable, and in 1878, 1879 and 1882 loans amounting to about 81,U0".utxi are pavanie. a six er centum cur rency ioan of$993,8'01s redeemable In Febru axv. 1882. and navable in 1892 In the next five years about twelve millions of tbe state loans become payable, to pay U10 saraewoud take an annua) pavraent of nearly two and a-half million dollars. Tub) Is not prac ticable nor desirable. 1 , therefore, recommend mala new loan no auiuorizea, at a rate 01 in terest not exceeding five per cmum, redeema ble In fifteen Years andDavable in thirty vears for such amount as may be deemed In excess of a reasonable reouctun or me public acut tor the ooext fire years. A new five per centum loan would be taken promptly at a Premium aud a large amount or Interest saved, he deslrabl ity of such Investment may enable me loan 10 do piaceu at even a lower rate 01 in terest. The loans of the state would then sus cesslvely become payable during the next thirty years, and the sinking fund commissioners could always redeem, annually, the amount required by the constitution, or more, if necessary, at par, and would not be forced to go Into the mar ket and purchase at a premium. OKNKRAL rUND. Hecelpt during the fiscal year ending Novem ber 31, 1876; Daiancu In fund November 31, 1875 . 12j 523 14 Revenue from two-thirds tax on cor poration stock , 1,432,141 58 Hevenue from all other sources 3,118,178 00 Total receipts 4.M2 72 Estimated receipts for the fiscal year ending November 29, 1877 1 Balance lu fund Novem ber 29, 1876 H0,251 37 Revenue from 'nc-thlrd taxoncorporattonstock, 650,000 01 Revenue from other sources 3,100,00ft 00 3 ,890, 2.1 1 37 Loss to fund for!877 , 781,591 35 Kstlmuted amount of reduction in ex penses for 1877 over 1S76 , 00.u01 00 Amount to be provided for 280,Wl35 All the expenditures of the government are payable out of the general fund except public debt and Interest thereon, which are piyable ontnf the Blnklig funl. 11 v act of Fehrmiy 12. 1876, two-thirds of all the tax on capital stock of all corporations of this commonwealth were diverted to the sinking fund, butthe act lurther prjvlded thatforthe year 1876 two-thirds of the corporate tax shall be pild to the general fund, mil the remaining one-third Into the sinking fund. In 1877 the general fund will, therefore, receive only one-third of this tax, instead of twodhlrds. as In 1876 This loss of one third of the corporation tax to this funl, w.th the natural reduction in this and other souices of revenue by reason of depression of business, will make the r'celpts of this funl about 801,000 less than last year. Expenses will lmvo to Incut down materially, or addi tional revenue provldod. The executive will leellthls duty, should the appropriations be in excess of the probable revenuo,to disapprove such Items as to blm may seem the least urgent. It may not be well to withdraw the aid hereto fore extended to charitable institutions Mak ing no reductions In these appropriations. 1 am confident that $500,000 of expenses of last year, attending the centennial, Improvements, legists lature, judiciary, printing and suppressing riots will not be necessary this year, leaving a reduction of about 8300.000 to be provided for. Foreign In surance companies are resisting the payment of state tax. it the question Is decided in favor of the state, 8260,000 additional will be received In the fund. The state has also pending a war claim against the United States amounting to about 8200,000. And there may be smaller claims in suit. Although It Is believed tbat these amounts will ultimately reach the treasury, it will not be safe to anticipate them by appropria tion. The deficiency can probably be supplied without additional taxation, by strengthening the bands of the financial offleeis of the state and a rigorous enforcement of the tax laws. The present system of assessment and collection of mercantile and tavern licenses Is expensive and Inefficient, sometimes there are no assessments, and when assessments aie made there are no col lections, andwhen collections are made the money Is slow In reaching the treasury. The whole Bubjectof mercantile andlavern licenses, In the manner of assessment, collection and publica tion, ought to be rt vised. By avoiding unneces sary expense and making the financial officers of iho state responsible for the execution of the law, through their own appointed agents, the returns from this source may bo largely in creased. With this Increased revenue I feel sat isfied the general expenses of the government can bo met without resorting to additional taxa tion. The corporation stock tax Is measured by the dividend declared, and If nodlvidend I' declare 1 the s nek Is appraised and .ssesse-l at fixed rates. When a small dividend U declar-d during the year, the tax may be very much out of pro portion to tbe value of tho stock. To avoid this the .tock of all corporations paving lt-ss than a six per c ntum dividend should be appraised. It Is also a question to be gravely considered, whether the tax on railroad corporations, now paying only the tax on capital sloes, should not be reduced from 'nine-tenths of one mill upon Its capital stock for each one per centum of divi dend made or declared by such company" to five-tenths or one mill and agro e receipt tax Im posed sufficient to produce a revenuo equal to such reduction. Some of the wealthier railroad .gnterpilf" Ttti3 state are now payln little or IIO UIVU1UUU8, IIU ui-ivio ec j mete w iui iub large amount of prope'fty represented. The non-productive as well as the r'Oduetlve prop erty of Individuals Is equally assessed In propor tlon to Its value. While It is not prew.idea to apply the same rule strictly to railroad prou'rty on account of Its great advantages and benefit to me public, yet l oeucveme rnoue ok assess ments should be so changed as not to give uu- prontabie ranroaa property almost total exemp tion from taxation. BANKS AND HAVING FUNDS. At the last session of the legislature a general act was passed for tho Incorporation and regula