v"V?!
ics of Vital Interest to the Com-
moinvealth Discussed.
AN EXHAUSTIVE STATE PAPER.
Eevenne and Tax Bnaestions for the
Guidance of Legislators.
VIEWS OX MAXUAL TBAIKIKG SCHOOLS
rf rrciAi. telegram to the disim.tch.i
Hakkisbckg, January 1. "When the
Legislature convened to-day the following
message from Governor Beaver was read.
It js given in full below:
T tiie benitc ana Houe of Representatives of the
Commonwealth uf l'cnnsylvaula:
Gentlemex You come together under fa
vorable auspices. Tbe Commonwealth pros
pers. Her population increases. Her vote at
the last general electiou aggregated within
1,700 of 1,000,000, being about 100.000 in excess of
the vote at any time previously cist. This ote,
measured by tbe standard of ltoO, would indi
cate a population approximating, if not quite
equal to, o.OOU.000.
I'lentj crowns the year which has just closed.
Agriculture has been rewarded by gtnerous re
turns from the soil, iu greater degree than in
several jears past. The output of our mines
has stcadilv increased. We easily hold our
place in theifront rank of the producers or coal
and iron. The buy hum of industry has indi
cated the contcntof employment, even if manu
facturers have been denied a fairly piofitable
return. Internal and inter-State commerce
show increased and iucreasmg tonnage, and
gii e employment to constant! increasing num
bers. The growth of our railrocd system,
although checked in some directions, has been
healthy and vigorous elsewhere, and has
tended to thedevelopmentof ourast resources
here.oforc untouched. Sew territory for the
production of oil and natural gas has been dis
co ered and opened up. Tne utilization of
natural gas and of the t ast accumulations of
culm in the anthracite coal regions, and the
development of new bituminous coal fields in
Mi eral parts of the State, have proved of great
advantage to our manufacturing industries in
all portions of the Commonwciltb and offer
superior attractions to those desiring to locate
new manufacturing industries, especially such
as relate to the manufacture of iron and the
products thereof.
COMMESDABLE EXTEBPBISE.
The vigorous gronth and healthy develop
ment of the smaller cities, indicated by in
created attention to the paving of streets and
the introduction of electric motor and horse
railways, are evidences of general thrift and
commendable enterprise.
Industrial thrift has been but slightly re
tarded by strikes and lockouts, destructive
alike to all the interests affected thereby, and
an increasing disposition between the wage
earner and the wagepajer to consult before
differences ar.se, and to arbitrate after they
have arisen, gives promise of more satisfactory
results in this direction in the future.
It is hoped that the era of depression in
prices, which lias prevailed for set eral j cars,
has reached low-water marl;, and it is confi
dently believed that the outlook for more prom
ising results lor industrial and commercial en
terprise is encouraging.
oucome, therefore, to the discharge of
our duties as the prouiotori and conservators
of the public welfare at a goodly time.
It is not intended by this br.ef survey to con
vey the impression that there arc no evils to
remedy and no benefits to be conferred upon
the people of the Commonwealth bv their
chosen representatives in General Asseinblv
met. On the contrary, the favorable condition
of affairs w hich confronts you will enable you
to give intelligent and serious attention to
many subjects of internal policy and concern
which have long demanded appropriate legis
lation. You are solely responsible for the law s
which arc enacted. Yoii come Ircsn from
your several constituencies with a knon ledge
of their wants and desires. You are to meet
those wants and gratify those deires, to far as
the Constitution. our own rood iudmnent tlm
best interest, of the v, hole people and the re-1
sources of the Commonwealth will allow. It is ,
ncaiueimciuion, nor is ic rne desire, ot the
Executive to interfere in anyway with jour (
functions as lawmaker. It i his 'intention to
confine himself strictly to the constitutional
command that "He shall from time to tim
gite to the General Assembly information of
the state of the Commonwealth, and recom
mend to their consideration such measures as
he may judge expedient."
COXSTITUTIOXAL AMENDMENTS.
Your immediate pi edecessors. by two several
joint resolutions, took the first step in sub
mitting to a ote of the people amendmenjs to
the Constitution of the Commonwealth; the
first of said resolutions, approved the 10th day
of February, 1ES7, proposing to prohibit bv
constitutional enactment the manufacture
sale, or keeping for sale, of any intoxicating
liquor to be used as a beverage; and the second
providing for the amendment of the first sec-'
tion of the ei"hth article of the Constitution I
relating to suffrage, abolishing the payment of
a uijl as a quaiiucauon ior voting, roducmg
the minimum residence in the district where
the elector offers to vote from 2 months to W)
days, and extending the suffrage to citizens
actual! engaged in military service and to the
inmates of an v home for disabled soldiers and
sailors in the district where said home is lo
cated. In regard to the first of these resolutions, it
may lie confidently said that very manv people
of the Commonwealth desire to vote "directly
upon it They should have opportunity so to
do; and in order that such an opportunity may
be afforded, at a time when no other considera
tion than the direct question involved can bias
the mind, it is recommended that the resolution
be passed by the present Legislature as early as
possible, and that a time bo fixed for a special
election say in the month of Mav or June at
which the people may record their verdict
thereupon.
The amendment proposed in the second of
said resolutions seems to meet with general ap
proval, and might be submitted at the same
time. Neither of these subjects has any parti
tan political sifnihrance, and they should
therefore be considered and determined solely
upon their merits. This, it is believed, can be
best done when no other subject is before the
people, and in advance of the nominating con
veniens which shall name candidates to be
voted for at the general election in November.
APPKOPRIATIOJfS AXD EEVEXUE.
At the close of the Legislature In 1SS7 there
remained at the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth for Executive action nearly 330
bills and resolutions. These included the
major part of the appropriation bills of the
session. A careful aggregation of all the ap-
propriations made, together with the fixed
charges and expenses provided by law, the de
partmental expenses ansing under the sched
ules and the estimated amount of the sinking
fund as fixed by the Constitution and laws,
amounted to neaily 517,009,000.
The estimated reenues from all sources, ac
cording to the experience and judgment of
those best qualified to make an estimate, were
less than J1j,000,000.
This condition of thines imposed upon the
hxecutivc tbe necessityof bringing tho income
and outgo of the treasury for the two jears,
from the 1st of June, 18S7, to the 1st of June.
18S9, as nearly as possible together. The rev
enues could not be increased. The remedy,
and tbe only remedy, therefore, was to be
found in decreasing the expenditures, or rather
i preventing the necessity of expenditure, bv
Sxecntive interference. "This was found to be
a difficult thing to do. The great majority of
the appropriations were well considered and
necessary, and appealed to the judgment
and. in many cases, to the sj tnpatbv of the Ex
ecutive. The appropriations were all carefully
tabulated and analyzed, and. after thoroughly
.studying them, it as detei mined, first of all,
tbattwo objects in which the executive had
taken a deep personal interest must be
sacrificed. These were the erection of a new
executive building, and the remodeling of tho
legislative bulldini: (ror which appropriation
liad been made by the Legislature) and the
provision for new and enhrged quarters for
the Hojse of Refuge in Philadelphia. The
item providing for the repair of the executive
mansion would have shared the same late but
for the fact that the plans had all been pre
pared and the woik actually commenced be
fore the necessity for such action became
apparent
Many of the appropriations simply expressed
the legal obl'tratioris of the Commonwealth.
These could not be interfered with. 0 r
educa ional and charitable institutions were to
be maintained at all hazards. Tbe general
principle w hich governed in limiting or reduc
ing appropriations by executive action was
therelore. to strike out such items as provided
fornewbulldiugsandthe payment of pre-existing
obligations In no single instance, so far
as it is now recalled, was the provision for the
running expenses of any of our hospitals
throughout tbe State constitutionally entitled
to aid, seriously interfered with.
THAT EEVENUE BILL.
