'The State Journal
Published every Saturday by
[HE JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY.
M. PIDGEON, Manager.
SATURDAY, JAN. 9, 1885.
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v e SRR S
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THE STATE JOURNAL
Has the largest oirculation of any paperin the
State managed and published by colored men. It
has a oirculation in every part of the State, and is
the ouly general newspaper devoted to the in
terest of the colored peopla of Pennsylvania.
Advertisers will find the THg STATZ JOURNAL
a good meaium for reaching any partof the
State.
Specimen copies sent free.
Address all communications to
JOURNAL PUBLISHING CO.,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Tmis wiil not be a bappy New
Year for the Republican party, or
that living embodiment of Republi
can principles, James G. Blsine.
Mg. CreveLaxp's civil service let
ter contains a large space for mental
reservation, and whether he makes a
clean sweep of all Republicans hold
ing office or mnot, ke reserves the
right to remove as many as he fcels
“disposed to.
Tae most ludicrous thing zbout
the assembling of the Legislature,
is the number of ex-members 2p
plying for petty offices. If there is
anything that detracts from the dig
nity of true manhood, it is this be
littleing one’sseltintheheterogeneous
scramble for the flesh- pots of office.
Wihevever the political force of
colored men of this State is concen:
trated and directed by able leaders;
whenever suflicient confidence in one
another is acquired ; whenever thor
ough organization is effected among
ourselves; then, and not until then,
will we be recognized or looked upon
in fear or respect.
Governor PATTIsON'S message was
a lengthy document, and contains
from begincing to end a ringing ap
peal for reform. Some points in it
fail to meet the approval of lovers of
office, and if put into operation would
deal death to many of the class of Re
publicans for cflice only with which
the State is sorely sfilicted.
Tue colored voters of Pennsylvania
can see how they have been rewarded
by an overwhelwing Republican
Legislature for their fidelity to the
party in helping to roll up the State’s
unprecedented msjority of 80,000,
by the number of representative offi
ces they have received. If colored
men had balf as much spunk as they
have faith, they would resent such
treatment.
Tae Penusylvania Legslatare sits
a beautiful example of civil service
reform by changing every officer
under their control, turning every
Democrat out and putting all Re
publicans in, and taking good care
that no black man gets an office.
Gently, but certainly, is the colored
man being pushed aside, and itis
strange they cannot feel themselves a
going. He can well remark, had I
but served myself with half the zeal
with which I served the Republican
party I would not be left now to the
mercy of the party which I always
opposed.
Tuk conduct of many of our young
misses just budding into womanhood,
deserves the severest vensure. We
notice at public entertainments, at
the skating rink, and upon the streets,
conduct entirely unbecoming young
ladies. They allow entirely too much
freedom to be taken with them by
young men who do not bear any too
good a reputation. A little restric
tion placed by parents upon these
young misses, will save both child
and parent many days of sorrow.
Young ladies who want to be re
spected should condact themselves
80 88 10 merit respect.
The Literary Bethel.
The Literary Bethel has made and
is still making a great effort towards
the advancement of education. Their
gelect readings, orations and organ
solos are elegant, and those who de
liver them deserve great credit. The
Literary was addressed by two of
the best representatives of our insti
tutions of learning, viz: Mr. Banks
and Mr. Brown, from Lincoln Uni
versity. They both proved themselves
ablespeakers, and it is hoped that their
words of advice and encouragement
may be taken and practiced by all who
desire the success of this once down
trodden race. Let ns remember Mr.
Bank« closing remarks, and strive to
leave behind us unerasable “foot
prints on the sands of time.”
W|“mon money than at anything else by
taking an agency for the best selling
book out. beginners succeed grandly. Noae
fail. Terms free. HALrEyT Book Co., Port
land, Maine. #
Not One Out of Forty Thousand.
The Legislature is in session, acd
the people’s law-makers, after two
days of arduous labor ia distributing
the several offices necessiry to run
the legislative machinery, have ad
jonrned until next Wednesday even
ing in order to secure a much needed
rest. All the offices have been doled
‘out, and Mr. J. Donald Cameron will,
of course, at the proper time, be
elected Uniied States Senator. We
desire to call the attention of the
40,000 colored voters of this State to
the fact, if they will allow their minds
to revert to the fact, that each time
that J. Donald has been e'ected U.S.
Senator that the colored brother has
been left entirely in the cold. What
the significance of this is, we leave
them to judge for themselves. This
small but faithful mioority ct the
Republican party are never taken
into consideration whenever the
lieutenants of Mr. Cameron have
their clutches upon the machine.
Every class of citizens, all creeds and
all races have received some position
from the Legislature, except the gen
tlemen of African descent. They
are not even given this time the
pleasant duty cof keeping clean the
water closets. DBat, we suppose, its
all right. D’erhaps in the next half
century colored men will discover
their own value and cease hewiog
wood and carrying water without
requisite compensation
Where Were the Colored Minis
ters?
