Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-09

| or controithe evils of ntemperance. is q prop
sition too plain to be doubted-that they need
| ed revision must also be conceded In our large
/ cities and towns, the evils of the system were
more severely felt. The facility ard cheapness
| with which licences were obtained operated as
| a premium o vice and immortality and multi
/ piled tipping houses and places where intem-
| perance. under the authority Of laws, was not
| only permitted, but encouraged. Ny imme5i-
ate predecessor, in his last annual message to
the Legislature. Interference to the thenlic
| law, says: $50 far relates to the city of
fhilaeeip phla, they are peculiarly prejudicial
| TO public morals, aud seem to have been con
| structed to promote the convenience of drink
/ ing lar more than to restrain its evil couse-
quences." In this opinion ! fully concur
/ That a remedy was demanded, all will concede
-Whethc the law of the last session was the
proper remedy, it is not my province now TO
/ determine. Enacted by the representatives OF
the people, gave that act my official approval.
| Recognizing the people the source of all
| political power, and their representatives, as
| the Immediate exponants of their will, upon
! you will deyolve the responsibility of further
| legislation, if any, on this subject. In all its
relations, economical, political, social and
| moral, the question is important, and its prop
er determination involves fearful rcsponSibili-
| ties. 1t deserves. and should receive, your
| serious consideration. If action is had, we
may not hope that it win be such as will pro-
!
| of our people and Commonwealth.
Legislation, so far practiSTbie, should be
| general and uniform. Local and special leg
| islation should not be encouraged when the
| desired object can be obtained by general laws.
| Such legislation is not only local and special
in its character, but frequently temporary-the
| act of one session being repealed bY the act
of the next, and perhaps replaced by one still
more objectionable, which, in turn, soon shares
the fate of its predecessor. 1t crowds the statue
! book with useless and unnecessary laws --vio-
| latcS private rights-createS confusion and un-
ccrtainty-destroys uniformity of practice and
| decision-prolongs the session of the Legis-
lature. and increases the public expenses. Our
| general laws regulating roads highways and
! bridges and providing for the support and en-
pioyment OF the poor, constitute well digested
system, for the accomplishment of those OBJ
jects; and yet, under the system Of local leg
| islatlon heretofore practised, we frequently
| find in different townships OF the same county,
local laws regulating these subjects. not only
differing material from the general law, but
from one another. Reform in this regard is
requireds and to this L respectfully ask your
attention.
s.Omni5us legislation having been con-
demned and abandoned, should not be permit
ted again to sully the records Of Legislative ac
tion 1t cannot receive my approval.
Numerous applications will doubtless be
| made for the incorporation of insurance, gas,
water and boom companies. To facilitate ac-
tion on these queStionS-economiSe time-re-
ducc the expenses of egislation-secure uni
| foTmity and cOntine the companies thereafter
incorporated to the legitimate purposes of
their creation. | would recommend the propri-
city Of cnacting general LAWS regulating such
| corporations. Already, laws of this character
for coal, iron, canal, railroad, turnpike, plank,
and bridge companies have been passed and in
| practice have been found highly useful and C.
conomical. Such laws, well regulated and
| carefully guarded. would be productive OF SINH
| lar results on their application 10 insurance
and other companies named.
The propriety of limiting and restraining cor
porate boaes to the objects and purposes of their
| creation, will not be denied controyerted. In
relation to the powers and privileges of insurance
companies. this plain principle has been overlook
| ed and dsregarded. by successive acts of legis-
| lation many of these institutions have acquired
discounting privileges, and nearly ali the powers
| Of banks without their guards restrictions and
| Liabilities This has been effected by the magic of
| some general provision in the act Incorporating
| the company or by reference TO some forgotten
supplemen ent concealed in the folds of omnibus
bill, or lost in the mazes of the pamphlet laws
General laws whilst they would confer such
| companies all the powers necessary to accomplish
| the objects of their Incorporation. would at the
| same time prevent extension of privileges for
/ egn to such associations. This subject is commen
| ded to your consideration.
The jurisdiction of the courts in relation to real
estate trusts, the incorporation of literary, ohari
| table and religious societies, manufacturing and
other associations, has been greatly extended by
recent legislation. This enlarged jurisdiction was
conferred for the purpose of relieving the Lecis
| Iature from the pressure of numerous applications
for special cgisation in the premises The courts
are, therefore, the proper tribunals TO determine
such questions and in all cases where the subject
matter is within their jurisdiction the Legislature
should refuse to entertain the application
Divorces, unless in cases of extreme necessity
and clearly beyond the jurisdiction of the courts,
| should not be granted by the Legislature.
| BY the act of the 10Th of April 1915, entitled
San Act to increase the revenues and diminish the
legislative expenses of the Commonwealth, it was
provided that thereafter private BILL therein
described and taxed, should be enrolled in the of
fee of tie Secretary of the Commonwealth; or
| published, or have the force and effect OF law,
until the party asking or requiring the same
should pay into the treasury of the Commonwealth
/ the respective named in said act. large
number of acts passed by former legislatures. and
subject to this tax remain in the office of the Sec
| rotary of the Commonwealth, the tax on them not
| having been paid The number has been annual
ly increasing and will continue to increase unless
| a summary remedy be afforded for the collection
of the enrolment tax. or in default of its payment
| after q certain period the acts themselves be re-
| pealed. Tho amount of enrolment tax now due
| the Commonwealth is large, and should have been
paid long since l would therefore recommend
the passage of a law repeating all acts heretofore
passed. subject to such tax, unless the tax be paid
within year thereafter and further, to provide
that all such acts hereafter passed shall not have
tho force and effect of law. unless the taxes re-
1
after their approval Such n law would secure
the payment of these taxes increase the revenues,
| and at the same time check the demand for pri-
vate acts designed to be used abandoned. as the
calculation of chances. the loss gain of the
| parties in interest ght determine.
| By resolution of the Legislature, passed the
| 9th day of March, 1885, requiring the - New
| York and Eriesrailroad company to communicate
to the Legislature of this commonwealth, state
ment, certified under oath by their president set
ting forth what quantity of land said company
now holds in nsylvania-its locaton-how mnch
they have heretofore disposed of-its valne-the