The bill to revise, amend, aud consolidate the
several revenue laws of this Commonwealth,
which imposed taxes upon personal property
and upon banks, corporations, limited partner
ahips, bankers and brokers, known as House
Top:
bill No. 200. which came to the office of the Sec
retary of the Commonwealth a few days before
the adjournment of the last Legislature, re
ceived very careful consideration at the hands
of the Executive. In some of its provisions It
was nut believed to be all that was desired; tn
others it was regarded as positively faulty, and
in some respects its tendency was to diminish
the revenues. There was popular demand for
some new revenue svstetn. It was believed by
the people at large that this bill met the re
quirements of the demand. With many mis
givings, but recognizing the feeling upon the
subject, the Executive was about to sign the
bill, when it was discovered that it had not re
ceived the signature or the presidins officer of
the Senate, as required by the Constitution. A
quiet investigation was set on foot before any
publicity was given to the matter, which result
ed in the discovery that the journal of the
Senate failed to show that the bill had ever
been received from the House in the Senate
for signature. A further investigation showed
that at the time the House of Representatives
adjourned, after tho signing of the bill bv the
Speaker, the Senate was not in session. It was
believed, therelore, that the messenger had
taken the bill from the House to the office of
the Secretary of the Commonwealth witnout
having first carried it to the Senate. Be that
as it may, it was very clear that the bill lacked
one of the essential leatures of a law, and
conld not properly be signed and promulgated
as such. Subseauent investigation of the sub
ject and the action of the courts, since an
nounced, lead to the belief that it was perhaps
veil for the general interests of the Common
v. ealth that the bill did notQecome a law. It is
not believed now by those who are best quali
fied to judge that the bill, as passed, would
meet present requirements in raising the reve
nues necessary to provide for the necessary ex
penditures of the Commonwealth.
BEVEXUE COMMISSION.
In accordance with the provisions of the con
current resolution, approved the 16th day of
February. 1887, Hon. Henry V. Palmer, Hon.
Jerome B. Niles and Hon. Christopher Hcy
drick were appointed by the President pro tern
of the Sen itc, seven Representatives appointed
by the Speaker of the House, tho Auditor Gen
eral, tho State Treasurer, the President pro
tern of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House, as a "Commission to revise the rev
enue laws of the Commonwealth and report
the result of their action by bill or otherwise to
the next or SDecial session of the Legislature.
and, if practicable, to report a digest of all the
State revenue laws for public information."
This Commission held repeated meetings dur
ing the ear 1SS7, and made a report which,
with the bill prepared by them entitled An
act to revise, amend and consolidate the sev
eral revenue laws of this Commonwealth;
which imposes taxes upon personal property
and upon cnperations, companies, associations,
limited partnerships, banks, bankers ami
brokeis,' 'is herewith transmitted. There are
some admirable features in the bill as pro
posed, and if it could be put into immediate
operation, with such amendments as a later
experience would indicate to be desirable, it
would doubtless constitute the foundation of a
wise and comprehensive revenue sj'stem.
Without discussing either of the measnres
above referred to, it may be stated as a safe
general proposition, that the less interference
with our existing revenue laws, excepting to
remedy certain defects pointed out by Ike
courts in recent decisions, and to extend the
operation of the law so as to bring within its
grasp all personal property intended to be
taxed under existiuglegislationand the require
ments of the constitution, the better it will be
lor the revenues of the Commonwealth and
other interests which seriously complain of
burdens too great to be borne.
The general revenue act of the 7th of June.
1S79, ith the supplements thereto, having al
ready recened judicial interpretation in vari
ous ways, mav perhaps better be adhered to
than to risk the enactment of an entirely new
law whose fundamental principles might not
receive the sanction of judicial interpretation.
If what is known as the capital stock tax
were levied upon the actual value
of the stock taxed, instead of under
the duel arrangement provided in the second
section of the&bote act referred to, and if
what Is known as the loans tax were levied
upon the actual value of the securities sought
to be taxed, many of the difficulties complained
of and which are now undergoing judicial ex
amination might, it is believed, be happily re
moved and our revenues rendered much more
stable. Kith a chance for increase rather than
decrease.
A TAX SUGGESTION.
The expenses connected with the collection
of what is known as the personal property tax
arc onerous, and their adjudication gives nso
to much labor, aunoyance and sometimes dis
satisfaction to the authority making the col
lection. It is believed that If this tax were
divided so as to give I mill thereof to the mu
nicipality making the collection, in lieu of all
expenses connected therewith, much difficulty
would be obviated, more revenue would be re
ceived by the Commonwealth, and an induce
ment held out to the local authority making
tho collection to bring within the grasp of the
law-much property which at present escapes
taxation. This subject deserves careful con
sideration at your hands.
The Legislature has, at different times and
in various ways, attempted to exempt certain
classes of property from the general operation
of our retenue laws. The Constitution ex
pressly limits the power of the Legislature in
this direction: specfically enumerates the prop
erty which it may, by general laws, exempt
from taxation, and provides in the second sec
tion of the ninth article that "all laws exempt
ing property from taxation, other than the
property above enumerate shall be void.''
What is property? A plain, simple, common-sense
answer to this question will un
doubtedly point out the highway which the
Legislature must follow in dealing with thi?
whole subject of revenue, if the plain intent
of the Constitution is to be obeyed. The
cmptionsheretofore attempted have been m
ex-
made
not oniy wituout autuoritv, out are, the Con
stitution says, absolutely void. If, in addi
tion to tbe simple changes in the act
of 1879 above referred to, provision
were made lor the collection of taxes
lrom those several spedes of property
declarca to be exempt by the legislature, and
such as are in effect exempt because not men
tioned jn existing legislation, we would have
ample revenue for all the ordinary purposes of
the Commonw ealth, and could extend yet fur
ther in different directions the appropriations
which tend to the immediate relief ethereal
estate of our citizens. Let the full and fair in
tent of the Constitution bo carried out in the
direction indicated, with no more than the
present moderate rate of taxation provided for
in existing laws, and it is believed that im
mediate relief would be experienced by those
who rightfully complain of burdensome local
taxation. A general inquiry addressed to all
the cities and counties of the Commonwealth
has elicited the knowledge of a condition of
affairs, so far as local taxation is concerned,
which will be as great a surprise, no
doubt, to the Legislature as it was to
the Executive. Tho real estate of the Com
monwealth is taxed in tho various cities and
counties thereof at rates varying from 60 mills,
which is probably the highest, to 12 mills, which
is probably the lowest. The highest rate, un
fortunately, prevails in those counties where
the people are least able to bear it. Admit
ting, as it probably should be admitted, that
tbe assessment is made at little more than half
the value of tho real estate assessed in manv
localities, it is nevertheless true that we are al
lowing, urder our present laws, the taxation of
those least able to bear such a burden at the
rate of from 6 to 30 mills upon every dollar's
worth of value, while we are allowing millions
of corporate property to escape taxation alto
gether, and imposing Upon personal property,
which yields greater returns than real estate,
only from one-half to one-tenth of the burden
of taxation borne by the latter. Is it not,
therefore, true that our farming population
and tbe owners of modest homesteads have a
right to complaint Is it not also true that, iu
oureifortsto prevent money from seeking in
vestment outside of the Commonwealth, we are
driving men from home? Men are more essen
tial to tho life of the Commonwealth than
money. They can make money, but money can
never make men.
PKESEKT CONDITION OF THE BEYEXTJE.
You will learn from the report of the Attor
ney General, as you have doubtless heretofore
learned from the public prints, that the Su
prcme Court of the United States, in several
well-considered opinions two of them in cases
removed from our own courts has decided
that what is known as thegross receipts tax,so
far at least as it relates to commerce carried
through this State, from another State into
this State, or from this State into another
State, is not subject to taxation, being an in
terfeicnce with commerce between the States
and therefore in violation of the Constitution!
