Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-01-06
39,0sI,000 40

There is also due to Domestic Creditors, on
certificates issued by the Auditor General, the
sum of $206,4Gl 90
For the interest annually accruing, and for the
temporary debts and liabilities of the State, pro-
vision should be Immediately made The re-
OF the State are abundant, and all that is
required is the right disposition, and iudicious
and proper selection of the mode in which these
resources are to be rendered available.
The amount of taxes levied and paid into the
State Treasury. under existing tax laws, was as
follows: In the year ls41, the amount levied
was S4l6,79i S5--there was paid into the ,Irca-
sllTy during that year, S33292 II. la lS42, the
tax levied was 5G59, ,512 47--the amount paid in
the same year, was SIS6,6 635 SIS. In 1913, the
amount levied cannot be ascertained with accu-
racy, in consequenceof failures on the part ofthe
County Commissioners in several counties TO
make returns to the proper office but making an
estimate from the best data that can be obtained,
it will not fall short of S945 900 co. The tax
paid into the Treasury the past year. was $3.50.
vi 3S. The assessment for the ensuing year,
may be fairly estimated at what il amounted to
the past year, provided the Legislature repeal
the proviso to the 10th section ofthe Act of27th
July, 1912, entitled "An Act to provide for the
ordinary expenses of the Governmen,--paymcnt
of the interest upon the State debt" &c, which
limits the assessment of the increased tax 10 one
year. Unless provision be Immediately made
for continuing the assessment and collection of
that tax our financial difficulties must be ncrcas-
ed, and the consequences be most disastrous to
our State credit.
1t will be seen from the foregoing statement,
that nearly million ofdollars, arising from tax
alton remains unpaid and there is no authority
vested in the Executive, by law TO enforce its
collection. | have repeatedly recommended 10
the Legislature, the adoption oi some legal meth
cd OF compelling County Commissioners, Collcc-
tors and Treasurers, to perform their dlles--but,
thus far, no legislation has been had upon the
subject. In the present defective state OF the
law, every temptation is held ont to delinqucnts
10 preseyere in setting al naught its iniunctions.
Permit Inc again 10 call the attention'oi the Le-
EislatuTc 10 this subject, and TO express the hope
that this evil will be remedied
The whole receipts from our public improve
ments, beyond the payment for repairs, and the
expenses OF their charge and management, during
the past fiscal year, amount 10 Sie2, 657 "a.
The current expenses ofgovernment, including
thc permanent appropriation TO Common Schools
and other purposes may be estimated al about
$50 900 90. The resources of the State, indie
pendent Of taxation, and the receipts from the
public improvements at about 81 ,o0O 90. From
an examination of all these receipts and liabili
iss OF the State, supposing the tax levied, under
existing laws, 20 be punctualiy collected and pal,
over, there would be an annual deficit OF abou
$3.50, ,0G0 90, Independent OF the balance due IL
Domestic Creditors for the punctual paymon
Of all which, the State is bound by every obllga
tion of iuith and honor After most careful
consideration of the whole subject have beef
unable to devise any other mode .! meeting thi
responsibility than that ofaugmcnted tSSa'oh'
took occasion in my annual message trans
mitted TO the Legislature on the sth of January
lsI0, 10 speak npon this subject in the followlh,
pointed and unequivocal words, ] beg leave L
quote them, because have reiterated, in ever
annual message to the Legislature since sub
stantially the same sentiments and | dcsiI
the people OF Pennsylvania, and the whole world
10 know if there be ground 10 charge rcmissn"sS
duty, 10 whom the fault is to be justly attribr
ted
"In expressing my own opinion in favor of
resort to taxation, do il with 10 incons derahl
degree OF reluctance but II must be obvious
every citizen of the Commonwealth, that h
house, his farm, and his property, are all pledge
beyond possibility of release, TO the ultimate pa,
ment of the State debt, and the interest therec
accruing, aerecabIy 10 the stipulation with Il
loan holders Nor is this the worst view ofoy
situation. The State has been actually con
pounding fer years past, from million to ml
lion and half of interest, annually ana u
question is now submitted, whether we are III
10 continue adding, half yearly this enormous
mount of interest TO the principal OF our Sta
debt, and continue IN lhls l'usliah,iu"uS ,ou
policy, from year 20 year of fshuiflng ottthe e'
day, and entailing this frightiul legacy on post'
ity, IL is rsproach on the people of Pennsy "
MIA to suppose they can be longer kept IN 7
dark, in regard 10 the situation IN which We II
them All they want to know, In ousure II
DIV compliance n this indispensable call up
their patrictism, Is to know the necessity OF
measure. The experience OF more than halt
century, fortlhes ne in the belief, that the g,
sense of the people OF tins great Commonweai
is rarely arTealed TO IN vain In assuming