Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-06-04


result is presented, of large pc,e.ss of ,os oya1
any preceding year. The increased and incre,sno
value OF these great works, render them an object
worthy OF peculiar care and proeetion and mns,
forever, negative the idea of the Slate surrenderne
he control over them, to a corporation.
Inc fennsylvania railroad conpanv have com.
nenced the construction of their road between this
pace and the city of Pittsburg under very favora
DIG auspices. The Eastern division is now under
ooh'ract as Tar as Lewistown, and is expected the
rsmainlng portion Of it, as far sssHolIidaysburu.
VIII De put under contract duins the ensuing
spring. The completion Of this reet public work.
sven to Hollldaysburg, will augmsnt the trade and
uavel upon the Philadelphia and Columbia road
nis prospective increase of businss urges tho ne
cessity of considering the best Means of avoiding
the inclined plane, at the Schuylkua
As the Philadelphis and COLUMBIA railroad. is
the important link which connects the main line of
our public Improvements, we'll d he North and
West branch canals, with the comnerriaI metropo-
lis of the State, and upon the contO and manage
ment of which the value of our cansh mainly de-
pend, every thing which relates to IT, Il of the high
est concern to the interest of the Commonwealth.
In adopting measures to change its route, so as to
reach the city without passing theinelined plane,
the greatest clrcumspecton aud care should be OBJ
served to the best location prscticable, and
to protect the State against exorblant claims for
damages. No change of location should be sane
toned, until the whole question is sarafuv exam
ined, by one or more of the most Competent engi-
neers, who entirely free from all interest in the
decision. Under no circumstances, should any
plan or arrangement be entertained BY which the
state would, for single moment, be deprived of
the ownership and entire control of the load.
The reports of the Auditor Geneal. and State
Treasurer, present, in DETAIL the inanuaIoperaons
of the year; and take pleasure in saying, that
the industry, ability, and fidelity, with which these
departments have been administered, arsdeserving
of the highest commendation.
The Commonwealth has heretohre sustained
many losses, by the delay of the settlement of &C
counts, and the omission to enforce the payment of
the balances found due, when settled. Within the
last few years, many old accounts have been finally
settled, and suits brought and prosecuted to iudg
ment and execution, for balances of long standing,
embracing the terms of several administrations
This has, in many instances, produced cases of ex-
treme hardship upon bail, some of whom have been
compelled to pay the balances found due, with the
accumulated interest, after the Insolvency of their
principals and co-sureties.
| am gratfed in being able to ssy, that the
business imposed upon the accounting officers, by
a special act of assembly, in collecting these old
debts, has not only been faithfully performed, but
that the current business has been promptlyattend
cd to- and kept up. To enable the Auditor Gene
raj, however, to continue to do full juaiceto the
interests of the State, and all concerned in the
prompt settlement of accounts liberal provision
should be made TO pay additional clerk hire.
While on this subject, | would respectfully in
vte attention to the organization of the Offices of the
AudtorGenera and State Treasurer, to ascertain
whether the regulations and checks existing e suf
ncent IN all respects to secure proper accountab-
ty, and protect the interests of the Commonwealth
1t is true, that the public has for many yea1 .us-
tanned no losses by the Treasury, but, appHhsnd
that the fahfunes of the agents, having charge of
these departments, and not the checks provided by
the law, has produced this result This propi |
tous period for instituting examination of the |
subject paHicunly - the present worthy off, |
Gers hold large Q share of the public confidence
Since the establishment of the present systsn the
finances of the stale have ncreassd hem fswh
dred thousands, to nearly four millions of dOsxs an
naAlly. The regulations and checks whish were |
then considered sufficient, may now be inadequate |
10 protect the interests of the Commonwealth, in |
its enlarged and increasing financial operations.
The Auditor Generals Office, to be an efficient
check upon the Treasury, should be so orgsnized,
that the Auditor General might know, at all tines
the condition of the Treasury, from the books of
bis own office, without being dependent on hose
of the Treasury. If errors or omissions exist in
the Treasury, the Auditor Generals books should
detect and correct them. This is not the case un-
dsr the present organization and mode OF ding
business, iE the two Offices
1t also occurs to me- that greater security against
the mlsapplcaton of the moneys in the Trsaspry,
and on deposile in the banks to the credit Of the
Treasurer, should be provided, by the nstituon of
some check upon his drafts and payments The
moneys of the Commonwealth on deposte 10 the
credit of the Treasurer, varying in amount fd some
months in the year, from four hundred thousand to
near a million of dollars, subject to bis draft,
alone while he is only required TO give security in
the sum of eighty thousand dollars. Thus very
great and dangerous power is confded to one nan.
/, therefore, suggest the propriety of requlnng
the Auditor General to countersign all draAsa for
the payment Of money drawn by the Treasurr On
the repositories, or for transferring money.from
one depository to another
The report of the Adjutant General e1hibsthe
number of the militia of the Commonweaa as
well as the arms and military stores.
This detail shows the elements of the military
power of the Commonwealth-the strength Of a
Republican Government. The experience fihe
last few years, has ADDED proofs TO the value ths
institution and presents the subject as one geat
importance, to the care and supervision of the Le-
gisiature.
The Report of the Superintendent of Common
Schools, exhibits full view of the progress and
steady advancement, of our admirable system of