The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-08-21

CtusHtV loI d tiHc DeHcdta uic lodu vi hSi
obligations. Among the foremost in this
work of usefulness and necessity, was Will
liam Bigler of the county Of Clearfeld. A
Senator for six years, during the very period
to which am alluding, he embraced the
opportunity afforded him, to render essential
service 10 the people of the commonwealth
Go to the men who sat with him in the Sem
ate from ls4l TO isl7, and they will tell
you, that his Judgment, sagacity and zeal,
were constantly and effectively employed in
the public service, and that to no man, per-
haps, in public life, are the people more in
debted for the placing of the finances of the
State upon suie and solid foundation. He
addressed himself, throughout, with intelli-
gence and energy, 10 the performance of his
public duties, Such are sterling men for
public< the men acho sosar aOeH-and from
whom he public confidence, when once
gwen, need never be Withdrawn. Col Big.
ler's position in the Finance Committee OF
the Senate, placed him in prominent connec-
ton with legislation upon our fiscal affairs,
and it is undeniable, that TO the acts passed
while he was member of the Senate, is TO
be attributed the present ability of the state
authorities to pay off any portion whatever
of the public debt.
Col. Bigler recommended the creation, or
increase, of revenue from estates, by proper
enactments, az the burhen least harsh upon
the people imposed as it is, no! upon prop
er,y in actual possession and enjoyment, but
upon property in its transit from one owner
to another, aud when the claim of the latter
is not founded upon purchase but upon prin-
cples of succession. the heir or device
usually pays nothing for the property trans
ferrel to him; he receives the results of in
dustry in which he has not participated, and
that il should be taxed for the public neces.
sites, before his right attaches, or is enjoyed
is expedient and reasonable. To the exact
extent 10 which such tax is imposed, proper
ty in possession is relieved from burIhen
A tax upon estates is shown by Mr.. Benlham
with that cearness of reasoning for which
he is distinguished, TO be less inconvenienl
and oppressive than almost any other; and
it has long been recognized as a proper
source of revenue, in Pennsylvania.
In accordance with these views, the le-
gislature of 1916 imposed the tax of five per
cent upon collateral inheritances. Mark the
result The amount of the collateral inner.
i,ance tax paid into the sinking fund in the
years ls4s and so,was s2S2, 5o7 7,4ss The
-..hala amonnssof money T5EW the stfkirg
fund in those years was S4zTss5z,7o. So
that i,uo thirds of the whole nhount paid on
the state debt, in ls49 and 1850, was deriv-
ed from this tax upon Estates, passed at the
instance of Col. Bigler, and during the ad-
ministraton of Gov. Skunk
Johnston may arrogate credit to himself,
with as much vehomence as he chooses, for
the sinking fund plan projected in 1916 by
his competitor, but he cannot deny that all
the monies absorbed by it. have come out
of the pockets Of the people, and that the
greater part had been provided under acts In
CNlSteDC6 DtlOF6 ITO DOCaiio 0NsOihSf' NAS
has been sxpending money provided by the
legislation of Bigler, Skunk, ard others, and
now impudeny claims the credit OF the I'M
proved financial condition OF the common
wealth, with which he has had nothing TO
do, and which it was impossible for him to
prevent. The credit of the state, and the
ability of the state 10 meet its engagements,
stand, at this momeet, mainly, upon the acts,
already mentioned, of 29th April 1874 and
22nd April 1916 and if honor is to be CIV
en- in any direction, it is due, in the hrsl
place, to the people who have paid the tax
es. under those acts, out Of their earnings,
and secondly, to those statesmen who had
the sagacity 10 perceive those sources Of
revenue, and the boldness and ability TO rem
der them available. .. -.
Tie only way in which our public debt
can be paid, is by taxation upon the people
Upon them rests the entire bur,hen, and II is
virtual mortgage upon their whole property
and industry, and payable by them 10 the
uttermost farthing. The contrivance by
which the taxes are applied upon the debt,
is of secondary Importance, and deserves
but slight consideration. Away then with
these boas,ful pretences, founded on the
sinking fund, got up for the purpose OF de-
ceiving and deluding the people.
Every intelligent person can know, by a
moments reflection, that in Pennsylvania
our financial affairs are confded 10 other
hands than those of the Governor, II is to
the State Treasurer and Auditor General,
and to some extent also the Canal Commits
sioners, that their management and adminis.
tration are committed Johnston has there
fore had no control over, or connection with
the actual management and administration
of the finances of the state, but those
importan, trusts have been in the hands o. h s
political opponents. He could not have pre-
vented the present improved condition of our
monetary affairs, aud il is certain he has no.
caused it. The main thing he could do 10 Ia
vor the treasury would be TO enconomize in
the expenses of the government; but, he
spends more money, than h,s predecessor
Gov. Skunk. The Government expenses un-
der Shunk's administration, were as follows
For ls45i $239, ,304,20.
1876 2i6,532,22.
1847 ~ I. 2oo,1l3,37.
Under Gov Johnston, the government ex-
penses have been:-
For 1s49 S237, 105,33.
1850 262,899,7i.