tion of banks of deposit and discount. The pro visions of the act are In harmony with the prin ciples set forth In the annual messages of 1874 an i leio. j.ue enect 01 mis law, wncn me iooso charters so freelv granted In former vears sh ill have expired, will be to keep banks In their proper spnere as clearing nouses lor Business transactions and for exchange-, and the instru ments for collecting the temporarily uncm- no) eu capital 01 iiu-iuess men anu reuistnou. .hns it bv loans and discounts aeeorellnr? to the wants ot trade. It will create a mutuality of In terest between tho banks aud their patrons, which will prevent the removal of large amounts of eapltil to money centres for speculative pur poses ana lorco loans to local enterprises ror le gitimate business liuritoscs at reasonable rates of interest. Business men, lor obvious reasons, win bo tho depositors ot these institutions, rue ravings of the people- which have been at tracted by the luro of interest on deposits, will be diverted to other Institutions, managed upon different principles, nnd having In view a differ ent oblect. To provide for that contingency, and as a complement to the act of May 13.1878. 1 recom- memi too pas-age ui an act lor tue incorpora tion nnd icgolation of savings f liuls, prohibiting theni from becoming banks of dUcount, and confining them to their proper object the safe keeping of the savings 01 the people. The de posits uf such Institutions should bo mado as inviolable as trust funds lu thehands of trustees. '1 he mercenary spirit and desire of gain should betaken out of their man igement, so that only men of the purest motives and highest integrity will become managers aud directors of them. Tfie salient features of a law that would r-oin-mend itself to my judgment, are these: There should be 110 stockholders expecting a return for capital invested , the corporators snould bo men of character aud standing, having no pecuniary interest In the business. The amount to be de posited by one Individual 111 any one year should be limited. The Investment nf deposits should bo restrict-d by lan to first-class securities and measures taken to have this provl.lon strictly complied with Quarterly statements should bo required to be published. Tho Interest paid to depositors should bo limited lu uenorul to about four per centum per annum i the balance of in terest arising from Investments would be used to pay salaries and other running expenses, and to create a surplus turn! to provide for extraor dinary depreciations and expenses. Ths surplus 1 und might be limited to a certain percentage of assets, allowing the board of directors or trustees to Increase the rate ol annual interest whenever tbe surplus sufficiently exceeded such proportion. Owing to th permanent character of the Investments, a certain small percentage of deposits might be sot apart for currant busi ness, and all depositors should he required to give a reasonablo notice of their Intention to withdraw money from the funds. In New York sixty or ninety days are so given, and In the in stitutions chartered in Pennsylvania onlv four teen days. Inordinary times the latter limit Is perhaps sufficient, but in panics, when extraor dinary depreciations in the market valus of all securities take plaee, me Interests or me dep sl tors would bo best secured bv the longer limit. 1 am aware that a law or this character has not tho stability or ceitalntv or one Iodide- uin mercenary Interests. I he phl'anthropv or men Is a fluctuating quality; tbelr self Interest Is a constant and steady rorcc. In so far as it Is purely beneficial, such a law maybe regarded s experimental, A somewhat similar law ex ists In New York and most of tho New England states, ai.d oni or two institutions, have been chartered in Pennslvinls unon these nrlnel- bles. Practice has proved the wisdom or such legislation. 1 am sa.lsfie-1 Its results will be beneficial. In tnese davs of noble nubile and private charities, It Is 110c unreasonable to hope that men t Integrity and standing, In every community, will lend the sanction or their names and give the modicum or time required to a scheme lor Improving the condition or the Industiious and deserving producers or the country. EDUCATION AMD SCHOOLS The renorts or the superintendent of nubile instruction will exhibit the educational progress of the year. They testify strongly to tbe un shaken interest felt by the peopld in education anu contain -recommendations wnicn are enti tled to vour serious consideration. Our school laws, the expression rf a growing publlo sentiment, made from time to time, are a mass of fragmentary enactments which It would be well to reconstruct in harmony with the wants of tho community and the tendencies of the times. A revision or the methods and course of studies, a plan for building better and improved dlstrictschoolliouses,and greater control over the whole system that the state now has, are among the changes that ars desirable. The first design uf the common schools was to furnish an elementary education to the poor. The system has rapidly overuown the original boundaries. It reaches Into alt department of l'amlng, prof.sslonal, Industrial and artistic and the manifest tendency Is to have the state assume in tote the lunctlon uf public educator and give to every class of Its citizens special and appropriate training. Every year the recom mendations cover a wider field and new institu tions of higher and special Instruction are pressed lion the state. High schools, academies and c 'lieges. Industrial and art schools, and work shops and laboratories are confidently as. snmed to belong to a system of state education. The dritt of publlo opinion Is unmistakable. The growth ef this opinion, the Increasing in. dustnes of the swte and the example o' foreign nations, concur lu urging the extension or the system. Mr views upon the subject or com pulsory and technic 11 education have already been laid before you. I hava h.r-itofore uni formly encouraged all efforts to raise the