This decision has very seriously cnnplcd our
revenues during the last two jears, the loss
for the present year amounting to aiioutSWO
000. This loss threatened seiious disturbance
to the treasury and its ability to meet or
dinary obligations. Thanks to the efficient and
energetic administration of the Auditor Gen
eral's office aud the active co-operation of tho
Attorney' General's office, and through tbe
forbearance of the officers intrusted
with the !thority to draw warrants
upon tho Treasurer, no proper demand
backed by a Jegal warrant has been Ignored or
postponed h the Treasurer. In doing this,
however, it must be remarked that all our re
serves have been exhausted. Unsettled cases
upon the books of theAuditor General have been
presed to settlement or collection, and It is be
lieved that there are not -a much as $25,000 of
unsettled claims now pending In the Auditor
General's office. Atnotime dunngthelast year
has there been any diversion from the general to
the sinking fund, by reason of the balance in
the treasury at the cad of any quarter being in
excess of the amount required by law.
A CHANCE FOR EEFOHM.
It will be observed that in the state
ment, taken from the books of the Treasurer,
there are sundry items of non
interest bearing debt and of overdue
j. loans, upon interest has been stopped.
which appear in the statements from
year to year, and which are carried upon the
books of the Treasurer, and regularly printed
in his annual report. Many of these items are
believed to have no actual existence. The re
lief notes have probably been destroyed by fire
andacci cut. Other items, such as interest
certificates unclaimed, are actually in the
vaults of the treasury, and have never been de
livered. It would be well, in order to simplify
the bookkeeping of the office and the state
ments which are 'annually promulgated," if
authority were given to the Treasurer to cancel
these items, without, in any way, impairing the
obligation of the Commonwealth to pay them
in case they should be presented: but, inasmuch
as no payments have been made upon them
since 1S7G, it is fair to presume that the Com
monwealth will never be called upon to pay
anything on their account. If theseitems were
canceled the debt statement would, undnubt-
Aril,- mnm ..n aa.1.. .U.......M.... . .I... ..Mial fnntO
J. uivio wui.Cl.blJ IClCSCUt LUC lUltUl .i.tJ.
It will be observed that no portion of the pub
lic debt is presently payable, except by and
with tbe consent of the holders thereof.
Tbe balance of the 5 per cent loan,
authorized by act of 20th of March,
1S77, amounting to $1,430,500. can
be paid in accordance with the terms thereof in
tho year 1S92. The cash balance in the sinking
fund and the bonds of the United States held
therein, which can be sold at any time, are
more than sufficient to pay this balance now.
The commissioners of the sinking fund have
endeavored to purchase these bonds by paying
a reasonable premium therefor, but many are
held by trustees and conservative individuals
to whom the premium is no inducement to sell,
and their efforts in this direction seem to have
accomplished all that is at present attainable.
It is difficult upon any known business princi
ples, to account lor thefactof tberefusaiof the
holders of these bonds to accept the full face
value thereof with 8 or 10 per cent premium, in
viewof the certaintyof their payment some three
years hence, but such is the fact, and its exist
ence is at least gratifying as showing the esti
mation in which the obligations of the Com
monwealth are held by investors. For the de
tails of the operations of the sinking fund,
showing bonds purchased and premiums paid
therefor, you are respectfully referred to the
report of the Commissioners.
It may be well, before passmgto another sub-
i'ect, to record the fact ol tho passage by both
louses of Congress, by decided majorities, of
what is known as the "Direct Tax Bill." The
effect of this bill. if ic should become a law, will
be to return to Pennsylvania nearly a million
and three-quarters of dollars, which amount
was retained by tne uovernment ot tne united
States out of a claim adjudicated by her own
accounting officers for expenditures made by
the State m raising and equipping troops for
service of the United States. It constituted
the quota of Pennsylvania of a direct tax
levied upon all tbe States by act of Congress.
Some of the States never having paid their
quota of said tax. the return without interest,
to such as did their duty, of the amount paid
by them respectively, ould seem to be so ob
viously just and proper that it is difficult to un
derstand why it was not done long ago. The
Senators and Representatives in Congress from
Pennsylvania are entitled to the w, Jienda
tion of their constituents for their zcai'ln serv
ing tbe interests of the Commonwealth in this
behalf.
THE QUESTION OF EDUCATION.
No subject which relates to the future wel
fare of the Commonwealth, can more profit
ably engage the attention of the Legislature
than that which concerns the care and culture
of the young of the present and succeeding
generations. Wo stand to-day apparently at
the parting of two ways, so far as the general
subject of education is concerned. Pennsylva
nia, so far as her school system is concerned,
occupies a place which mikes it easy for her to
take the lead in the direction of practical edu
cation. Tbe Legislature at its last session au
thorized aud requested the Governor, by a
concurrent resolution approved tbe 19th day of
May, 1SS7, to appoint "a commission, consisting
of not more than live persons, citizens of this
Commonwealth, to make inquiry and report
to the Legislature at its next session, by bill or
otherwise, respecting the subject of industrial
education, including an examination of the ex
tent to which it is already carried on in Penn
sylvania and elsewhere; the best means of pro
moting it in its several grades, whether by
State or local action alone, or by both com
bined: bow far it is posssible or desirable to in
corporate it into tbe existing system of public
instruction; the best methods ol training teach
er for such schools or departments, and what
changes il any are required in the existing sys
tem of normal schools to enable them to pro
vide such training, or to meet more fully the
needs of the system of public instruction as
now organized in tbe State, with such other in
quiries as the commission may itself institute
or be requested by the Governor to under
take." In accordance with tho authority and request
of this resolution, Georze V. Atherton. LL.D.,
A. H. Fetterolf, Ph. D., Prof. N. O. Shaeffer,
Prof. George J. Luckey and Colonel Theodore
W. Bean were appointed to serve upon said
commission, which has been since popularly
known as the Industrial Education Commis
sion. Iheir work, it is believed, has been
thoroughly and conscientiously done. By ob
servations in several parts of Europe and
throughout this countiy they hava brought
together a mass of material, which, when pre
sented to the Legislature will, it is believed,
constitute the best body of practical informa
tion npon this subject which has vet been col
lected. Their report has not yet been handed
to the Executive. He has been, however, suf
ficiently appuscdot the work of the commis
sion and has kept pace with it to such an
extent as to be able to form a general impres
sion as to the work dono and the outline recom
mended and proposed, and to stato his hearty
accord with the work of the commission, and
to recommend that work to tbe careful con
sideration and liberal support of the Legisla
ture. INDUSTRIAL MANUAL TP.AIXLNG
must be carefully distinguished from the train
ing of trades schools. It may be doubted
whether or not the Legislature has power,
under the Constitution, to provide for tho
training of tradesmen in any particular calling"
There can, however, be no special or class
legislation in that kind of training which edu
cates tho eye and the hand of every boy aud
girl in the Commonwealth, so that they can bo
applied to the practical demands of life when
their school days are over. The alphabet of
the straight line, the angle and the curve, is
just as essential to a training for usefulness
as the ordinary alphabet through which we
express our thoughts in words. The education
of the hand, so that it can be applied dexter
ously to the practical work wmch comes to
every man in solving tbe problem of life, is
just as important as the knowledge of arith
metic which is applied in so many different
ways by those who become acquainted with its
rudiments in onr public schools. Your Im
mediate predecessors extended the minimum of
the school jear to six months. This is,
perhaps, as. far as it would be well
to go in' this direction. The im
provement in our school system required for
to-day is not more time for school, but more in
struction in such branches as tend to fit men and
women for their legitimate place in practical
everyday life. The proposition is apparently a
safe one, which declares that the common
schools of tbe Commonwealth ought to teach
everything which her boys and girls ought to
know. If ten children arc to be educated, one
should not receive an education at the expense
of the nine. This principle carried into practice
may, and probably will, reduce the advanced
curriculum of some of our high schools, but it
will certainly broaden the foundations of our
educational system. If we are to attempt any-'
thing like a general introduction of manual
training in the schools in the near future, we
must first teach the teachers To do this, onr
normal schools must be prepared in equipment
aud instructing force lor the demands
which will be made upon them. Some of
them are already anticipating this demand,
and are putting into operation, in a moderate,
tentative way, a system of industrial training
for their scholars who are to be tbe future
teachers of our schools. The ability to do this
should be placed in the haDds of all our normal
schools as fast as they are ready to carry the
system into practical enecr. it is a great mis
take to suppose that this will require large
buildings and expensive outfits. All that is de
sirable in this direction cannot be accomplished
in a single year, and it is therefore recom
mended that reasonable appropriatious for this
specific purpose be made to each and all of our
normal schools if it should bo deemed wise to
begin such training at once.
