Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-01-10

\ unequally, that great reason Tor complaint exist
/ throughout the State To remedy to some ex
tent this evil, it would be well to require tht
protbonataries of the several counties, to collec
from the plaintiffs in judgement the tax thereon
4 assessed and if necessary, to compel payment BY
legal process allowing to the officer entrusted
| with this duty reasonable compensation, to bt
paid, where the payment of the tax is made vol
unfairly, tut of the fund, and by the plaintiff
when the payment has been compelled by lega
process A similar PROVISION with regard tc
mortgages, giving the recorders the authority
before stated in relation to judgements, would
| embrace those two items of taxation, and woalc
doubtless compel the payment of large amount
of revenue, now fraudulently withheld.
The laws subjectng to tax the commissions
! issued to officers of this Commonwealth, should
| be extended to embrace commissions to non-resi-
dents The justice oftaxing the citizens of the
State, and of permitting non-residents who hold
commissions under the government, to enjoy the
emoluments free from taxation, cannot readily
! be perceived.
! No effectual mode has been devised to compel
the agents Of foreign insurance companies to
make sem-annua exhibit of the amount Of
funds employed by the respective companies
within this commonwealth. A law having,
an effect of this character, is highly necessary
and would be productive of decided advantage
In the enactment of such law, it would be well
to make the certificate issued to agents of said
companies, subject to taxation.
incorporated companies of various kinds, deri-
wing their charters elsewhere, have agencies in
the State and transact business therein, and yet
no accurate account is taken of the money en-
ployed, or of the value or profits of their invest
ments. Were the proper departments required
to make list of these interpretations, and author
ity given to ascertain the amount of the invest
ments the rate Of dividends declared, or the pro-
fits made, and tax was levied on such dividends
or profits, as well as on the capital stock employ
ed, a large revenue to the Com Donwealth would
be the result
While money borrowed By citizens, boroughs,
and incorporated districts, is subject by existing
laws, TO taxation, 1t is not perceived why money
borrowed by Incorporated companies should be
exempt from similar assessment. To make an
equitable distribution of the public bur,hens
should be the special object OF the Legislature,
and care should be taken that No exemption
should be allowed to any elias of citizens over an
other where the property employed is the same.
Attention to the foregoing objects of taxation.
will not only increase the revenue, but is de.
manded alike by Justice and sound policy.
Next in importance to the public debt, and
the equalization Of the taxes, is the management
of the public impro Vements. The vast expendi-
tures annually made for the repair and snpervs
ion of these works, and the amount of reve-
nue derived therefrom; so materially affecting
the condition of the Treasury render them OBJ
iects of peculiar interests 1t is believed that
an increased amount OF net revenue should be
derived from these works The enormous ap-
preparations of the last year. Cor their malnten-
an:e in repairs, and towards the payment OF
debts heretofore contracted. should have plac
ed them in a sound condition, and would author,
ize the conclusion that small expenditure du-
ring the SEASON would be sufficient. In the ab-
sence of the annual report of Canal Commissions
ers no specific amount for these objects can be
given by the Executive.
The system for the management of these i'm
provcments. invites unnecessary expenditures,
and removes responsibility from the proper de-
partment. Were the number of Canal Commits
sioners increased to five; the State divided in
to districts for the election and supervision of
each Commissioner the direct and immediate
charge and control of the district imposed up
on one of these officers, requiring of him the
performance OF the duties now executed by su-
perintendents and supervisors, and stpulatlng
for the annual alteration Of the said Commiss-
ioners; much practicle information of interest
TO the State would be acquired direct res
possibility for the we'll ordered condition Of
the Public Works, and the economy OF expen-
ses would be secured and the large discre-
tonary powers now vested in superintendents
and supervisors, in the adoption of fplans and
payment of money in repairs, would be placed
in offiCers directly accountable to the people.
in relation 10 this subject, legislation should
be clear and specific, as discretionary power
over the money of the citizen must be depreoa-
ted by right thinking men.
The method adopted in the management Of
the Public Works is evidently defective. Re-
pairs on the canals and railroads are made in
a way to prevent all competition. Where
the several Sersices performed by contract,
and awarded to the lowest bidder, giving the
required security, Can there exist doubt OF
favorable results to the public interests.
The State does not derive an adequate share
of the profits arising from the use Of The Co
lumbia Railroad, the construction of the
road its maintenance and supervision, and
the supply of the Motive Power, involving
great expense and risk, demand from the pro-
fits OF the read larger return than finds its
way to the Treasury. An evil so detrimental
Of the public interests calls for speedy remedy
1t is suggested that the Canal Commission
ers should be required to invite proposals for
furnishing the Motive Power on the said road,
stpulating in detail the services to be perform
ed and the nature OF the security TO be Civ
en-. The object being to procure competition
in the supply of the Motive Power, encourage
ment should be given TO individuals, willing to
the duty of running one or more To-
Comot ives Oil the road, whether belonging to
the State or the ndiy idual bidder. Should
the locomotives belonging to the State, be fur
nShed to the bidders the contract should stip-
late the terms on which they should be used.