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