THE NORMAL SCHOOLS.
There exist, under the law regulating their
organization, 13 Normal School districts
Eleven such schools havo been heretofore
recognized in accordance with the provisions of
the act of Assembly. The twelfth, lately
erected at Centerville, in the Eleventh district
is now awaiting recognition, leaving only the
Fourth district without a school of its own.
The buildings belonging to the Central State
Normtn Schools, situate t Lock Haven, in the
Kighth district, have lately been destroyed by
fire. It is understood that they were partially
insured, that the school is being conducted in
buildings temporarily rented for the purpose,
and that the school buildings will be rebuilt at
an early day. It is probable that State aid will
be sought in accomplishing this object, and
within proper limits such aid should probably
be extended.
It is too late at this day to discuss the pro
priety of fewer Normal Schools. What we
Lave should be strengthened and fitted for
doing thorough work. In addition to the In
dustrial training, hereinbefore referred to, a
thorough course of instruction, involving a
knowledge of tbe fundamental law of tho State
and nation, and of the duties of citizenship,
should be Insisted upon as a necessary part of
the equipment of every teacher in the Com
mom ealth.
The efficiency of our schools and the health
of tbe children gathered there, depend very
largely upon the construction of onr Fchool
buildings. In many cases no architect is em
ployed, and no attention paid to. or provision
made for the heathf ul heating and ventilation
of the school room. This is a subject of vital
importance, the practical difficulty of which is
THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY
fully appreciated. Might it not be possible,
however, to remedy the evil, at least partially,
by requiring all plans for all school buildings
about to be erected, to be submitted to the De
partment of Education for approval before
their erection?
The school directors throughout the Com
monwealth are reqnlred, once in three years, to
attend a convention, held at the county seat of
the several counties, for the election of a
superintendent. They are also expected to
attend tbe sessions of the annual county insti
tute, at least for one day. Some of tbe direc
tors do this without much trouble and without
any expense ; others are compelled to incur
both trouble and expense. Would it not be
both wise and just to give authority, by provis
ion of law, to school directors to charge their
actual necessary expenses in attending these
meetings, to their respective constituencies,
whom they serve without compensation?
A NAVAL SCHOOL.
An effort is now being made to secure, at tbe
port of Philadelphia, a schoolship, under the
provisions of an act of Congress, upon which
boys can be trained in the arts ami sciences re
lating to navigation and practical seamanship.
The Government of the United States, under
the provisions of the law before mentioned,
furnishes the ship and the officers to command
it and give the necessary instruction, but the
officers detailed for this purpose are paid by
the Government only what is known as "short
Fay." Tbe difference between such pay and
nil, or pay upon tbe active list, must bo made
up in some otber way. Your attention will
doubtless be directed to this subject by the in
troduction of a bill providing for a mixed com
mission to manage the ship, and fora moderate
appropriation toward tne expenses 01 maintain
ing it. Inasmuch as the boys from all parts of
tbe Commonwealth will be admitted to tbe
ship, so far as its accommodations will allow, it
wouid seem to be a proper subject of expendi
ture, and it is cordially commended to your
carcfnl consideration if no constitutional diffi
culty interferes.
The desirability of the founding of mining
schools, so-called, has been brought to the at
tention of the Executive in various ways, with
the evident expectation that something can be
done by general legislation to aid in their estab
lishment. The life of the miner is attended with extra
ordinary hazards. His work is essential to the
full development of the resources of the Com
monwealth". It involves, more than in ordinary
employments, a practical knowledge of geology,
chemistry, physics and kindred sciences, and
tho science aud art of mining engineering. If
anything can be done Vhich wonld bring
within tbe reach of this deserving class an ed
ucation suited to their needs, without, in so
doing, violating tho spirit of the Constitution,
as to special or class legislation, it would be
well to consider the subject, and make such
provision as, in your wisdom, may seem meet.
The whole subject of special schools for the
training of special classes is one ot great deli
cacy and difficulty, and, in view of tho difficul
ties which beset us in the consideration of the
subject, the munificence of one of the citizens
of Pennsylvania, in providing an institution,
lately founded, for a school of this character,
is to be noted with approbation. Isaiah V.
Williamson, of the. city of Philadelphia, has
lately conveyed to a board of trustees property
willed at several millions of dollars for tho
establishment of the "Williamson Free School
of Mechanical Trades."
It is difficult to estimate the value, in actual
dollars aud cents, to the Commonwealth, as
well as to the individual education therein, of
such a foundation. It points the way for others,
and may be the only solution of a problem, the
result of which, how ever desirable, mustnever-
tneless be worked out under and in obedience
to the provisions of our Constitution.
SOLDIEES ORPHANS' SCHOOLS.
Closely allied to the general subject of edu
cation, is that of the care and education of the
children gathered in our soldiers orphans'
schools.
As you are doubtless aware, a proviso of the
flrstsection of the Act of 2d June, 18S7, provided
for the expenses of the said schools, enacts
that
"So admission shall be granted to any of the
soldiers orphans' schools or homes af er June
1, 1887, and that all schools or homes shall close
and all children be discharged from said insti
tutions on June 1, XS90."
This proviso does not reflect the views of the
Executive. It was not such an item, however,
as he is authorized under the Constitution to
disapprove, and it was allowed to stand be
cause the disapproval of it necessarily involved
the disapproval of the entire bill. In addition
to this, the subject was one over which the
Legislature had control, and the Executive
felt bound by his own rule to give full scope to
the enactments of the Legislature made in ac
cordance with the Constitution; it was, more
over, believed that the Legislature mav only
have intended to provide for tho care and edu
cation of these children in some otber way
than that pointed out by the law under which
the present schools are organized. The gen
eral tenor of the Constitution is against appro
priations for this purpose; but there is in tho
nineteenth section of the third article a special
provision, thereby the General Assembly is
authorized to make appropriations of money to
institutions where the widows of soldiers are
supported or a-sistcd, or tho orphans of soldiers
are maintained and educated.
On the 1st of June, 1S90, there will be left un
der the care of the State, and undergoing edu
cation in her soldiers' orphan schools. 1,519
ch'ldren, whose ages will rango at that date
from 5 to 15 jears. Forty-five ot them will be 8
years old and under, and SS7 of them IS years of
ac.
It is believed that the people of the Common
wealth expect and intend that these children
shall be maintained at their expense How
shall this be done, if done at all? It Is possible
that the very young children maybeabloto
secure homes as allowed under existing laws;
the remainder could be cared for in existing
schools, the number thereof being diminished
year by year until, say in June, lSU5,onlyso
many children would remain as could be easily
transferred to and cared for in homes which are
established and conducted by churches or char
itable organizations. This would be a simple
and easy mode of disposiug of the children al
ready under the care of tbe Commonwealth.
A DIFFICULT PEOBLEJT.
Demand is made, however, in many quarters
for the reopening of the doors of these schools,
so that the children of deserving men, who
served their country faithfully and have since
died, might be admitted to tbe same privileges
which have been enjoyed by those who were
left in like condition in former years. It is
difficult to see why any distinction should be
mado among these children. Those who are
orphans now, are as needy and as deserving as
those who received the benefits of the system
ten years or more ago.
The questiou is by no means free from
difficulty, and yet it is one which must be con
sidered by the Legislature, and provided for as
in its wisdom may seem meet.
