Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-01-18

that but $4,000 remained in the hand
of the collectors at the close Of the year
and large portion of that being for salar
les due them, speaks well for their gener
al promptuess and fidelity.
The following named countie, paid int
the Treasury their respective quotas o.
taxes for the current year, prior to the
first of August, and as authorized by the
act of the 29th of April, 1874, they were
severally allowed the abatement to which
the law eutitled them, viz: Adams, lie
gheny, Beaver, Berks, Bradford, Bucks,
Carbon, Chester, Clarion, Columbia, Craw
ford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware,
Erie, Fayetre, Franklin, Greene, Juniata,
Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Luzerne,
Lehigh, Mercer, Mifilin, Montgomery,
Montour, Northampton, Northum berland
Philadelphia, Somerset, Schuylkill, Union,
Washington, Westmoreland aud York
The receipts from taxes on real and per,
sonal property exceeded those of last year
$2l0,7ll 40. The amount of abateme t
paid is correspondingly large. 1t is a
Legislature, whether i, would not be pro-
per to change the law, so as to reduce the
per centage from five to three per cent,
and in all cases allow the abatement di-
rect to the taxi payer. In my judgment
that amount would prove a sufficient in
centive to prompt payment, while it would
save large amount annually to the Trea-
sury.
The increased receipts within the year
from the county Treasurers are doubtless
attributable in part to the law of the 7ih
of May, 1855, requiring OF County Treas
urers monthly reports of daily receipts,
and also monthly depostes of the money
collected. To secure the advantages of
the law, it has been found necessary to
multiply the number of public deposito-
ries for by the provisions Of this act. the
State Treasurer can only enforce monthly
r-y -.-~-rs nVIA ,uo IIcssuIrIs Of suUn
counties within which there is a deposi-
tory for public money!" Many of the
County Treasurers have been prompt and
faithful in complying with the acquisitions
Of this law, while others, after repeated
promptings, have continued to treat it as
dead letter. The eject OF the law,
though as yet only partially obeyed, has
had such salutary influence in securing
the prompt and speedy payments of the
revenues, that l would suggest, that such
penalties should be annexed to its viola.
tion, as to insure general compliance
with irs provisions.
During the greater part Of the year
there has been large balance remaining
IN the Treasury, and such must contiuus
to be she case iu consequence Of the grad
ual receipts of the revenues, and only
semi-anuual disbursement of one-half the
receipts, being the payment of interest on
the Public Debt, payable at stated periods.
This payment of the interest usually re-
ceives the first and largest share Of the
Treasurer's attention, and having made
one payment, he commences accommodating
for the next, thus keeping constantly a
large amount of money idle in the Treas
ury. The Legislature should, if possible,
devise some plan by which this money
could be made to yield some return to the
State. To accomplish this, it has been
suggested, that, as funds accumulate be-
ycnd the current and ordinary wants of
the Treasury, they might be loaned to the
Banks, at such rate of interest as might be
agreed upon. After much reflection upon
the subject, | am clearly of the opinion
that both the safety of the public funds,
aud the interest Of trade aud business, /
would be hazarded by such disposition of
these revenues. Under such an arrange
ment, the weaker and more needy of the /
Banks would most probably secure the /
loans, by Offering higher rate of interest
than the more hrmiy established would be !
willing to pay, and receiving and return
ing 1t IN large sums, would be calculated
to cause sudden and dangerous mutations
aud contractious Of the currency in the
III which such Banks would be
located. A provision of this kind would,
la my Judgment, to say the least, commit
tue keeping OF the money and credit of the
Commonwealth to doubtful hands. An
other method proposed is, that there
should be three repositories selected, and
all moneys coming Into the Treasury
should at once be paid into one or the
other of those repositories; without, how
ever, requiring any remuneration from
them for such deposi,es. L must confess
have been unable to perceive either the |
justice or propriety of such proposition ,
If the Treasury is to receive no advantage
from the deposites, aud they are advanta-
geous TO the Banks, aud to u certain degree
10 the business community in which the
Banks are located, then it would seem but
ust and reasonable that such advantages
should be distributed as equally as possible
among all the Banks of the State. In
accordance with these views, where money
Was collected and deposited in any locality,
have permitted it to remain, until it was
'equired for some purpose of public ex-
,endIture. Where community has been
prompt in the payment of their dues to
he Commonwealth, and that money was
Tot needed Immediately By the State, L
lave considered it mere in accordance with
ustice that ii should remain in its origin
4 depository, for the benefit in some de-
.ree of the community that had placed it
here, than that it should be Immediately