standard and increase the utility uf the public schools They are the nerve centres of tbe body ttolltic Irom which emanates the Intelligence that gives life to its Institutions. Whatever strengthe-s them strengthens the common, wealth. The suggestions or the 8Uierlntendent, t 'at the field or public education bo still further enlarged bv the establishment or second.ry schools of a higher grade and tho sy-tctn supple mented by Industrial and technical schools, will scarcely need mv endorsement to commend them to your attention. While wo are extending and enlarging the sys tem of public Instruction we must not allow tho destitute and neglected children , whom It was in. tended tobenefli, to drircbeyond Its bounds. Itls safe to say that not one In a hundred or this very cUes Is to be found 111 the schools. Thousands of children throughout the state are driven rema turely to work, or wander In idleness, exposed to tho vicious influences of ignoran e nd want, or filth and crime. The halt, the blind, the dear and dumb, are not more circumscribed ny the hard condition or things than these miserable and friendless waifs. 'X hey are equally e titled to the care of the state ; self-Interest and charity are here Identic il. Embryo criminals nurtured In want, these outcasts, grown to maturity, eventually fill the prisons and alms houses. And the money that the sta'e refuses to redeem them It Is at last forced to expend to repress them. Some provision by which they could be sent to the numerous homes lor friendless children and educat d and cared lor at a partial expense to the state, would be an actot wisdom as well as charity. The schools for the education of ssldlers'or phans are In a flourishing condition and the children are, as a body, healthy and happy. "Their Intellectual and moral Improvement has been satisfactory, and ne backward step has been taken In the work of rendering as efficient as possible the Industrial departments or the several schools. Since tbe system went Into op eration 8,580 o-rhans have been admitted and the number or children In the care of the Bfato on the first day of September, 1876 was 2,641. The expenditures were a little over 8400,000, be ing about 820,000 less than for th lost year. The estimated appropriation for 1877-78 is 8381,000. As the time approaches for the dl-solutlon of this noble cha'lty, which has reflected Infinite credit upon tho state, the people ran reflect with pride and pleasure, that ot the 6.000 children who have enjoyed their bounty, many are now in lucrative employment, and all, with scarcely an exccptl'in, have become good and useful citizens. The good results obtained in this work should stimulate our zeal and quicken our action In re- Sard to the other destitute and friendless chll ren before referred to. The recommendation to raise the standard of the normal schools, and fix tbe legal status of teachers, Is worthy of attention. Undoubtedly the gr--at want or our public school system, Is a body or teachers who nave chosen tho protes-ion as a life work. Such a class cannot be formed without special training and Inducement. To reap the full fruit or our school system, It I , therefore, neces-ary to liberally support and eqnfp our normal schools, to secure the tenures of our teachers, and to provldoajust compensa tion that will not leave them destitute after years of faithful toll. The extraor dinary expenses of the past year have pre vented the usual approprlatl ins to these schools as these are no longer required, I tustyou will extend such aid as the finances of the state will Fiermlt, to enable the normal schools to success ully perform their function. Pennsylvania Is indebted to the voluntary zeal and energy of tbe school department, seconded by cnortsot eaucators ana teacners tnrougnout tL. state for the creditable educational exulblt at L. -entennlal. Intheskort space of three months tne nan was erectea ana me immense massot material suitably arranged. A work In volvlng an 1 mount or labor from the superin tendent and L140 assistants, which Is worthy or all praise. The exhibition awakened renewed interest in educational matters, and will un doubtedly bo tho means o invigorating and lm. proving our scuoois. INDUSTRIAL ART. I have heretofore earnestly pointed out the Towlnp necessity for industrial art education. rlrat. tltrnnirli tlie imltlln nehnnla S the. Intro duction of mechanical and free hand drawing; secondly, by night schools for adults, and third ly, by special schools of Industrial design lor all classes. Museums, art gaucries nnu outer pub. Ho collections, are al o Important forces In in. uustriai education, such institutions in Kng land, Franco, Germany and oilier European countries are reguructi its un essential element in national progress, and are mostly under the pa tronage of tho government. Intelligence is be coming more and moro a most Important element in every department ot Industry. In this respect our educational system is whody deficient. It turns out lawyers, doctors, preachers and profes sional men in superabundance, while there lsn startling dearth uf Intelligent fanners, manufac. turers, miners nnd niechsntcs. A lew of the states have started forward luthe causoor in dustrial educat'obyintroduclngdrawing Into their public schools, and providing museums and schools ot desliii. The largo and varied indus tries or Pennsylvania demand a similar liberal ity. 1 no centennial year lias Drought us tne op portunity, and placed the materials for beginning at our disposal. The i.eologlcil Suiveyof the state has collected a "mass of specimens, which is now lasVl away in boxes and wholly useless In stead ef being a source of Instruction to the nun- pie." The Pennsylvania Museum and School of juuustriai Art, mooeicu niter tue celebrated South Kensluatoii Museum of London, has se cured memorial hall in which to form an art library; special collections, Illustrative ot indus trial nrocesses: and athorourrhsvstoii. of Instruc tion In tho nrts of Design as ap.illed to manufac tures, accompanied by general and technical lectures. 