If these schools are to be continued, or if the
orphans of our deceased soldiers of the late
Avar arc to be provided for in some other wav,
it would seem well that their care an custody
should be transferred from the Department ot
Public Instruction (already overburdened with
its own legitimate work) to a separate depart
ment, as originally intended. We have now a
Superintendent of Soldiers' Orphans who is
the same as the Superintendent of Public In
struction, a male inspector and female in
spector, with a certain amount of clerical force
belonging to the department.
It Is believed that a Superintendent, with the
present clerical force, could much more satis
factory and more economically administer the
affairs of theso schools, than is done at present
under the divided responsibility which tbe
diversified management entails. It is fair to
say that this conclusion is shared bv the pres
ent Superintendent of Soldiers" Orphans'
Schools, and, also, by the male inspector.
Would it be possible to care for the children
remaining in the schools on the 1st of June,
1890, between the ages of 8 and 15 years, in, or
in connection with, our State normal schools?
Benefit would undoubtedly accrue to some of
the normal schools by thus furnishing them
pupils for their model schools. Some may,
perhaps, have accommodations which could ha
utilized for this purpose. Some have ex
pressed a willingness toco-operate in endeavor
ing to provide for the care and education of
the children. The subject is not free from
difficulty, and is merely suggested to our con
sideration as a possible way out of the com
plications which surround us. This whole sub
ject is commended to your careful considera
tion and discreet decision.
It is, perhaps, proper to say that most of the
schools have been visited by the Executive in
person, and all have been carefully and thor
oughly inspected by the present inspectors.
The schools have maintained a goodstandin"
throughout the two years last past, for efficien'
cy and general good management. Few com
plaints have been made, and such as have been
received alwajs investigated, and the abuses,
if any v, ere found to exist, remedied at once.
AGKICULTUKAL INTERESTS.
It is not necessary to commend to yonr con
sideration the general interests of agriculture,
which are recognized as being at the founda
tion of our prosperity and essential to our wel
fare. The State Board of Agriculture has done effi
cient work in various directions and njne bet
ter, perhaps, than what has been carried on
under its auspices, in the holding of Institutes
for the discussion of practical questions relat
ing to agriculture, in different parts of i tho
Commonwealth. It is believed that the appro
priations made for this purpose have been
wisely expended and attended with practical
and compensating results.
The Legislature, at its last session, made
some provision for the encouragement of ex
perimental work in connection with the Ex
periment station at the Pennsylvania State
College. Subsequently, what is known as the
Hatch bill was passed, which provides an ap
propriation of Slo,0iX) per annum, by tho Gov
ernment of tho United States, to each Btato
which has already established, or shall here
after establish, agricultural experiment sta
tions, In connection with the colleges estab
lished in the several States under the provision
of the act approved July 2, IS62, and of the acts
supplementary thereto.
The experiment station thus provided for has
been fully manned and equipped, and the ap
propriation made bvthe Legislature in part
expended in providing buildings and other ap
pliances for its successful work.
Tho results of this station are published from
time to time in bulletins, which are' sent to all
persons interested therein npon application
therefor; the act of Congress, above referred to.
allowing them to be sent throngh the mails free
of charge. It Is hoped that the dissemination
of practical results, reached throngh careful
experiments, may do much to diversify our
agriculture and Improve its practical "opera
tions. The appropriation made by the General
Government must be usedalmostexclusivelyln
carrying on the operations of the station; what
ever may be needed in the way of buildings and
equipment must be furnished by the State.
The provisions made by our own laws for pre
venting the spread of pfeuro-pnoumonia, havo
been carefully carried out with gratifying re
sults. It was alleged during tho present year
that this dreaded contagious disease existed in
Philadelphia and its vicinity, and that the
United States authorities were anxious to co
operate in preventing its spread and destroy
ing every vestige of it in that neighbor
hood. Investigations were made under tbe
direction of tho State officers, and no occasion
for tbe employment of additional means of
prevention seemed to be necessary. The com
plaints were reiterated, however, and it was
claimed that the disease could not be thorough
ly stamped out of New York, Baltimore and
other quarters, so lone asPennsylvania refused
to co-operate in securing thorough quarantine
regulations, and ? very careful Inspection of
all tho neat cattle within tbe supposed infected
district. The Executive was, therefore, finally
induced to yield to those complaints, so far as
to proclaim a quarantine within a radios of
eight mUes from the now City Ball in Phila
delphia. An agreement was made with theUnited
States authorities, by which all the expenses
of the inspection of neat cattle within the
quarantine district, and all damages for in
fected cattle which might be slain, should be
paid by the United States. A careful and
thorough inspection was carried on for months
without a discovery of any well-developed and
clearly-defined cases. A number of cattle were
killed under the existence of suspicious
symptoms, which might have developed into
cases of this dreaded disease. The work has
been carefully done, and is a gratifying tribute
to the thoroughness with which our own work,
under State laws, has been heretofore con
ducted. A proclamation has lately been issued
abolishing the quarantine, and it may be most
confidently stated that no conta ious disease
exists in epidemic form within tho recent
quarantine limits, or in any part of Pennsyl
vania so far as is known.
SOEGHUJI CDLTUEE.
Pcnnylvania consumes from 250,000.000 to
S00.000.000 pounds of sucar annually.
At a low
estimate the sugar consumed within
our bor
ders costs our people S15.000.000 each year.
Can we raise this costly product, at a profit,
within our borders? Recent successful experi
ments conducted at Fort Scott, in the Btate of
Kansas, wonld seem to indicate that if can be
done by the cultivation and treatment of what
is known as tho sorghum plant. This is a
cereal plant, the seed of which, in its chemical
constituents, very closely resembles our Indian
corn. After the seed is harvested, the cane is
treated for sugar and the residuum can be
ntilized in the manufacture of paper, and is
said to make a paper pulp second only to linen
rags. Our sister States of Kansas and New
Jersey have stimulated tbe cultiva
tion of sorghum and the extractlonof sugar
from its cane by offering bounties. It is be
lieved that it wonld be wise economy on the
part of Pennsylvania, either to offer a bounty
for the production of sugar at a certain rate
per pound, or to provide for experiments to
test the practical questions involved in the
growing of the cane on our soil, in our climate,
and the manufacture of sugar therefrom.
Our State Board of Agriculture has provided
for a daj's discussion ot this question at its ap
proaching meeting, the present month, in Har
risburg. It is hoped that the subject may be
brought more directly and fully to your atten
tion by those who have civeircareful study to
it, and havo expended much time in the solu
tion of practical questions connected there
with. It is confidently asserted that the ex
periments conducted at Fort Scott show that
sugar can now be manufactured there from the
cane at a profit, without State bounty.
The sooner this question is discussed and set
tled for Pennsylvania, the sooner are we likely
to meet the wants of our people, and profitably
diversify our agriculture.
EOAD LAWS DEFECTIVE.
It is said that the civilization of a country
is marked by its roads. If this be true Penn
sylvania cannot claim to have ranked highest
in civilization. It is safe to say that no ex
penditure of public moneys yields so little in
return as the road taxes of Pennsylvania. Our
entire system of road laws or rather our road
laws which lack system-should be thoroughly
revised and codified. They served their pur
pose when temporary roads were to be laid out
and cheaply made through unbroken forests
aud over lands which had but littlo value. The
time has come when it will he economy, in every
way. to build our roads permanently and sub
stantially. The comfort of our people, economy in the
transportation of our products, saving m the
wear and tear of vehicles and animals, and the
needles? multiplication of bighwajs, all de
mand that the laws governing the laying out
and constrnction of our roads, should be radi
cally reformed and systematized.
This may be considered a matter of minor
importance, and yet it affects every inhabitant
of the Commonwealth. We muse all use at
some time or other, in some way or other, our
public roads. Their character and condition
affect tho breeding of our, stock, the style of
our vehicles, the carrying capacity of the far
mer's wagon, and the speed and enjoyment of
all who travel them for business or pleasure,
either in the carriage, in the saddle, on the bi
cycle or on foot.