Mr. Moody, the great Evangelist,
is expected here in the near future,
and the ministers of the several
churches are making preparations to
receive him. A meeting was called
for that purpose c¢n last Monday to
make the necessary arrangements for
hiz reception, and was largely at
tended by the white clergy. Com
mittees were appointed and every
thing arranged All of the colored
ministers of this city wera conspicuous
for their absence. Just why this was
we sre unable to say. It may have
been because none of our ministers
seen the call, or they may have
thought it special, or being overcome
by that timidity which makes some
colored men feel that the plan of sal
vation upon which Brother Moody
works is strictly a white one. What
ever was the cause, none of them
were there, and they are deserving
of censure for their absence. It
would become our ministers to make
themselves more sociable, and take a
more general interest in raligions
affairs, and not be 8o hide-bound in
seeing no salvation or doctrine cxcept
that which they expound from their
own pulpits. Never mind the pre
jadice ; go wherever duty calis.
The Old and the New.
The old year has gone and with it
has gone many old faults, many trials,
many troubles, many failures, and
many sins for which there is a par
don, if you ask it.
Maoy resolations were formed at
the beginning of the old year, of
these numbers have been neglected.
Many loved ones, friends and rela
tives, have gone to join that innumer
able company, of which we, the dy
ing, sooner or later, must be a part.
As the new year enters, it is for us,
the blessed, to make new resolutions,
and not only make, but endeavor to
live as pear to them as possible.
Readers, remember you are now one
year’s journey nearer your eternal
homes. What that home is like, we
cannot say, but one thing you do
know, and that is, you have offered
you “a home of life eternal,” where
there is room enough for all. One
thing more you know, you have an
awful doom to shun. Remember
these two are incladed in “a never
ending eternity, where will you spend
1
Better Late Than Never.
We may be late, yet at this late
hour we must compliment the efforts
made by the pastor of the Steelton
A. M. E. Chorch, Rev. Taylor. The
church when taken in charge by Rev.
Taylor, was in debt, uncomfortable,
and in short, much dilapidated. At
the present writing it is nearly fin
ished, nicely painted, and in short has
the appearance of a house of worship,
far superior to that when taken in
hand by its present earnest worker.
«Nothing ventured, nothing done.”
We can but wish the church and its
worthy pastor all success possible.
Don’t forget the old bat wise adage,
“Success is only obtained by earrest,
steady, faithful endeavor.”
LE RUE LEMER,
PHOTOGRAPHER,
206 MARKET ST,
Harrisburg, Pa.
First ealass pictu:es st reasonable
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives : You are assembled in
obedience to the direction of the people
to consider and enact for their govern
ment such laws as will promote their
general weltare, and secure and establish
their happiness and prosperity. Tu be
clotted with the authority to make the
laws that will govern the lives and affect
the conditions of upwards of five millions
ot freemen is & solemn and -weighty re
sponsibility. It calls for the exercise ot
your best talents, your purest purposes,
and your most disinterested zeal.
The requirement of the people that the
General Assembly shall covene every
wvo years, except &s to a few routine
matters, of itse f constitute a direction to
legislate, or express a necessity for the
pissage of laws. Itis a mistake to as
sume thit session is fruitless that does
not result in the framing of agivennum
ber of statutes, or that the value of a
session is to be measurcd by its len;ith,
or the number of its enactments, Most
of the causes of complaint to-day result
from over legislation.
The people may be governed too much,
and legislation beyond a given point is
meddlesome. It was largely to redress
the grievance of over-legisiation that the
peopleadopted a new constitution in 1873.
By it they reduced the number of sessions
one half, and imposed limitations upon
the scope of the law-making power that
have abridged the volumes of statutes at
least four-fitths their former size. Not
only have the people not suffered any
disadvantage from this reduction of en
actments, but they have gained positive
benefit in an exemption from many of the
evils of special legislation.
The Constitution imposes upon tho Ex
ecutive the duty of giving to the General
Assembly from time to time information
of the condition of the Commonwealth,
and of recommending to their considera
tion such measures as he may deem ex
pedient. In pursuauce of the first branch
of this direction, it will be nccessary only
to briefly summarize the general working
of the Government since your last ad
journment. The detailed particalars will
appear to you in the reports submitted by
the heads of the various departments.
The condition of the Treasury is shown
by the two following tables containing a
summary of the receipts and disburse
ments from the Ist day of December,
1883. to the 29th day of November, 1884.
