Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-01-26
pennsylvania Legisiatnre,

| lllN'9 IL unconstitutional, ant
asked 10 be discharged from the iurthe
consideration of the subject Postponed
ana ordered 10 be printed
Mr. Forsyth offered a resolution anC
preamble, as follows
Whereas, The present system of ASSESSING
ana leVylng taxes upon the real estate of TIN:
commonwealth, which is encountered with iudg
hehts and mortgages or ground rents, is unequal
unjust, and oppressive, and is against the princ
pies OF our form Of government, compelling
large majority OF the people of this State to bear
| unusual and unreasonable burthens, reuuiripe
tnem IN reality TO pay State, county, corpora
1oh and other taxes upon what is in fact, debts
Que by them and property which they do not
own, the same being subject to additional tax
all oil which directly or indirectly falls upon the
party holding property thus embarrassed =
! the manifest consequence of which is 10 favor
the wealthy, who have their property free from
encumbrances, and to impose upon those whose
circumstances compel them to borrow upon
mortgage or pay grouAd rents. And inasmuch
as the annual revenue is now amply sufficient to
meet all the proper expenditures of the COM
| monwealth, 1t is the solemn duty of the Legis-
| lature to remedy these great wrongs that have
| been so patriotcally submitted to for a number
| OF years, and revise our unequal system of taxa
! ton. Therefore,
requested to examine the present laws imposing
taxes upon real and personal property in this
commonwealth, and if eXpedient, report re-
vision OF the same, in such manner as will
remedy the cause of complaint.
The resolution was adopted, with an
amendment offered by Mr.. Lawrence, as
follows And also to inquire into the ex-
pedIency of changing the present mode of
collecting taxes in the State so as to CON
form to the system now adopted in the
State of Ohio.
Mr.. konigmacher offered the following
resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be
instructed to inquire into the expcdiencv of re-
peallng all laws cXempting certain property
from taxation.
Senate then went into consideration of
bill allowing compensation to Auditor
General and State Treasurer as Commis-
sloners of the Internal Improvement Fund,
which was finally passed.
In the House, Mr.. Allison offered the
following resolution, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee of WAYS and
Means be requested to inquire into the eXpedi-
ency of repeating much Of the act creating
Sinking Fund, as relates to the taxing Of bowl
ing saloons.
Mr.. Acker offered a similar resolution.
relative to pistol galleries, panoramas, ex-
hibitions, &c.
On the 2lst, the two houses, in conven-
ton, proceeded to elect State Treasurer.
There was but one ballot. The vctc stood
-Bickel, 74-Gideon J. Ball, Wing, 50.
/" An act relating TO compensation in
damages when death is caused by wrong
full act, negligence or default" has been
offered by Mr.. Killinger, the member from
Lebanon. Ii provides that whenever the
death of a person shall be caused by the
wrongful act of any party, either natural
or artificial, and the act is such as would
if death had not cnsucd, have entitled the
individual injured to maintain an action
and recover damages, the person or corpo-
ration shall be Liable to action no,with-
standing such death, and although the
death shall have been caused under such
circumstances as shall in law amount to a
felony. Every such action is to be brought
IN the name of the personal representative
of the deceased, and the amount recovered
shall be for the exclusive benefit Of the
widow and next of kin of such deceased.
The court and jury may give such dam
ages as they may deem just with reference /
TO the pecunlary injury resulting from such
death to the widow and relatives. provided
that such action shall be commenced with
in one year from the death OF such per-
son.
In the Senate, on the 22d, Mr.. Srecter.
Judiciary reported " supplement to an
act abolishing imprisonment for debt. and
to punish fraudulent Debtors" with an
amendment.
Mr.. Walker, Judiciary "an act reIal-
ing TO the usury laws"
Mr.. Cunningham moved the considera-
ton of an act to incorporate the Presbyte-
rian Church in the borough of Newton
Hamilton, which was read !hird time
and passed.
At this stage Of the proceedings a com |
mittce from the House of Representatives
was announced, who conducted the speak
er and members of the Senate into their
hall, for the purpose Of proceeding TO a
joint election Of State printer for the ensu-
ing three years.
The two Houses held a Joint session |
for the purpose of awarding the public
printing 10 the lowest bidder. Mr.. Fem
received the English printing, and Mr..
Weber the German printing,
In the House, Mr. Conyngham offered
the following resolution, which was adopt
ed:
Resolved, That the Canal Commission
ers be requested to furnish to this House,
as soon as in their power so TO do, a list
of all the lots, tracts and pieces Of land
belonging to this Commonwealth, situated
upon the lines of Canals and Railroads,
which are not now used for any necessary
PURPOSES connected with said Public