A thorough system should bot devised and
authorized by the Legislature which could he
put into immediate effect by our older com
munities, and adopted by those which aro
newer as their ability and the wants of their
people misht require.
Demand is also made, officially, by the Asso
ciation of Poor Directors of the State, and, pri
vately, by many localities and individuals, for
a revision of our poor laws. We have no gen
eral system for the care of and provision for our
poor. The laws upon this subject should, also,
be thoroughly revised and codified.
The same may bo said regarding our fence
laws. Special acts are in force' In many parts
of the Commonwealth, being confined, in some
cases, to townships. There should be some
general sjstem governing this subject which
would be applicable ts the entire Common
wealth. Unfortunately, what is known as the
local option system cannot be carried into
euect because ot tne constitutional difficulties
which attend it. It may be possible, however,
to obviate this difficulty by dividing our lands
into two classes, so that in the cloared and
thickly-populated districts, the burdens of
maintaining fences might be removed from
agriculture, and in those that are more sparse
ly populated and wooded, free range for cattle
might be maintained.
A reduction in, or the entire abolition of, the
cost of fencing, has been heretofore regarded
as the great desideratum in tbe repeal of our
fence laws. A new element, entirely, enters
into tho subject when we come to regard It from
the standpoint of the preservation of the forests
of the Commonwealth. Much of our jonng
timber is wantonly destroyed in providing
cheap fencing for cheap lands. This is a sub
ject which will also demand your wise and con
siderate attention. Would it not, perhaps,
meet the requirements of the case, if a com
mission were-authorized to consider the whole
range of subjects involved in our road, poor
and fence laws, with the view of having them
carefully studied, thoronchly systematized and
codified, in accordance with the requirements
of our present advanced civilization? A com
mission of gentlemen familiar with these sub
jects, and thoroughly competent to deal with
them, could undoubtedly be secured, who
would serve the Commonwealth without pay,
and would Rive the benefit of their knowledgo
and experience, upon the mero payment of the
expenses attending the duties of their appoint
ment. If, however, ou are prepared to finally
pass upon these subjects at your present ses
sion, the better will ft be for all the interests
involved. ,
THE rOHESTEY COMMISSION.
In accordance with the concurrent resolution
of the Legislature, approved tho 2Sth day of
April, 1657, a commission of five persons was
appointed by the Governor "to examine and
consider the subject of forestry in Pennsylva
nia, and report the result of their labors, by hill
or otherwise, to the next regular session of the
Legislature." This commission, consisting of
Hon. Washington Townsend, Prof. William A.
Buckhout, Colonel George B. Weistling, Rev.
Samuel F..Colt, D. D., and Mr. George 0.
Praetorius, have given earnest, zealous and
faithful attention to tho. duties of their ap
pointment They served, uader the provisio ns
of the resolution, without compensation. They
have rendered valuable service to the Common
wealth, and the result of their labors is here
with transmitted to you. Tho practical sug
gestions contained In their report are of value,
and tbe legislation proposed by them should
receive your considerate attention.
The subject of forestry is one of vital impor
iance. The productiveness of our soil as
affected by the rainfall, the health of the com
munity, safety from disastrous floods now al
most annually occurring, tbe future wood sup
ply of the country, and the esthetic considera
tions which center in and gather about it all
seem to demand that the subject should receive
careful consideration at the bands of our Legis
lature. It might be well to continue and enlarge tho
present forestry commission, with liberal ap
propriations for Its actual expenditures.so that
the investigation of the subject could bo con
tinued, and the result nf the work of tui com
mission made known from time to timo by bul
letins, which could be distributed through tho
Btate Board of Agriculture, or otherwise as
tnight be deemed expedient.
i A meeting of the American Forestry Con
gress was lately held at Atlanta, Ga.,
to which tho Executive was Invited to send
2, 1889.
delegates to represent Pennsylvania. A num
ber of gentlemen, supposed to be interested in
the subject, were appoint! d, and several at
tended. The work of the Pennsylvania For
estry Association, the chief branch of which is
in Philadelphia, is hearuly commended for the
intelligence, zeal and enterprise with which it
is conducted.
Arbor Day has been annually observed with
increasing interest. In its observance, how
ever, but little attention is paid tn the actual
planting of trees. If the neople of any given
community in the Commonwealth were to unite
and arrange in advance for the observance of
the day, by planting trees along the highways
If necessary, securing the consent of indi
viduals to plant them within the fence line
much might be done to add beauty and at
tractiveness and give comfort to tbe traveler
and practical benefits to tbe community.
EXEMPTION OF THE HOMESTEAD.
That Commonwealth best cares for itself
which most fully protects and provides for the
welfare of its individual citizen.
It is the part of wisdom to secure for every
family a home of its own, and to insure the in
terest of the members of the family in the
practice of individnal economy and caro in the
expenditure of public funds. To this end,
ever; encouragement possible should be ex
tended by law to every member of the family
to render all the assistance possible in securing
a homestead. It requires neither argument
nor illustration to prove that the man who
owns his own home becomes, thereby, a better
citizen. He should be stimulated in every
proper way to acqulro such a home. His wife
and bis children should be encouraged to as
sist. What encouragement, under our present
s j stem, is there when, after the family have
striven together to secure a home of their own,
the improvidence or tlirif tlessness of the head
of the family may lead to its loss?
Without in anyway interfering with our pres
ent exemption law, would it not be a great en
couragement and help to many of our ordinary
wage-earners and their families, if a real home
stead exemption law were enacted, which
would exempt from levy and sale,, tbe actual
homestead occupied by the family say, to the
value of $000? This would make the property
exempt Dy law ies3 tnan 3i,uw, wnicn is tne
amount exempted in many of our States. The
passage of such a law is cordially commended
to your serious consideration, with a clause
forbidding a waiver of the benefits of the law.
under anv circumstances, by the head of a
family. A. good home is not an ideal thing. It
can be had by every family of ordinary health,
exercising ordinary prudence and economy, if
encouragement is afforded to its members to
work together for the accomplishment of such
an object An exemption law, such as is pro
posed, and tbe practical operations of our
present building association las, will. It is be
lieved, afford both the opportunity and the en
couragement reauired.
MINING LAWS COM3IEECE.
Practical suggestions, relating to the amend
ment of our present mining laws, will be laid
before you by those specially interested in the
subject, in the shape of amendments to, or a
revision of. tbe present laws.
As hereinbefore intimated, the men who are
spending their lives, in large part, under
ground, developing our mineral resources, and
incurring unusual dangers thereby, shonld be
protected to tho fullest extent by w.se and
wholesome provisions relating to tbe care and
inspection of our mines. Our mine inspectors
are men of practical intelligence, and are be
lieved to be wholly devoted to the discharge of
the duties devolving upon them. Their recom
mendations are entitled to careful considera
tion, and, in bo far as tbev relate to practical
methods for increased efficiency in the inspec
tion of our mines, and the preservation of the
lives, health and safety of our miners, are cor
dially commended to you for your judicious
action. Their reports are not ready for sub
mission, but will doubtless be laid before you
during yonr present session.
How shall we encourage our commerce?
How shall we secure the shipment of the prod
ucts of our own mines, mills and manufactories,
from our owrn port to other ports along the
coast of onr own country and of otber countries
who are our neighbors, and whose trade nat
urally belongs to us? How shall we encourage
investments in steamship lines, whichshall ex
tend and develop trade with the neighboring
Americas, carrying our products to them and
bringing theirs to us in'return, withont sending
them in foreignbottoms, through foreign
ports, to be paid for in foreign exchange, drawn
upon foreign banks by foreign bankers? What
ever tends to this end helps to remove a stigma
which rests upon our country, provides employ
ment for many of our people, stimulates ship
building on the shores of the Delaware, em
ploys capital, not only in the car ying trade,
but in mercantile pursuits, and aids in building
up our great seaport for the benefit of all.
w e are naturally prone to look to tho Gen
eral Government f orassistance in this direction,
and. In the expection that it will be Rendered
sometime, sit down and wait. It is believed
that something can be done now in this direc
tion through your aid.