summary of receipts atthe State-Treesury
from the Ist day of December, 1333, to the
2)th diy of Novewmber, 1334, both da.yn in
olusive:
Tax on capital stock
(one-ha1t).............. ¥87,F63 78
Tax on inc0me.......... 71,616 36
T'ax on gross reoeipts.. 757,94 20
Tax on coal companies 816 80
Tax on gross premiums 36,163 14
Tax on sale of terti
B L 5,897 00
Tax on bank 5t0ck...... 373,135 41
TEX 0N Wri1h..0ccc...... J 21,008 52
P'ux On 104DS...ccc..can-.” 140,715 80
Taxon premlums....... 283,136 22
TuX ON 1088...c.c0csee-00 -6,44 l 63
Bonus on ckarters....... 8,916 %0
Notary public comm?ia-
O i 10,125 09
Coileteral inheritance
G DL LTI s A
Accured interest....... 31574 TL
RO s oo wny mas e o 4,166 07
SRS TRAX . . oicssensasivs | SORMS 43
Oftice 1icen5e............ 2,394 21
Fees of 0fiice........... 02,475 bl
Retailers’ license....... 301,393 42
Tavern 1icen5e.......... 426,429 19
Eating house license... 70,439 25
Brewers' 1icen5e........ 1413747
Billiard 1icen5e......... L 7177
Brokers’ 1icen5e,........ 18,91 60
Auctioneers’ liconse... 9,178 60
Liquor 1icen5e.......... 31,425 47
Peddlers’ liconse..... .. 1,970 45
Patent medicine li-
RLI 1,230 A
Circus lioonse...eveeees. 2,929 €0
Bottlers' 1icen5e......... 2,23) 00
Butchers’ iicense....... 73 16
Refund d 0a5h.......... 2,238 78
Refundea Legislative
. e siss it SR
Pamphletlaws.......... 98 2
Conscienoa tind . . ... . 278 00
Hscheats. ccoscccesssconse 9,143 83
Excess of commissions 75 31
Fines und forfeitures... 234 0O &
Annuity tor right or
SR Ll 0,008 10
Sales of Geologloal Sur-
VOY repOltd..ceccacssse 705 14
Miscellaneous.......... 1,538 51
$4,711,595 60
Amount transferred to
Sinking Fund......... 976,310 73
e e 3,133,279 87
Sinking Fund,
Am't transterred from
General Fund......... $376,313 73
TuX on oapital stock.... 767,803 73
Inter’'ton U. S. Consols 60,000 00
Commutat'n of tonnuge
B.ha i soo swnunsdis. HOONOO. 0O
Allegheny Valley R. R.
Co, Interest .......... 127,500 00
Allegheny Valley R. R,
Co. bond No. 10........ 102,000 00
e e $2,491,679 51
$6,226,909 38
Summary of payments at the State
Treasury from the Ist day of December,
1853, to the 29th day of November, 1884,
both days inclusive :
Pensionsand gratuit.es 37,948 52
JOAUOA. .. vrivoinmasissrnse SIBIAS 83
Associate judges....... 01314 13
Baiariel LNI TR R
Legislative expenses... 1,756 650
Mercanti'c appraisers.. 3,599 62
Charitabio and reforw
tory institutions...... 996,102 10
Departinent expenses. 99,326 21
Pubiic piinting and
DIRAIDE. oo cbesnsennssss 108,569 93
Pablic buiidings and
grounds...ceceececsceee 7,000 00
@Geologcal survey...... 37,000 00
Supplies and contracts. 18,457 23
Stute lDrary...coeceeeee 4,650 00
Advertising..cee..oveeee 1,348 &0
Departinent contin
gent expenses ........ 40,392 81
Bureau of statistics.... 2,000 00
Costs in suits va. delin
quent dealers..... ... 81,790 00
Gratuities to dis
charged convicts... 4,720 00
National Guard .. ..... 227,523 46
County superinten .
PPO TR S Y @
Soldiers’ orphan schools 324,985 03
Normal 5ch0015......... 94,643 11
Commonschools........ 991,214 69
¥ire companies......... wOO 00
Analysis of fertilizers.. 5,425 V 0
Suppression of plearo
pueumonif..coee.eee.. 4391 86
Leglisiative Record..... 8562270
Cost in Commonwealth
Expenses examin’g ac
cunts of Co. officers... 1,000 00
Expensesexeculi’g cor
peration tax 1aw5..... 1,000 00
Retunded ca5h.......... 724 66
Miscellaneous.....ceee. . 4,001 381
Mine inspectors......... 36,373 9)
Public light.....cccoee.. 10,69 93
Penitentiaries....ces.... 216,425 00
Claims for mili ary ser-
MR - avonins okt . S
Legislative contingent 10,000 00
Legislative salaries.... 623,85 &
Ilndexing journal,
House of Representa
-liVeB..ooceucccreiccsnnsns 200 00
Marine hospital, Erie.. 1,634 00
Agriculture of Penn
sylvania....oooooioaaee 1,080 00
Statue of Gen. Muhlen-
DOXE . oeeessorscersansece 3,700 00
Pennsylvania State Ag
ricultural Society..... 2,000 00
House of Representa-
VOB ..osoo sassssssansce 109 00
Senate of Pennsylvania 4,000 00
——34,877,515 68
Sinking Funa. -
Interest on public debt #819,951
Compensation Farmers
& Mechanics’ Navl
bank. Philadelphia... 6,000 00
State loans redeemed.. 259,900 0J
Interest on 541 Ne....... 69 0
State loans purchased 374,600 00
Premiums on same..... 49,351 37
U.s. consols purchased 1,400,0:0 00
Piemiums on same..... 324,879 W 0
Brokers' cominissions
ONSAlMO....ovevaenacsss 1,730 00
Interest on agricultu
ral college land script
DODA..coescecsssssseaes 30,000 00 3,968,396 63
7,648,912 30
The flscal year just closed began with
a cash balance in the Treasury, December
1, 1883, of $3,534,588 03. The foregoing
tables show that during the year there
was received for the General Fund $3,
735,279 87, and for the Sinking Fund §2,
491,679 51, making a total receipt of $6,-
226,959 38. For the same period the pay
ments were for the General Fund $4,377,-
5153 68, and for the Binking Fund
$3,206,506 62, mki% the total ptg
ments $7,643,912 80. While the
receipts were thus less than the
expenditures, yet with the cash
balance on hand December 1, 1883, from
former years, the Treasurer was enabled
to meet all the current expensee¢ during
the year, and at the same time iuvest for
the Sinking Fund $2,150,476 37, and
close the year witha balance in the Treas
ury of §2,117,685 11. The apparent ex
