The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-13
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10, 1860

last annual message, | expressed the opinion
that our present banking system was extremely
defective, and that, unless it We're radically
changed, should consider It an imperative du-
ty TO withhold the Executive approval from al
bills creating new banks. Without again Civ
ing in detail the reason which influenced my
action on this question, or repeating the sugges-
tious and recommendations heretofore made tC
the Legislature, 1t is proper TO remark, at thi.
time, that my convictions have been confirmed
by time aud redection-that my OPINIONS re-
main unchanged, and that cannot approve oi
any increase of banking corporations under ex
Isting laws. Ii corporate privileges, for bank
ing purposes, are needed, TO accommodate the
business wants Of any portion OF the State, JUS
tce requires, that such institution should be
compelled to protect the community receiving
IFS circulation, by requiring that ample securi-
ty shall Be gwen tor the prompt redemption o!
its notes, the su1icIency OF which no act Of the
corporation could impair All experience in
this State, and elsewhere, has demonstrated,
that the present system affords little or no pro-
lection 10 note-holders, beyond the personal in
tegrlty of the officers controlling the manage
ment of the several banks. For a full expos-
ton of my views on this question, respectful
ly call the attention Of the General Assembly
to my last aLnual message.
Deeply impressed with the belief that the
present node of receiving, keeping and disbur-
sing the public revenue, Is entirely unsafe, and
Inadequate 10 the complete protection Of the
interests of the Commonwealth involved, [ a.
gain respectfully, though earnestly, invoke Ie-
glSlaige action on this highly important sub
ject. The receipts aud Disbursements of the
Treasury are each, annually, ftom three 10 four
millions OF dollars. At times there is on hand
a balance exceeding one million OF dollars. The
State Treasurer gives security to the Common
wealth in the sum of only eighty thousand dol
lars. He deposits the money OF the State,
when ard where he p!eases, and Is paid out
upon MS own check exclusively. Hi. accounts
are settled by the Auditor General, once a
month, aud this Is, apparently, the only safe
guard provided by law TO prevent the illegal
use of the public funds while under the control
OF the State Treasurer. That the Treasury Of
the Commonwealth has hitherto escaped from
disastrous defalcaton, is owing to the integrity
of the officer, and not to the efficiency OF the
laws and while our main reliance, IN the lu-
ture, must be on the honesty OF the officers TO
whom the department is entrusted, it IS never
theless the plain duty Of the government, by
proper legislative enactment, 10 Drsreat - g
IS r.s,e.;LI- 40, 3-i Improper or lrauduieht
use Of the funds OF the State by talthleSs or
dishonest public agent. l respectfully recon-
mend that provision be made by law that no
money shall be deposited 10 any bank, or else
where by the State Treasurer, without first re-
Quiring security to be gwen to the Common
wealth for the promp, repayment Of the sums
deposited that all checks issued by the State
Treasurer, shall be coun!ersigned by the Audi
tor General before they are used and that
daily accounts Of the moneys received, deposi-
ted and disbursed, shall be kept IN the office OF
the Auditor General as well as in the Treasury
Department and that weekly statements ofthe
balances IN the Treasury, aud the places and
amounts of deposits shall be kept IN a book to
be provided for that purpose in each depart
ment.
I have 50 repeatedly presented my views to
the Legislature, of the evils arising from local
and class legislation, that il is not necessary TO
repeat them. | desire, however, to call the at
tention Of the General Assembly to the fact that
we have, on our statute books, general laws
providing for the incorporation Of railroad
turnpike, bridge, plank road, gas, water, insu-
rance aud other similar companies, and that all
corporate powers, granted by the Legislature,
10 such companies, should be under theSe.gene-
IA! laws, so that there may be uniformity IN ;he
provisions of similar associations, and that The
time OF the General Assembly may not be oc-
cupied 10 passing bills of great length, when a
simple reference to the details of general laws
would answer every purpose.
The practice OF sending to the Executive a
large number of bills Immediately preceding
the final adjournment of the Legislature, is
highly Objectionable, and ought, as far as prac-
tcable, to be discontinued. Its necessary con-
is, ether TO compel the Executive to
approve bills which he has not fully examined
to sign them after the final adjournment, or, if
he disapprove them, to return. them to the next
General Assembly, with his objections, thus
imposing upon succeeding Legislature the f.
nal disposition of bills, with the origin and
passage of which it had no connection. To IL
lustrate the evils resulting from this practice, 1t
is only necessary to inform you, that, OF the
large number of bills presented for my appro-
val, within day or two of the adjournment
df the last Legislature, | am constrained by
sense OF duty, to return, with fmy objections,
twenty-three to the present Legislature, for re-
consideration.
1t is apparent from the exhibit of the fnan-
ciaI condition of the General Government, re-
Gently made public, that the wants of the Fed
era Treasury will demand revision of the ex-
isting tariff laws ofthe United States, with
view to an increase of The revenue derivabIe
from imports. When this revision shall take
place, il is greatly to be desired, that a proper
regard for the industrial interests of the coun-
try will prompt the Congress of the United
States, to place her revenue laws upon such a
basis, as TO afford TO our great mining and man
ufacturing Interests the largest incidental pro-
lection. To substitute specific for ad valorem
duties, on certain class of articles which from