111 mis, mev are about to puce the nucleus of a collection gathered In the rich Held of tho centennial exposition, intended to promote tho Improvement or American industrial ait. 1 trust tnese enorts win not e-cape your notice. S Jine means ought to be devised to make avail ablo tbe rich collection uf the geological survey. And you will no doubt seriously consider wheth er in the caso of te museum and Industrial school, the state ought not to extend a band to p'aco upon a firm foundation a work uf so much punuc utility. historical runucATlONS. The centennial celebration has attra-tcd con siderable attention tu state history with the grat- 11) lug result timi tuis cunimuiiweaiui us. not been behind others in providing liberally fur the preservation 01 its true sources, -rnetwemv nine volumeBof Records and Archleves nG81 1790) published under the supervision or tbe late rsamuel Hazard, the flv- volumes of Bates' His tory uf Pennsylvania Volunteers 1 1861-1863) and the more recent publication of rour volumes of a second series of Archives, contain a largo body ui yniuauio ui.urik.iB. vy cunt means, jitace. uo- yond the possibility of destiuctlon. The labors of the Historical society of Pennsylvania In this uirectiuu are. wuriuy 01 especial notice, its wen managed public .turn fund has contributed to bistoileal resources, tho correspondence of fenn and Logan tue history, bv Acrcllus, of our Swedish settlers uion the llcla ware before tho time 01 renn; iiecxewei iersr .naian nations, Himiue riistuiicai Mapoi renn-yivania, puu llshcdinlSJS. OEOLOOIOAL BUVRKV. The board of comrulsslonenrof the second ge ological survey of fennsvlvanla will Inform vou or tho progress of the work, and the funds deemed necessary to completo 1L Some surprise may be expressed tbat tho amount should so far exceed the original estimates and the additional sums already appropriated. Hut the work Is, no doubt, being thoroughly aud economically done, aud, If finished, will be of Invaluable service 10 the government and people, llavingbeen begun the survey ought certalulv to be satisfactorily completed:. With, thepre.ent trained corpi of buivcouib ttsnisiants, tne vera cu ue uune less expensively and more perfectly than It dta contlnued and commenced anew alter the lapse of some years. The board tirono-ed some modi fication In the law controlling the distribution or lueir icjaris, anu aK ior some disposal 01 me sneclmens collected Lt tha survey. I trust von will see the wisdom or granting their request and providing a suitable place fur the display of ths collectloas. The propriety of extending state aid to the United States' coast! urvey, in Itstrl angulations of tho stato, has already been refer red to lu former mess iges. avttlie present rate of progress It will take, perhaps, twenty years to complete 1.. An appropriation uf Ihiee thou sand dollars would enable It to be pushed for ward with great rapidity, and materially aid the surveyors in their labor. NATIONAL GUARD. A much larger militia than the present force lias always existed ou paper, but tie people of tho state, b afore this year, were never able to Jud.f) of Its real strength and availability. The policy of the present administration has been to cutout all Inefficient organizations, and while reducing the cost and nominal numbers to in crease the effectiveness of this necevary de partment. Tho aim has been to make a small, compact, efficient body or troops that could be quickly called together and confidently relied uponin an omergency. Tin prompt response nf the soldier on several Imp ittant occasions, and the numbers that assembled in the Centennial encampment and participated In the parade, areevldeucesorthc success of thepollcy adopted. Out of a muster roll or 870 officers and 8,990 en listed men 7 301, rank and file, took part lu the military demonstrations of the centennial year. Considering the voluntary character of the ser vice, and that the men bore all the expenses, ex cept transportation, the exigencies of business, sickness and other causes nf enforced absence, the large attendance Is In Its-lf a most convinc ing pmof of the spirit and patriotl-m of tbe trmps. Theyear lias afl'uideit au excellent opportuni ty of comparing the militia system of Pennsyl vania and Its results with those of o'her states. Co-ting the state much less In proportion to Its size, I thlnaltmay he sately asserted that It Is very much superior to any other In the piopor tion of effective troops and especially in the f ecllngsof professional pride and patriotism that It ten 's to develop. Every year, the decided Improvement of the National (iuard has attested the wisdom of the change in the law, and the salutary infiuCDCe or the support and encourage ment or the people. It Is to be hoped that tie valuable Services of the troops In preserving the peace of the state, and the soldierly qualities shown on inspection, In encampment ana on pa rade, will keep alive publlo Interest, and remove an ieeung mat tue system is one ot merely os tentatious display. LAWLISSNESS. Although the peace of the commonwealth dur ing the year has been unbroken, I feel It my duty to call your attention to the plan for pro viding against future contingencies set lbith In my last annual message. Such emergencies : from time to time may be considered Inevitable, and in sntte of the fact that much has been dona within the post year to break them up and dis courage their formation, organizations may con- inuo to cjxist. waose lawlessness win require more than ordinary measures to repress. To de vise such measures will be a matter if ordinary wisdom, and to provide them, a prt caution of oommon prudence. Theoretically tin sheriff is clothed with the power of tho county. A pleas ing, del osl ye phrase "which keeps the rord of promise to the ear and breaks It to the hope." The potie comiUtlut is the remedy of a warlt e age. In these days of extended Industries ami complicated social relations, with all their pacific Influences, it