cess of payments over receipts for the
year is $1,416 952 92. Of this excess,
however, $774,717 11 is icvested in the
Sinking Fund to secure the payment
of the debt of the State, that
being the amount as shown by
the tables paid to the Sinking
Fund in excess of the receipts for the
same. This Jeaves, therefore, as the
real excesss of expenses over receipts
$642,236 81, the difference between the
geneial fund payments and receipts
This difference may be accounted for by
a net decrease in the receipts over the
previous fiscal year of $374,465 668 Of
the gross decrease $347,758 32 occurred
in the receipts from the five items of tax
on capital stock of corporations, of gross
receipts, of collateral inheritance tax, of
retailers’ licenses and of tavern licenses
The excess of payments over the previ
ous fiscal year is due mainly to the extra
session of the Legislature, called for the
purpose of having a neglected constitu
tional duty perfermed. This fruitless ses
sion cost over five hundred thousand dol
lars, which was taken from the Treasury in
opposition to a veto, and for which the
people have received no return, as their
constitutional command, to enforce which
the sesion was called, is still unobeyed.
The increased payments to charitable and
reformatory institutions, to public print
ing, to normal and common schools, to
penitenticies, and to costsin suits against
delinquent dealers—six items—amounted
to $268,802 37. i 3
~ For the fiscal year ending November
80, 1886, the Treasury has made the fol
lowing estimate of receipts aad payments:
Recelpta,
For the General Fund .............$4,575,500 00
For the Sinking Fund............. 1,570,510 00
Total recolpts...ivveeccees. . ... 58,146,000 00
pPayments.
To the General Fund.............. 54,824,020
1o the sinking Fund.............. 1,038,662 60
Total pAyMeNiß..ieescvuss ......53,912,662 50
1t thus appears from the estimate of the
Treasurer, that the expenditures of the
Geperal Fand will exceed the receipts
for that funa about $250,000. While the
balance with which the Treasurer begins
the year will, of course, prevent a deficit
occurring, yet the Legislature should in
making their appropriations scrutinize
them with this probable excess of ex
penditures cver receipts in view.
The following is a statement of the
condition of the public debt:
Debt.
33 per cent. Loans doe 1912..... %1 7.5,L0) 00
3% und 4 per cent. Loans of 1531,
due 1885 10 1892....c..c0000veeee. 1,870,600 (O
§ per cent. Loans of March 20,
112317. AuelB92.....ceieeeiaiene..l. 7,767,800 00
4 per cont. Loans of 1879, due )
o SRR M AR S RR T
4 per cent. Louns of 1879, due
RLN RO s T st o 1 KRNO 00
Mirxcuellaneous loans upon which
intereost has ceased......oooves, 195,183 23
6 per cent. Agricultural bond... 500,000 (0
Botal AebE. .. L. iiiiiiiare. .. BN OEESIN IR
Means to Pay Dcbt Now in Sinking Fund,
Pennsylvania railroad, due on
public works, not including
interest duo in fature......... $2,66)913 60
Al:cgheny Valley, on 25 bonds
not including interest due in
[email protected].. 2,300,(09 00
U.5.4pvr0ent;...5.......c0vc.0.. 3,30000 (O
B.lance in Sinking Fnnd........ 1,274,801 68
635,714 68
Legl:-laiion Ought to Le Equalized,
An examination of the subjeects of rev
enu9 and taxation induces the belief that
the time has arrived for the State to do
something to equalize the burden of tax
ation upon real and personal property.
It is trug the State imposes no di
rect tax upoa real estate, but it is
equally true that the species of pro
perty in this Commonwealth furnishes
four-fifths of all the revenue raised
within its borders. The flgures are
indeed suggestive. As far as ascer
tained it appears that for State, borough,
township, county, municipal, and all
other purposes, there is yearly raised by
taxation about $38,000,000. Of this sum
real estate pays about $30,000,000, and
personal property about $8,000,000. One
would suppose from these figures that
the difference in vaiue of the two species
of property would be in sone proportion
to the difference in the amount each
contributes to the public revenues. The
facts, however, do not support such
supposition. The value of the paid
in capital of corporations (largely below
the authorized capital) is about $1,200,-
1 000,000. The value of money at interest,
horses, carriages, watches, &c., amounts
' to about $300,000,000, making as the total
} value of these forms of persornalty $l,-
' 500,000,000. Of course these figures are
- very much below the actual value of ali
the personal property in the Common
wealth, as the means for the valuation
of that form of wealth arc very imperfect,
‘and a true appraisement, from the
nature of such property, is difficult
to obtain. The real estate in the Com
monwealth, according to the latest re
} turns, is valued at $1,600,000,000. The
| difference, therefore, in the value of these
two kinds of property is only about
$100,000,000, while one pays but §B,OOO,
| 000 in taxation, and the other pays $30,-
' 000,000. This is surely an unwarranta
' ble and unjust discrimination, oppressive
to real estate, and giving personality an
exemption from the pnblic burdens in
contravention of the spirit of the Consti
tution and natural equity. There i 3 no
reason why the capital of the farmer
should be taxed four times as
“much as the wealth of another citizen.
