Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-09-17
rarafion and the pnhl,c WORKS.

doubtedly great drawback to the invest
ment Of capital in this State, is the enormous
amount Of taxes levied on real estate. Com
pared with the taxation thirty years ago, it is
certainly a grievous burden, yet one that
must be borne until the people will compel
their public officers and legislators to more
rigid performance Of duty, and thus make
the public works pay the interest on their
construction, as they ought 10 do, or wipe
out the debt at once by special tax laid for
that purpose The latter would probably
create little revolution, if attempted, and
hence maybe considered irnpracticable the
former mode Is within reach, but 50 long as
voters viii support any and everything sub
nitted TO them under the guise of democracy,
no matter how un. ust or how absurd, it IS
not likely 10 be accomplished. Public at
tention however, is being attracted to the
subject among the democratic party in this
State, and we hope vet to live 10 see reform
introduced which viii compel the minority
employed on the public works to earn their
bread a. other men do, by furnishing the
State with service equal to their pay. At
present, beyond loektenders and a portion Of
the collectors who are not duplicated, we
doubt whether one IL ten earns half his wa
ses, and probably five in ten are altogether
suparfuitics--a sor, Of ffch wheels to wagons
Of no use to the State or anybody else.
The Wilkesbarre Farmer, an out and out
locofoco paper, sides with us in this view Of
the case, Gs win be seen BY the following
article from q recent number:
q" Tie Progcas Of Fraud and Uasle ii
Psnagy'ragia.-Bafore the commencement Of
the system of - Internal improvements, - IN
PENNSYLVANIA, tie Government and its agents
We're proTerbiai!y honest and prudent. That
system has, in respect to the Government and
us employers, wholly changed the policy and
character Of the State. New York had taken
the lead in regard to this subject, and all the
vices, consequeutupon such asystcn had been
there Dla.ured Hence, when good old Penn
sylyania with her prudent and frugal Dutch
population, and her immense wealth, the fruits
Of more than one hundred years Of virtuous
labor, was offered to the cupidliy Of the expe-
rieEcod and cunning ladronca, that had been
engandcrcd in the operations ot New York,
they poured in Ike yu!tgrcs and turkey buz-
zaris up0n her, attracted by the odor Of the
prospective spoil. Their success at the com
meucemeut was uRparalleled-tor they pos
sessed, like the Egyptian Priests. a monopoly
Of all the arts and frauds Of matured sys-
tenn Of public plumber. Fortunes were. as By
the magic Of Aladdiu's Lamp, heapcd up and
borne away, u bo enjoyed In the State whence
this system Of plunder had emlnated. But
we had within our own STAT" the pcg5oRej out
Of which TO organize a similar corps-who
soon exhibited Il marvellous aptitude III this
department Of human fra!ity or yice-who
soon oUtrivallci their teachers in the arts and
mysteries Of public piuuicr: and Ponnsyivl-
nia-poor, patient Pcnnsvlvania-has ever
since been the victim Of tu;s corrupt and ru.-
inoUs scoGvge. For a broad and deep system
Of plunder has, for the last thirty years been
organized in the very bowels Of the Common
wealth, embracing often, In It's composition,
the very officers and AGENTS Of the Govern
mcnt-and, be it said with deep humiliation
and profound regret for the interests Of pop
ular government, those often exercising the
highest functions, have been implicated in this
abominabe system Of pUblicp punder Look,
fellow-citizcns, at the mushroom estates that
have sprung up On every side Of you out Of
this hot bed Of corruption. Then look at the
swarm Of tax-gathcrers that daily haunt your
doors-and then look 1T the enormous amount
Of your taxes exhibited in tie lists Of these
Publicans, who, when Won are able, by all
YOUR frugalitv ard unremitted toll u meet
these extrayagant demands, treat you with
insult and insoleuce This comes fcilow-cit-
izens, from a system Of corrupt and prohigate
administration Of Your public affairs. Your
Canal system, which ought to be, and would