Is painfully Inefficient. At, all times the fears, and rrequ-ntly the prejudices of a community In which disturbances occur, pre vent the decisive action of the sheriff. It is at the best opposing mob to mob. Resistance to law, or systematic violations of it by large bodies of men, can only be suppressed byan organized xurce. sncn aiorce tne state nas in its miutia. But to be effectual, the demonstration of military fiower should be overwhelming and therefore arge. A hundred policemen or constab'es organ ized underthe command or the shcrlffmightsup ply the place or a regiment or soldiers The fre quent use 01 troops nas ever been distasteful to a free people, and while casting anunnleasant duty and delicate responsibility upen the execu tive, anu causingiossio aiarge nuraoerni peace ful citizens called away from their Usual avoca tions, entails, likewise, an enormous cost upon the taxpayers of the state. And there Is always more danger of bloodshed in emnloylng troops than In the use or civil power. For these rea sons, which' have acquired additional promi nence In tbe light or the unusual military ex penses of 875, 1 am coostralned to press upon you what seems to be an adequate remedy. The sheriff Is tho representative and Instru ment or executive authority In the county. In the discharge of his responsibility, the executive has a large, well disciplined body of mllbla at his command, while tbe sheriff Is left with one or two constables and the rude machl ierv of the pone comitalui. It is true, he can call upon the executive 101 assistance, tout ior tne reasons set forth above. It is advisable that the necessary support should be of civil rather than of a mili tary character, and promptness Is always essen tial In dealing with lawless men. The proposi tion I have to submit to your honorable bodies, is the passage of a law which will enable the sheriff, In troublesome time, to organize a force commensurate with the opposition to be over come. A force that may be called Into being at the beginning of au exigency, continued while It lasts, and disbanded at It close. If, when the sheriff calls for aid to suppress riots and untaw- iui assemblies, or to protect me people irom s?s tematlc murder, arson aud intimidation, tbo proper authorities could empower him to enroll a constabulary sworn luto the service of, and paid by, tho county, many disturbances which now demand the intervention of the military could be settled by civil process. Troops would then be necessary only on the gravest occasions. But such crisis w uld only occur after an honest Offert had been mado to suppress the outbreak by the local authorities, and not, as now, after a few spasmodlo efforts which are supposed to ex haust a' power which Is In fact scarcely seen and never felt. It Is the moro Important that your attention shall be given to this bxctuse of tho growth of lawlessness In oyr national life We rejoice in tho fact that we flro a law-abiding people, and we have, in lrutlr, a substantial ba.ls for our X prido But there Is -In every civilized society at lawless element, and courts and police are sit once 1110 guards and mea?ur 01 its lorce. uxir lng the past decade tht lawless chararters have been receiving 11 Onerous edurMlon. They have seen, thiougho , V large setlou or tho c untry. systematic lnniation j(a which the perpetrators or murd r, ttBon mud Innum erable crimes against persouB andf property, have escaped with impunity, i-M'V in too many instances, nccompiisiiea tueir etrus. aneyaro loclted bv the probability or likli Immunity and tho hop-s or like success to liursue the same ineinou. u counterpoise to iiaonangt-nius eu ucatlon or the times,! eani-stj-y advfio the for mation of a civil system whlclf will convince the lawless classes of the lutilty of all such at tempts. A power that willbe prompt and ef fective, that can bo dlrSctod at once to tho threatened locality and crush lusurrectlon be fore It gains standing aii momentum. PKNITENTiaSy KS AND FltlSOXS. At the las' session jr the legislature your at tention was called 1rJ the overcrowded condition or iho eastern peiiitiiitlary, at Philadelphia. No action was taaen tiserton, nu uuriug tuu year tbe inspectors wete seriously embarrassed to provide for the ;rlralnals consigned thereto. The Institution h 1 680 cells, and there are now In confinement 91 1 convicts. Of this number 235 are confined on sl-utences under two years, and 709 for two years I and over. The law requires mat eacn prisineii suan no xept singly aim wis aratclv at labor lili the cells or workshops uf said prison. Thecousftltutlon preventsthe Inspectors Irom contracttii 1 for additional buildings with out rrevlous authority or law. They are there fore placed under Ithe neoessity or viotating tne statute In onerclpect. by refusing torecelve prisoners, except las vacancies occur, or disre gard tbe law as to tbe mode of confinement, In order to r cei.e a hoso sent there by the courts. I respectfully urgf ; upon sou that It Is time to relieve these gentlemen, whose admirable man agement of the peilittcntlary Is a matter of notice at home und abr lad. rrom this nnnleasant dl len.ma, and enltble them to carry out me law in its - letter anu gpmt, bus therebv secure Ithe advantagrs of the sistem of discipline!, which are now In a great measure lost. '1 he i'mcdy Is to be found, either In liulldin an lthur nBiniteiitlarv or In extending the Accommodations iBf those already In exls - ence, aud perhapa In ixeduolng the number or convict authorized to be""" w ''8 tal0 insti tution, in thn ro-iran nfVtlma utner state oris ons will bo required since iV Is ge erally ngreed that therti la h limit In size attul numbers bevond whlcha penitentiary ought nttog. It Is not advisable, nor la it necesaarV at the present time to Incur tbatcxponse I,' mend that authority be given t or the eastern nenltentiary an herelore. reconi- the lnspectois 1 nin ts ueaiipro iodallons of that prlated, to en'arge the a1 comn Institution to 789 cells. I also the law authorizing tbe court tienitdutlarv nersous scute1 ced recommend that i t send to the to imprisonment ry routinetneut. year, be mudl be sent there who at labor, by separate and sollt lor any pcrioa not less man on fled, so as to nermltthose only to are sentenced to nut less than tm' vo years' Imprl d caa ttv would onment as above. 