It woull seem, if any distinction was
made, that it should be in favor of that
form of capital that is most productive,
and that contributes most to the stable
richness of the State. All that is con
tended for, however, is that there should
be an equalizatlon, or an approach to it,
of the burdens imposed on each form of
Pxoperty. As an effort in this direction
suggest that the revenue laws of the
State ;be so changed that tax upon corpo
rations shall bear all the expenses
of the Commonwealtn, and that
the increase from all other sources of
taxation upon personol property be paid
back to the respective counties whence it
comes, to relieve real estate in those coun
ties to that extent from local taxation.
This would revert to the counties the va
riouslicenses collected, the tax on watches,
horses and carriages, money at interest,
&c.—in short all the revenue now de
rived except that directly from
corporations. This would be a mate
rial relief to real estate, and
would not be a serious additional
imposition on corporations. Corporate
wealth is so purely a creation of the State,
and that interest has been so carefully
nursed by the Commonwealth, that it is
no more than just that it should support
the State. It almost does so now, and,
by the plan suggested, the real estate of
corporations in the various counties would
share in the relief granted by the reverted
revennes to such an extent that the ad
ditional tax imposed would really be but
trifling. The tax upon corporations might
also be directly upon their paid up capital
stock instead of upon the various items of
gross receipts, dividends, &e., as isvow
provided. Ourrevenuelawsareintricate,
complex, difficult of ascertainment, and
uncertain. If some one class of corpo
rate property was selected, (a 8 for exam
pie, paicfixp capital stock,) and the tax
assessed solely upon it, our revenue laws
would be materially simplified. Such,al
system would give a deflnite fund upon
which estimates could be made, and do
away with the fluctuations and uncertainty
now pertaining to our system of taxation.
Pennsylvania could and ought to be sup
ported. Real estate, whether farm lands,
or city property, is suftering to-day from
its onerous burdens, and the cry for its
relief comes to us from a class in the com
munity whose appeals should be carefully
considercd—the owners of homes and the
tillers of the soil The incquality of the
burdens borne by peisonal and real prop
erty is glaring and unjust, and is, day by
day, becoming more and more apparent.
The adjustment of this inequality must
come sooner or later, for it is a right
which those discriminated against will
not cease In asserting, and the method
quggested may be a practiced help towards
a settiement of an important controversy,
and the redress of a real grievance.
lesignate the Place Where Money Qught to
be deposited.
I again call the attention of the Legis
lature, as I did in my former message, to
the wisdom of designating by law the
places in which the Treasurer shall de
posit the public moneys. ‘Fhe discretion
vested in the Treasurer to select the
places of deposit is a dangerous one for
him ard for the State. It subjects him
to personal iinportunity, and admits of
favoritism and abuse. Especially should
theoption of deposits with private bankers
be prohibited. The financial management
of the State should be based upon plain
business principles, and there is no reason
why the public moneys should not be de
posited in such a manner to afford equal
security and profit with like capital of
individuals. The recent failures of bank
ing institutions having State moneys on
deposit under former Treasurers should
be an admonition to the Legislature of
the necessity for the passage of some such
regulation.
The Work of ths Pardon Board.
The work of the Pardon Board is a
proper subject for public information as a
matter affecting the administration of
criminal justice. The exercise of execu
tive clemency i 3 a subject about which
the citizens in the past have properly dis
played a sensitive interest. 1 therefore
lay before you in detail the action of the
Board of Pardons during the time the
E‘resent executive has been in office.
rom February 20, 1833, to date the
board has heard and considered the cases
of 144 persons. The crimes committed
by these applicants for clemency were:
Larceny 23, burglary 18, assault and
battery 19, murder in first degree 12,
murder in second degree 7, arson 8, rob
bery 7, rape 7, manslaughter 5, forgery 6,
embezzlement 4, conspiracy 4, bigamy 3,
entering with feloneous intent 3, abortion
2, receiving stolen goods 2, keeping
bawdy house 2, horse stealing 2, uttering
false -instrument to defraud, &c., 3, riot
1, felony 1, libel 1, violation of election
laws 1, carrying deadly weapons 1, sod
omy 1, malicious mischief 1, seduction 1:
total 144.
Sixteen of these cases were recom
mended for clemency. and were pardoned
by the Executive. The offenses of which
these sixteen persons were convicted were
as follows: Larceny 5, robbery 1, burg
lary 1, arson 1, entering in night to com
mit felony 3, rape 2, violation of election
law 1, assauit and battery and aggravated
assault and battery 3.
The sentences of three persons were
commuted—two for murder in first de
gree from hanging to imprisonment for
life, and one for burglary and larceny, so
that the sentence expired at the end of
two years and four months from its date.