Tbe first requisite of a foreign and coast-wise
commerce is a harbor. Philadelphia must have
her harbor greatly improved and enlarged if
she is to command tho commerce Which is
rightfully and naturally hers. The channel
must bo widened, deepened and extended. In
order to do this, formidable obstructions which
lie in the path of progress, must be removed.
Smith's and Windmill islands, which constitute
a formidable obstacle to navigation and lie di
rectly in the harbor, must bo purchased from
their owners and entirely removed, and some
110 acres of Petty's lsland'cut away. It is pro
posed to give to tbe harbor of Philadelphia a
channel from the upper part of the city to
Delaware bay, 600 feet wide and 26 feet deep at
mean low water. The entire cost of this work,
when completed, will exceed ?c,000,00a
PENAL AND BEFORSrATOBY SCHOOLS.
The subject of penology is a branch of social
science which is receiving marked attention at
the present time. How to deal with convicted
criminals, so as to reform those capable of
reformation as soon as possible and return
them to society as producers,is a problem which
has long demanded wise solution. It is believed
that Pennsylvania is in a situatoin to render
valuable practical assistance in solving this
question.
Tho Legislature at its last meeting passed a
bill iu relation to the imprisonment, govern
ment and release of convicts in the Pennsyl
vania Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon,
which was aonroved the 28th dav of Annl. Ifc87.
In conformity with the provisions of that law,
and upon the presentation of a certificate by
the Commissioners charged with the duty of
erecting the buildings of the said reformatory,
that the grounds v en fitted and the buildings
made ready for furniture and industrial equip
ment, they w ere, on tho 15th day of May, 1S88,
formally delivered to the Executive, who, in
turn, transferred them to the care and custody
of five managers, provision for whose appoint
ment was made Id the act referred to. The
Smagers appointed for the government and
ntrol of tne said reformatory are Hon. II. G.
Fisher, Colonel W. W. Jennings, Hon. Samuel
McCamant Hon. Alexander Port and Henry B.
Tyler, Esq. They immediately assumed the
discharge of the duties imposed npon them by
the said act; have furnished the buildings in
part, selected a superintendent, and provided
in a general way for tho reception of inmates.
Inasmuch, however, as no appropriation was
made by the last Legislature for the expenses
connected with the caro and maintenance of
inmates, they have been unable as yet to cer
tify their readiness to receive them.
In order to put tho institution into practical
operation at once, it is recommended that tbe
managers be authorized, by a concurrent reso
lution of the Legislature, to use funds appro
priated for furniture and other pui poses, now
m the treasury, for maintenance, until an ap-
pnation for the latter purpose can be regularly
secured. If this were done the Governor would
be able to make proclamation, as required by
the eighteenth section of the act aforcmen
tioncd, and the courts of the Commonwealth
exercising criminal jurisdiction, could, there
upon, sentence those who are, under tho law,
entitled to admission therein, to the said re
formatory. This is important, not only because
it is desirable to send all new cases, entitled to
the benellt of the.act referred to, immediately
to the reformatory, but because there shonld
be a transfer from tha Eastern Penitentiary,
which is crowded with inmates, of such ns aro
entitled to the benefits of tbe new institution.
THE WESTEKN PENITENTIARY.
Work upon the Western Penitentiary has
steadily progressed and now approaches com
pletion. In its construction and management
this institution compares favorably wih any of
its class elsewhere. Difficulty has been experi
enced in providing work for the inmates. If
prisoners are to be reformed and returned to
society better than when their Imprisonment
commence!!, they must be furnished with some
employment This is as important from the
standpoint of the reformation of the criminal
as from that of his ability to provide for bis
own maintenance while in prison. It may be
that some legislation upon this subject will be
necessary. It so, it is to be borne in mind that
the reformation of the criminal is tbe first con
sideration, and that no question of profit aris
ing from' his labor should be allowed to influ
ence us in the disposition of tbe subject.
The Eastern Penitentiary continues what is
known as the solitary confinement plan, so far
as Its crowded condition will permit. It may
well bo doubted whether this system, which
Las long prevailed in Pennsylvania aud else
where, is tbe best for the reformation of crimi
nals, what can be more unhealthy, morally,
than the thoughts of a man, morally unhealthy,
turned in upon himself. It Is no; intended, at
this time, to recommend any Tadical change in
tbe management of the institution, and yet it
is not by any means certain that great improve
ments, so far as the system under Which its
inmates are treated is concerned, cannot bo
When baby was sick, we gave her Castorta
When she was a Child, she cried for Castorla,
When she became Miss, she clung to Castoria,
When she had Children, she gave them Castoria.
i
rrddl.bfoawr&su
made. Tbe institution is ? n0"11.1! h
aged and its interests carefnllv guarded. The
management is to be commended in that it re
turned to the State Treasury, oatih.e ap
propriation of J2.5G0 for covering the walls sur
rounding the penitentiary, as i made ; in the
second section of the act of the 2d of June,18S7,
"iheHouolRefugeinPhiladelpblaUabont
to make a new and important departure
Throngh the liberality of two of onr c '""ns
large funds have been placed at their wsposai
for the purchase of a farm and the erection or
new buildings. These donations, in connect on
with tho value of their present property, wDien
v.H .n v. .i.in ... ..il ,frar tnn Tinw institu
tion is completed, will go far toward providing
accommodation for an increased number oi
misguided yonth and boys who need the re
straints and training of that worthy institution.
It is probable that application will be made to
you for assistance in carrying out the plans or
the managers. If so, tbe institution ana Its
present plans are commended to your favora
ble consideration, in case the finances or tne
Commonwealth will warrant you in making ap
propriations for the purpose.
The reform school at Morganza issuccess
fuUy doing its work. It is believed, by its
managers and friends, that a separate general
gathering room for the g.rls should be pro
vided, in which tbey could receive instructive
practical talks, in matters relating to their sex,
from instructors and others. A moderate ap
propriation for this purpose Is recommended.
All other penal and reformatory institutions
have been visited by the Executive, and an
effort made to be kept fully informed of their
condition and wants, as well as of he efficiency
of their management.
It is hoped that with the completion of the
Huntingdon Reformatory, Its opening for tbe
reception of inmates, and tbe completed build
ings of the Western Penitentiary, we will have
abundant provision for the care and custody
of our criminal classes for many years to come.
CAKE OF THE IDIOTIC AND INSANE.
Pennsylvania has made large and liberal pro
vision for the care of her insane. Some of the
best institutions in the country, adapted to this
purpose, are found within her borders. Four
exclusively State Institutions, and one which
has been built and maintained largely by State
aid, afford accommodations for probably 4,000
of this unfortunate class of our fellow citizens.
All of these institutions, it is claimed, are filled
with inmates who are properly maintained at
public expense in a hospital for tbe insane.
Tbe policv of recent legislation, as enforced
by tho authorities carrying it into effect, has
been to compel the County Commissioners of
the several counties, which provided accommo
dations for their own insane, to send them
from the county homes to State hospitals. The
effect of this policy has been to empty nor
connty homes In many cases well provided for
caring for a certain class of the demented and
idiotic ot their inmates, and forcing them
into our hospitals for the insane, where tbe ex
pense of their care and maintenance is largely
increased without any compensating advan
tage. It is believed that fully 25 per cent of
the inmates of; our present hospital- for the in
sane, who receive no medical treatment what
ever, and but little of supervision, could be
cared for with as much, or more, of comfort to
themselves and certainly to the comfort of
other inmates at not more than one-half of
the present expense, if they were transferred
to well regulated and reasonable equipped
county homes. Many of our county Institu
tions have such provision, and their authorities
have been much annoyed by the apparent legal
necessity of transferring them to our hospitals
f r the insane.