1 no increase nt niiM t.tvA relief. Al.d the one Krauoanl ma pro posed amendment, within the wear, remove the pre sure irom me institutiuu. Hnch a course would also te lod to Induce the counties to erect proper and su Many counties now have surl glance at the reports tf the Ins bstentlal prisons. i prisons, and a oectora will snow om these counties mat fewer criminals are sent in to penitentiaries than from oth krs. The counties whose jails are reported first-class bytbo board of public charities, are Armstrong. Clarion, Cloartield, Lehigh nnd Potter. In Berks, lllalr, Bradford, Butler, 'lambrla, Cameron tjarlio-i, Oentre,Cliester,CUnto -, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Juniata, Lancas ter. Luzerne, Lycoming, M'Kenn, Mercer, Miftlln, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Nchuylklll, Susquehanna. Warren, Wayne, Washington and York, the same author ity report the Jaila.good and substantsal, al though some are small. A few counties, Oreene, Monroe and Northumberland, aro now building new ones. Any legislation tending to hasten tbe action of tho balance will be to the benefit ot the counties and the state. The reformation of persons convicted of crimes of a venial charac ter will be sooner attained In a community where they are known, and when Ihey are spared the deeper disgrace of penitentiary Im prisonment and separated from the hardened and desperate characters who will be turned over to the care of the state. Whatever notion Is taken, should be taken at once. The trouble Is constantly increasing, and measures should he tlevlsed Immediately to relieve the peniten tiaries fioin the pressure or an over population, which Impairs their efficiency and endangers the security and safety of their Inmates. noann op tublio ouaiiities. The annual report or the board or public charities will place beforo vou much valitahli statistical and other Information In regard to the condition of flic various charitable, reformatory and penal Institutions nf the state. Much has been accomplished during ths pa.t year In the correction of abuses still lingering in some or the county institutions by the assistance ren dered by wise counsel nnd" lu tlcious encourage ment to iboso who are endeavoring to improve tho condition of the unfortunates Intrusted to their cire, and by a careful and discriminating oversight of the manner in which the funds of the state are appropriated to ptiollc charities and expended by them. A marked Improve ment is observable in tho general attention paid by the local managements of almost all grades of institutions coming under tbe Jurisdiction of the board uf public charities, to a strict economy and a care over the various classes of inmates more In accordance with the advanced views nf Lour modern civilization. The benefits of an In telligent, experienced and disinterested super vision, such as Is afforded by the publlo chari ties, which were very Imperfectly understood at first, have come to be more aria more appre ciated by the local managements of public In stlnutions, and it Is a matter of sincere congratu lation that a growing spirit of confidence and co-operation is clearly perceptible as the work of the board extends Itself, The cost of man aging such a state agency, trifling as It Is, be comes wholly insignificant when compared with the large saving of publlo appropriation, and tbe constant Improvement of tne State's care ef the defective and criminal cl asses within Its bor ders. FISH. The operations in the fish department daring the year have generally kent abreast of the movement In other et ttes. The commissioners have employed the means given them, In dis. trtbutlng and cultivating new tribes of fishes, and In purchasing, on reasonable terms, another extensive hatching establishment west or the Allegheny mountains. The state Is now In pos session of twoestabllstmentsof tbe kind. The nshwavg continue to admit shad In large num bers, but they cannot as yet be said to have rein, stated the flsnerles above the dam As there Is no physical Impediment to the fish passing through them, the failure Is ascribed to the natural timidity of the shad, the predatory fish ing of the riy-rmen and the dennslt or detri mental substances In the river. The neglect of the local authorities to enforce tho appropriate legislation, or, possibly, some Inherent defects In tho laws, seriously embarass the effort of the commission to stock tho waters or the stale with food fish. The results in other states and the partial successes of the commission, with all the drawbacks, have fully proven the feasibility of the scheme when properly supported. The Im portance of an uofalllng supply of cheap food calls for an energetic and systematic effort to re stock the magnificent water courses of the stato beforo the attempt Is fin illy abamonod. INSURANCE. I desire to repeat and emph tslze the encom ium of last year passed upon the Insurance de. partment. I he labors of this department, though arduous and of great service to the people, are of the quiet and unobtrusive kind, which escape publicity and are too often passed oyer without credit. It performs a work of great utility, not only to the publlo. but to the responsible com. paules as well. By exposing fraudulent com panies It increases the field for good ones, and saves the public "from loss by annually Inf orm ing them of the character and standing of all In surance companies, foreign and domestic. To do this lt must often contend against combina tions and corporations that are Intent upon prl. vato gain at the risk and expense of the people. The department Is a most Important one, the in terests it serves and protects, are vast, and lt should receive, at your haaus, cordial