The remaining one hundred and twenty
five applications were refused.
The work of the Pardon Board
particularly calls for deliberate,
pains-taking, conscientious and in
telligent action. Its duties are
of the most delicate, serious and respon
sible character affecting the most vital
interests of the community. These re
quirements, I believe, have been fully
met by the present board. In every case
recommended for pardon there have been
substantial reasons to warrant the ex
tension of clemency, resalting either
from after-discovercd testimony, evidence
of mistake, or other adequate cause, sup
ported by the recommendation of the
local officers of justice. In cases refused
there has been an absence of sufficient
evidence of innocence or injustice to call
for the staying of the enforcement of our
criminal laws.
Better Care of the Insane Ought to be Pro
vided for.
The law passed at your last seession
for the supervision and control of places
where insare persons are detained has
justified the wisdom of its enactment.
The report of the lunacy committee es
tablished by that act has demonstrated
that the charges of inhumitv and cruelty
to the insane, to prevent which the act
was demanded, were not without
foundation. The committee discovered
and investigated a large number of cases
of improper detention, some of which
disclosed the most distressing and revolt
ing circumstances of cruelty and neglect.
Had the meana of investigation at the
disposal of the Committee been greater,
there is no doubt that still more satistac
tory results would have been obtained.
Unforiunately the Legislature neglected
to make any appropriation for the pay
ment of the salary of the secretary of
the committee authorized by the act, or the
expenses necessarily entailed in effecting
the purpose the new legislation was in.
tended to accomplish. %n calling atten
tion to this omission I also desire to ex
press the hope that the Legislature will
not only supply the deficiency, but ap
propriate adequate means for carrying out
the humanitarian intent of the act, and
giving effect to the philanthropic purpose
and valuable labors of the public spirited
and worthy citizens who inspired 2nd
drafted it.
The subject of the care and treatmeut
of the insane is one of growing impor
tance, and demands your most attentive
consideration. None of the charities of
the State is more worthy and important.
The exhaustive report of the committee
on lunacy is commended to the careful
thought of the Assembly. It calls atten
tion to the overcrowded condition of
many of the asylums, makes suggestions
for much needed amendments in the
Lunacy Laws, and is full of facts and de
tails that are of the utmost value, and
attests the thorough ckaracter and bene
ficial work of the committee.
The Public Charities.
The whole subject of the public charities
will claim a large share of your attention.
Liberal as the appropriations have been
to this object in the past, they have yet
been found insufficient to meet the de
mands made by those who are a legiti
mate charge upon the bounty of the State.
The charitable institutions, of a purely
public character, are reported to bein a
sadly overcrowded condition, and totally
inadequate to supply the relief needed by
the unfortunate and helpless. It should
be borne in mind that the State institu
tions have the first claim upon the public
purse, and if the amount of money at the
disposal of the Legislature is no more than
sufficient for amply supplying the State
charities, private institutions should not
be permitted, by diyiding the public fund,
to cripple the resources due to those
which have the psramount legitimate
claim upon the Commonwealth.
Foreseeing the danger probable from
the large and promiscuous appropriations
to private institutions, an et!grt was made
at the last session to correct the error b
vetoing & number of bilis containing sucg
appropriatiops. The reports submitted
show that precantion was not uncalled
for, but was only too ineffectual. The
State echarities are to-day in a painfully
suffering condition, and some messures
must be adopted for the relief of the large
numbers of uuprovided poor, sick and
insane. There will be large demands
made upon you for the extensiou of over
crowded asylums, and other much needed
additional relief. The business and
industrial outlook is such as to occasion
apprehension that our rescurces will be
still further taxed to meet the want and
suffering in the comwmunity. ' ‘s more
than ever necessary therefo L you
rigidly keep iu view the Cc uational
provision as to appfopriation: -harita
ble institutions not under the ntrol of
the Commonwesaltb. Provi.. » ought
first to be fully made for the Staie insti
tutions before other charities are at all
considered. The bills for the former
purpose should all be early considered
and passed, and the amount devoted to
that object computed, so that these meas
ures will not be left to hurried and incon
siderate action in the last days of the ses
sion.
It has been suggested in a report sub
mitted by the health officer of Philadel
vhia that the lazaretto be removed from
its present position to either Fort Dela
ware (if proper arrangements can be
made with the United States Govern
ment) or Reed’s Island. 'l'he preseut po
sition is entirely unsuitable, as it brings
infected vessels into almost direct contact
with the city and surroundings. There
is an apprehension among many medical
authorities that we may be visited with
cholera during the coming summer.
While these fears may not be real
ized, there is yet well-grounded reason
for the exercise of unusual care,
to prevent such a calumity. A strict and
proper quarantine, in connection with
other sanitary precautions, may prevent
the epidemic finding a lodgment among
us. It is further suggested that all pilots
and masters of vessals be required to re
port to the health officer the names of
any persons boarding or leaving vessels
after entering the Capes of the Delaware,
and, upon failure to report such names in
writing, such pilots and masters to be
subject to indictment. The boarding of
vessels before passing quarantine is a
great evil, and renders quarantine al
most useless.
A State Board of Health Keocominended
In this connection the establishment of
a State Board of Health is recommended.