This subject is receiving, a it shonld, serious
consideration by our Board of Charities and tbe
trusrees of some of our hospitals. The addi
tional expense thus incurred is not tbe only
disadvantage resulting from such a policy. The
filling of our hospitals with such case', crowds
them to such an extent, that it is difficult to
provide for tbe care and proper treatment of
recent acute rases, which should always receive
immediate attention. This policy also prevents,
or tends to prevent, the reception of private
patients in need of medical attendants and
hospital care and treatment, wboe friends
would be glad to pay a reasonable price for
their maintenance, but who are unable to pay
the rates charged at private institutions, and
are unwilling to have tneir friends pauperized.
This subject is one of very great practical im
portance. If some curative remedy is not ap
plied, there will be immediate necessity for
the erection of additional accommodations for
our insane, involving the expenditure of a
large amount of money. If cases, of tbe class
referred to, were returned to the several coun
ties to which they belong, which alreadv have
provision for their maintenance, and the Board
of Charities (if not already advised to do so)
were empowered to insist upon proper provision
for them' in such counties as have not already
made it, it is believed that no necessity for the
erection of new hospitals would arise for sev
eral years to come.
This would undoubtedly be true, if tbe pres
ent plans for enlarging and rebuilding the hos
pital for the insane at Harrisburg were carried
out These plans seem to be judicious, and
the necessity for their being immediately car
ried into effect, in the opinion of the trustees,
apparent The present main hospital building
never well planned or properly constructed
is very old and ill-uited to present needs and
modern requirements. The chapel is entirely
inadequate to the wants of the institution.
No separate room for amusements is provided
for tbe inmates. The kitchens and storerooms
are neither well planned nor properly located,
and the general appointments of tbe hospital
are not, in anv way, equal to our other State
institutions. Whatever appropriations may be
properly made for the increase of accommoda
tions for tbe caro and custody of tho insane,
should undoubtedly he made for this institu
tion. Whether or not you will bo able.to meet
the wishes of the trustees in regard to future
improvements, will depend very largely upon
the legislation of the present session afiecting
the revenue. Unless the effect of such legis
lation shall be in the direction of brgely in
creased revenues, it is safe to say that any ap
propriation for this object would be inappro
priate. SOLDIEES AND SAILORS' HOME.
The last Legislature made generous pro
vision for tbe increase of accommodations for
tbe care and comfort of the aged and infirm
veterans of the late war, at the home in Erie.
It is believed that, when tbe improvements
now in progress are completed, all the demands
which arc likely to be made upon this institu
tion for several years to come, will be easily
met louwiu ue asi:ea to maise appropria
tion for the care of several hundred of our old
veterans. The expenditure of money for this
mimosa is more seeming than real, inasmuch
as, by virtue of the provisions of a late act of
Congress, S100 a year for each inmate main
tained in this State Home, will be returned by
the United States Government to our State
Treasury. The amount thus appropriated by
the General Government will not fully main
tain an inmate of our home, but it will supply
more than the one-half part of the costs there
of, and Will thus practically reduce our ex
penditures in that direction to that extent.
The home Is in excellent condition, under
good ana careful management, and is proving
in practice all that it was designed to be by its
Eromoters and founders. The Commonwealth
as done a good work in establishing it, and
will do well to maintain it.
No provision has ever been made by the Com
monwealth for recognizing the services of the
individual citizen who volunteered to serve the
country in her behalf during the War of
Secession.
'Some States have recognized such services by
a medal; others by an engraved certificate. The
subject has been brought to the attention of
the Executive, with the request that his views
Continued on Eighth Page.)
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nol-atyp
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CAPITAL 8200,000 00.
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Oil bought and sold on margin. deZ7-21-osa
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87 FOURTH AVENTJfi.
ISSUE TRAVELERS' CREDITS , '
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MESSES. DREXEL. MORGAN fc CO,
KEWYORK.
PASSPORTS PROCURED. ang-78
fllEDICAU
DOCTOR
WH1TTIER
D30 J?EXX AVJCOJE, PITTSBURG. PA,
As old residents know and back files ot Pitts
burg papers prove, is the oldest established and
must prominent physician in tbe city, deTothig
special attention to all chronics diseases. From
nil red N0 FEE
UNTIL
KiCDVnllC and mental diseases, physical
I tn VUUO decay, nervous debility, laclt
ot energy, ambition and hope, impaired mem
ory, disordered sight, self-di3trust,basbfu!nes3,
dizziness, sleeplessness, pimples, eruptions, im
poverl3hed blood, failing powers, organlo weak
ness, dyspepsia, constipation, consumption, un
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BLOOD AND SKIN SSSUrf
blotches, falling hair, bona pains, glandnhi
swellings, ulcerations of tongue, mouth, throng
ulcers, old sores, are cured for life, and blood
poisons thoroughly eradicated from tho systam,
IIQIMARV kidney and hIdder derange.
UnlllMn 1 1 ments, weak back, gravel, 5a.
tarrhal discharges, inflammation and other
painful symptoms receive searching, treatmeoi;
prompt relief and re-1 cures.
Dr. whi tiler's life-long; extensive experienca
insures scientific and reliable treatment oa
common-sense principles. Consultation free.
Patients at a distance as carefully treated as If
hers. Office hours 9 a. x. to 8 p. m. Sunday,
10A.JCtolP.M. only. DR. WHITTIER. tel
Penn avenue. Pittsburg, Pa. oea-iSl-DSuwfc.
A CURE GUARANTEEU-HEALTH.EW
ERGY and strength secured by using Am
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six boxes is tbe complete treatment, and with
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MEDICAIj XNTSITUTE. For sale only by
JOSEPH FLE3UNG.. Market street, Pitts.
burg, Pa.. P. 0. box 37 apW-k&Hwrsu
i .
Gray's Specific Medicine.
TRADE MARK The Great TRADE MARJC
X.AUL1M1 111UL-
EOT. An onfall
lag cure for
Seminal Weak
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BEFORE TAXia0.ufniveIAanioi!9: AFTER TAZIHB.
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to Insanity or Consumption and a Premature
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3Ful! particulars In our pamphlet, -which we
desire to send free by mall to every one. -OSThe
Specific Medicine Is sold by ail drnpzlstsatflper
package, or six packages for &or will be sent free
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THE OKAY MEDICINE CO., Buffalo, .N. Y.
On account of counterfeits, ire bare adopted the
Yellow Wrapper: the only pennlne. !
Sold In I'ltbburg by S. 8. HOLLAND, corner
Smithfield and Liberty streets. mhU-k43
DOCTORS "LAKE
PRIVATE DISPENSARY
0FFICE3, 906 PENN AVE.
PITTSBURGH. PA
All forms of Delicate and Coin
lrmvvTTiT.nnil RnrvTTm.rofll
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ces3 rarely attained. Dr. S. K. Lake la a membe
of the Iioyal College of Physicians and Surgeons,-
imu is mo omesc anu most experienced opeGX
;st in the city. Special attention given to He r'
ous Debility from excessiver .ntal exertion, a.
discretions Of vonth. 4c. C,nlnThrlMlw1
mPTlt-ll llf"lV Let nf fltWWnr lTM)imu)flnn. a. j, ,. i
also Cancers, OM Sores, Fits, Piles, Rheuinatisr t -
and all diseases of tho Skin, Blood, Lunzs, Uria. "'.
ij urgans, ac tonsuiiauonireoana strictly -confidential.
Officehotirs9'o4and7to8p.iB.t
Sundays 3 to 4 p.m. only. CallntodccoradUxasJ
K.LAKE..M.D.,3f.P. .C.P.S..or EMr.Lake,M.D.'"
sel-i3HtW7wk - '
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Ask for Ckiehateft SntfUXC
Diamond Brand, la red n9 1
uUlo boxes, KXleUwItfcl'.MtA
rum IfRtttMNf. uu.fc
no other. Ail villi tn tmy
boxrl boxes, pink wrtppers. tn 3 das?? I j
noEtZun-oallg S'llTuuitm. KistPtstr.
w- m ." r - " ' IVW OB
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