support and proper attention. construction or fujlio buildinos. The recent holocaust Itvf rookly n Is a terrible reminder or a subject that has been frequently agitated but never sufficiently Investigated. I u the lurid glare or thavaad experience, the laws relating to tho conduction of public buildings and places of amusement ought to be examined. If found to be su'iclent, measures should be ta ken to have therA vigorously enforced. If found to be deficient, ample provision should at once be mado to prevent the recurrence of such .frightful calamities. The law should bo largely in favor of safety and security even at tho expense of p.lyate profit and convenience. It general! happenathat a great p trad s Is made beforehand of tbe.ineans or escape until some sacrifice re veals their utter Inefficiency. Sucli matters cauuot sarely bo left to tho discretion or indi viduals but must be controlled by a power hav ing a supremo regard ior 1110 puniic wnuaro. it Is better to err on the side of over-offlclousness than that hundreds of our fellow creatur.'s shoutd expiate our Irresolution. AVIO ITION OF OHIO RIVSR. Ou April 27, 1870. 1 had the honor to call your attention, in a .pedal communication, to tho ne cessity or legislation by the stato of Henusvlva nla,to provide for tho cession or J urisdlctioii over land, within the limits of this state, required for the sites or loess and dams on the Ohio river; In the prosecution of improving the navigation of said river by the national government. In ac cordance therewith, hoaso bill No. 270 was intro duced but no final action was taken thereon. Tun net should he. nassed nroinnflv. not only out of respect to the national government which Is voluntarily doing work of treat utility to tho stat i, but ou aooount of tbe great imp jrtauce of mo worK itsen BTATUARV. By tho act of congress or Julv 2, 1861. the Preside tor the Unliexl States was "authorized to Invite each and all the. states to provMo and furnish statues, In marble or bronze, not ex r.eeilluf' two In number, for each state, of de ceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and Illustrious lor their hl-torlo renown, or for llstlnL'ulshed civil or nilllta y service, such as each slate snail ueieroune to oo wormy ui mat national cummeinoratlou : and when so fur nished, they shall be nlaced In the old hall of tho house of representatives, in the capitol of United states, wmcu is nereoy set apart, ur so much thereof as mav be necessary, as anailonal statuart hall. Ur tho purposes herein Indi cated." Several of tho states nava ay died them selves ortho Invitation and caused to be erected, In the capitol at 'Washington, statues or their illii.irlnus citizens. I do not doubt that it will bo your pleasure to soiect from the long list of tue lamuus mem oi ui cuiuiiwm.c,u, ."u , whoso lives and services commemorate great eveuU and great principles, and provide tor placing their statues in the national capitol, to remind observers of the part Pennsylvania has contributed to tne greatness and glory or tbe nation, MUNICIPAL COUHISSION. The municinal commission to devise a plan or plans for the better goveri ment of the el'les or the commonwealth, created by the actorMayB 11)16, ha' been appointed aud commenced lis labors. Tbe great quanti'y of material t, be ol gested and the necessity of an exhaustive discus sion or the subject will prob sbly delay it rejwrt until late In the session. A deep interest has been manifested by ihe people in th work, aud It Is hoped tha the wbidom and exp-nence ot the commission nnd uf the distinguished citizens who view, will be laid before It mav davlse a plan to relieve tho cities of the state from their heavy burdens, and suggest a municipal policy which will make lmMisible tbe extravagance and mismanagement that have cha acterlzed the last decade. Amongthe many miscellaneous subject- which will claim your attention during the session, several seem to me of more than ordt ary Im portance. The destruction of the forests of the state, proceeding with an alarming rapidity, aud producing many Hi consequences, should be neutralized by some legislation fur renewing this great source of prosperity and health. The uill Tut hrnuifhout the atateougbtbe eauallzed he exemption law was passed for the protection ofthe lfe andftmlly of the poor man .against till miBr,irtuiiA nr foil. If hecanwatvett.lt Is a simple nullity, and a law that Is only a mockery to those It pretends to protect hod better be re moved from the statute book or amended. I suggest that a waiver of the law be made Impossible. The conviction Is steal! Ily growing among Intelligent men. and osiisclally physicians, that a stato board nf health Is necessary to the health and happi ness of our people. Many enldcmtcs can be pre vented and contagious dlsca s sensibly confined or mltlg.ted, by ths observance nta rew sani tary precautions which aro now ignorantlv or wilfully neglected. It Is our duty as legislators to secure the lives and health and happiness of our ieople by all the means that the knowledge and Ingenuity or the age plaee within our roach, A stato board of health, having general super vision over local boards, luvng.tgatlngsvstemati nilly and s"lentiricAlly, and disseminating cor- rcct Information, wotild luctile tte proper habit. arnonir the liponlo nnd enable Intelll-rent and salutary laws to be framed for the preservation of lire anil health. CENTENNIAL. The centennial closed nmld general commen dation. Nothing can be con elvod more admira ble thsn the temper In which It was undertaken and the manner In which It was car ried nut. In size. Interest and attendance, lt Is admitted to have surpassed all previous exhi bitions. Many things contributed to this signal success. The cooperation of other states and tho United States and the cordial good will of foreign nations uiatcrl illy aided the enterprise. But the main cause Is to lie found In the untiring energy and zeal, the prudence, Judgment and ability of the distinguished managers, and In the