Such a Board is believed to be a desirable
institution, and a public need. It wouild
put us in the line of advance with many
of our sister Commonwealths, where such
institutions have been found to be or great
practical benefit. As our population be
comes more dense, the necessity for some
systematic regulation of affairs pertaining
to the public health of the State becomes
¢very day more apparent.
The laws governing the Lazarelto
Station should be revised. Many of
them are unnecessary, as well as unjust,
having been enacted at a time when the
conditions and cirecumstances of our com
merce were entirely different from what
they are at present. There is one unjust
law to which your attention is called,
viz: In reference to visits of the Lazaretto
physician made to vessels in the inside
or outside channel. For a visit made in
the outside channel to a vessel of a 150
tons burthen and upwards an
additional fee of §5 is charged.
The act imposing this charge
was passed years ago, when the
physician made his visits in a row boat,
and received perquisites for his compen
sation. Two dollars of the fee were paid
to him, and one dollar to the Quarantine
Master, for their extra trouble in being
rowed the further distance, and the re
maining two dollars went into the city
treasury. Now steam is used as a motor,
and both officers are paid a fixed salary.
These two considerations call for the
repeal of the law.
The Public School Fuund,
Your attention is called to the basis
upon which the distribution of the fund
for our common schools should be made.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction
in his annual report says, ‘“From a care
ful survey of the whole field and from
comparison of views with others our con
viction is, that the law which tixes the
base upon which the State appropriation
is distributed should bhe changed.
The appropriation itself is cer
tainly made in the interest of
the chiidren wheo are to receive its benefit
and hepce the very spirit of the law im
plies that the distribution should be made
in the same interest. The distribution is
not made on the base of taxables, the de
partment receiving the list every three
years. In our judgment it would be bet
ter to put it on the basis of average num
ber of school children in attendance.
This can be done very easily. All
teachers are now required to report the
average number in attendance. They
can still further be required by law to
hand a certified list of the same to their
respective boards, and the oflicers of the
boards can forward affldavits of the same
to the Department of Public Instruction
annually, and thus the necessary data will
be always at hand. This would make the
distribution more equitable, adapt it more
directly to the changing needs of the
schools and at the same time greatly en
courage efforts to secure a larger average
attendance throughout the Common
wealth.
The Soldier Boys.
The command of the Constitution, that
“the freemen of this Commonwealth
shall be armed, organized and disciplined
for its defence,”” has been faithfully
obeyed. The appropriations from the
treasury for the maintenance of thé mili
tia have been well applied and the
strength of the National Guard has been
fully maintained.
Its last encampment was upon the bat.
tle-geld of Gettysburg, at which there
were 3,164 tents pitched and 7,543 men
present for duty.
The troops were there reviewad by the
Lieutenant General commanding the
army of the United States, in the pres
ence of the Secretary of War, the Cem
missary General of Subsistence, United
States army, and Colonel H. M. Black, of
the Twenty-third United States Infantry,
the latter being present under a special
order from headquarters, Department of
the East.
In his official report Col. Black says:
“The men marched in review with afirm
ness and precigsion that I have never seen
excelled.”’
As the general result of my observa
tions, I can say that in appearance, in
their discipline and general efficiency, the
troops comprising the annual encamp
ment of the Pennsylvania National
Guard for the year 1884 are worthy of all
praise, and reflect great honor on the
Commonwealth. I believe that in this
body of eight thousand men, is concen
trated sufficient intelligence and knowl
edge of military affairs to admit of an ex
pansion to a force of at least fifty thou
sand. The National Guard of Pennsyl
vania will furnish a good working model
to other States of the Union which desire
to establish their militia on a firm and
liberal basis.
It is recommended that a commission
be created to revise the present bitumin
ous mining laws, snch commission to be
similar in all respects to the one appointed
at the last session of the Legislature to
revise the anthracite mining laws.
The mining of bituminous coal has be
come & business of enormous proportions,
and the safety and rights of those em
ployed in this industry demand legisla
tive consideration. A standara should be
fixed whereby the fitness of men desiring
the position of superintendent, mining
boss, and fire boss, can be determined,
and the duties of persons emplcyed 1n
those respestive positions ean be clearly
and specifically deflned, so as to fis the
responsibility in cases of accident.
The State Agricultural Society Not a State
lustitution,
There ought to be some modifications
made in the existing laws relating to that
branch of government having in charge
agricultural matters. The law recogni.
zes the State Agriculture Society as in
some way connected with the public ad
ministration of this subject, by appropri
aling to it annually $2,250, should be re
pealed. Hereafter there should be but
one head of the agricultural
interest, to wiks: The State
Board of Agriculture to which
all appropriations for this interest should
be made, and which should have the en
tire charge of all mnuerspertainin%to
this branch of the public affairs. Notably
should the Agricultural Board have the
exclusive control of the publication ot
the agricultural reports. These chan_es
should be made for the obvious reason
that the Agricultural Society is a private
Corporation conducted with a'view to
the private profitof its stockholders, most
Oor many of whom are capitalists and
farmers of large wealth, who
are principally concerned in the
refinements of agriculture, fancy
stock rising, and the development
ol fleet horses, rather than the practical
concerns of every day farming. Such
an institution is well enough in itssphere,
and to be commended as a private enter
prise; but as the State has a department
of its own devoted to this subject, what
ever public money is spent for this par
pose should be spent through the recog
nized public channel. By dividing the
resources intended for this interest, the
State Board is deprived of a part of the
means which should legitimately go to its
support and the development of its use
fulness.
The Merchantile Appraisers Should Go.
I can see no reason for the continuance
of the office of Mercantile Appraiser, and
recommend its abolition. The Mercantile
licenses can be assessed, and appealstaken
in the same menner and by the same offi
cials that assess the tax on watches,
horses, carriages, and money at interest.
The various county ass:ssors couid
and should at the same time
that they perform their other
dutics discharge the business now trans
acted by the mercantile appraisers. Par
ticularly ought this to be done if the
Legislature should adopt the suggestion
that these licenses be paid into the treas
uries of the various counties. By this
means a large number of office holders
would be dispensed with, their salaries
saved to the State or counties, and the
uniformity, simplicity and convenience
be promoted by having all taxes levied
by one set of officers and paid at one time
to the county treasurer. This plan seems
to be perfectly feasible, and its adoption
would be a practical concession to the
universal demand among the people for
the abolition of unnecessary offices and
complex governmental machinery.
The Senate Librarian a Misnomer and the
Resident Clerk an Kxorescence.
As a movement in the same direction,
it isrecommended that the commissioners
of public buildings and grounds be given
the absolute and entire charge and con
trol of the public buildings inside and out.
Under existing laws the Senate Librarian
and resident clerk of the House
are vested with, or assume to have,
certain authority in the custody, control,
and furnishing of the interior of the halls
of the two houses. This is an unneces
sary division of authority and responsi
bility. It can serve no useful purpose,
and may only give excuse for the contin
uance of offices which might very well
be abolished. There is no good reason
why the Commissioners ot Public Build
ings and Grounds should not have
the whole charge of all the buildings.
This was the purpose of the creation of
the Board, and I am strongly in favor of
such change of existing laws as will, in
all the aflairs of the Government, give to
i the proper officers the entire control ot
the subject matter of their departments.
} This will fix responsibility, abolish need
less offices and theirexpense, and doaway
“with much of that intricate official ma
chinery which sccomplishes little else
than provide patronage, and multiply the
hands that spend the public money to its
consequent waste and loss.
With a further view to the abrogation
of this evil it is also recommended that a
change of existing laws be made so that
the Superintendent of State Printing
shall be charged with the duty of secur
ing and forwarding direct from the State
Printer to tke Members of the General
Assemblyand the Heads of Departments
the proportion of reports and public doc:
'uments to which they may be sev
| erally entitled. Thera i 3 no reason
why these books should not be shipped
directly from the State Printer. The
shipping of them first to the Senate Li
brarian or Resident Clerk, to be by them
reshipped to the members and others, is
a purely extravagant and indefensible
routine, without reason in accuracy,
promptness, efficiency or economy.
On the other hand, it seems an
entirely natural and orderly proceed
ing for the volumes to be packed, marked
and shipped in the first instance to those
entitled to them, under the direction of
the Superintendent of Public Printing
and State Printer. If this system should
be adopted, it will make a very consider
able saving to the State in the handling
of the books alone, and will also
leave very little excuse for the
further existence of the officers of
Senate Librarian and Resident
Clerk of the House. If there be any
further duties pertaining to the business
of the two houses devolving upon these
officials it is inconsiderable, and can and
ought to be performed by the chief clerks
of the respective houses. As to the con
trol of the supplies for the departments
now given to the Senate Librarian, that
matter can be transfered to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth, or some one
of the other responsible and fixed
heads of departments. The office of
Senate Librarian is a glaring instance of a
purely needless and costly office. It
seems to have been called into being sim
ply for the purpose of creating a place to
‘be filled by some one at the public ex
pense. Itstitle i 3 a misnomer and de
ceptive. The Senate has no library re
quiring the charge of a librarian, and this
officer has less to do with a library, and
more to do with the spending of the pub
lic money in various affairs far from
litcrary, than any other librarian in the
nistory of any enlightened government
that has come down to us. His office
under the misleading title with which it
was crowned seems to have been com
posed by taking piece-meal from other
officers and departments certain in-con
gruous and irrevevant duties that together
have scarcely served as a technical ap
pology for an office all the necessary
duties of which could and would be per
Jformed by an upright and industrious
person of ordinary intelligence in six
weeks out ot the year for a twentieth 'Ftrt
of the compensation now paid. This
office and that of Resident Clerk of the
House, which is equally unnecemghand
extravagant,ought to be at once abolished.
Too Much Delay in Punishing Homicide,
I would suggest to the General Assem
bly' the possibility of some legislative
enabtment to prevent in capital cases the
great lapse of time that so often inter
venes between the commission of the
offense and the punishment of the
offender. It is seldom in these days that
less than a year elapses from the
time 8 homicide i 3 committed
and the penalty of the law i 3
enforced, and the ingenuity of counsel
often succeeds in prouactmls’the delay to
a greator period. This tardiness in the