unexampled liberality nnd hospitality of the people or Pennsylvania nnd Philadelphia. Throughout tho exhibition the utmost good or. tier proyalled.aud Its associations bay -powerfully strengthened the reciprocal good will of the nations of the earth. The results have b-en great and far-reaching. It has deepened ami wldeuod the public mind at home, and contributed to a better under standing aud higher oplnlrn ol' our nation abroid. It has been an exhibition not only of the material products of our institutions, In ths necessities, comrorts and luxuries or civilized lire so lavishly displayed, but It has also shown the mental characteristics which are at once the source and security of the same Institutions, the patriotism and liberality, the love or law and order, and the superior average Intelllgert no of the American people. It has brought the wTork of our people Into comparison wtth that pf civilised nations, and In summing no what m nave aorx nas discovered to ns the direction in which we mast proceed. It bos crowned the century wtth unalloyed satisfaction, and we can enter upon the work of the future with the con fidence and hope derived from the progress of the past. raoaniss or TBI oontirt. n The past year was the centennial of tbat stats as well as of the nation It la natural to review the progress of the century: to 'trace the rise of. the useful and ornamental arts, and to mark the) changes that have taken place in society. At the Utter part of the eighteenth century the firovinoe contained about four hundred thousand nhabitanta. The population scarcely extended beyond the Susquehanna, except a few settle ments that straggled into the wilderness and held a precarious existence amid hostile tribes of Indians, and the difficulties of communicating with the more populous regions. Tbe people were chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits ; a few In the east were manufacturers and mer chants, and the rude distilleries or the west turned tbe nrodnct or that reulon Into merehan- m.n ifneti.slnn, ant limKa. Inl.rn.t. It classes were eaucateu ana refined, nil eracy was common among me neonle derful change. The population has Increased ten fold, the area under cultivation a hundred xuuusanuB 01 mues 01 canais ana ranroaas 1 tersect the commonwealth. Immense m manufacturing, agricultural and carry!' tarnrUes give emblovment to the tollinir ... wlthtn nnr reAch : fuel unit nrnvlnlnna brought to our doors : gas and water are in nouses, ana tue news 01 tne woria or yesteraay FI'V. 1 1 . ., . , 1 uTor tuu state, nnu tne isusi is Duraenea a with millions of letters attesting the general ant and liberal. The charges of modern dege eracy are retuteu ny in Clear testimony hntiflrAri venrn. The ennt nf nnlltlna I, n . ewtrverfllnn nf the tseh lilefnnr Pnmn. joto niiuiiio it is HDparont mat we ub iu ireeaom,in intelligence, in morals FBBIODIOAlBpKTREaSIONS. 111 cuiuiuuu witu uiugsEommerciai nave naa perioas ot wnresslon. have net been caused by pKbllo and travagance and are no proof of the una nerreneracv oi me, times la ei -'Mi. narirreirnTH i.tm m i.iih i hi.d ess man mose ot any otner nation ccntage of tho cost of collection a the treasury through defective law est officials are less than heretofore, also tho relative proportion or capital t pur uiiuoe gicatni iiuiuniis, jiu ijuuu reaeuu can y given ior n uiuerciit rusuit in mo un ted states. Tint the people spend mo and live better Is undoubtedly true. Such e pun Mtuec niu not iiuetiui unless tUBy 1 ttalr tlia tirlnclnnl or the natnn'a wealth, let purchase or luxuries is ruinous in itself, then purcuasoui nuyuuug uuyunu nreaa ana bull anu coar so doming is ruinous also, nations, as won as inuiviuuiiis, uugut tonvo witnin meir in- taw comes and save wealth fast enouga to employ the natural Increase of laborers. Wlthlti that limit comforts and luxuries are .'be just rewards of Industry ah the capital accumulated since ioy tue labor ot me country, me cause c; .aril tim -s is evidently not the extravagance tvf ttio neonle. The canttalof tho cotintrv liaa nm been wasteu in riotous living but is locKeo lion, auu nut uvur-cuiisuinpuuii, is tue cause the stagnation in business. The war. f.ir tl time being, changed tho entire Industrial rela- .t...n iF l.a fh. .tnmnn. , ducts was enormously Increased, and tho Indus tries supplying mem necame very profitable cipltal flowed steadily fir some years fi .11.,.. ..1.1., Dn.1 tl.d r.,l,ll .-nn - -1. expense uf all others nnd Increased pre certain Industries an enormous production tits euui'iiiu, unniwuui uj j'.aiiui uimmuuip C pita sought an outlet by projecting new rail iMr a wnne lucre, weui u nurioii ni inrjir. growth. Hut capital invested in und rounerative. When mat Happens those i tries und the iuterosts connecte I with then wuoiiv urpariitny inn , iud uaiiimi, or so vestment and the labor engagea mid other relations. Auy legl-lation tending 10 make Intended congress Should have d measures tu r lease capital from i.orarllv unproductive enterprises, to sist labor lu changing to uther fields operations and to roster, encourage and p: the n glected Industries of the country, leolslatlon would go to the root of the m For such legislation we must uepena aimos liruly upon the national government. It w . .. i.n.nAe fnr me tn refrtr la thrt uhle cept tli.it our state policy must also the closer co-operatioa or capital aua I liv srp.r su new inaustries auu uiversineei 1 ..,,11.1 nHII not. lm suddenly traiiafMrreil frm ...in., nt tlie lnliLirlni classes will ho mail -iintJitf aeenre. much can be done to nr come. CONCLUSIOS. w n i.iMiiruur uuikb mui ttss.cu our u. luiiii'se. .u u.u, w . .... , '-.. u .... V . " leunetA for so many millions and iKjnJence and accountability to God, nrrrMistrltv. thrOUffh thti TloisHltUdeA Of ft let Ut Uieu sVUUIwa guitciico w uio ias. iieTUlniz Jttft and salutary t ana Btuuiary im-mm vt pla lu t&elr further PTeM- KxxotmvB GBaUBU. aarrUourg. Jan. W J AAA. a V 4Y slV4ay aV AOsx
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers