Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-01-13
1e,io4,s32 eS
Nett indebtedness

1s,,o1,s32 ..
! Nett Indebtedness s-6,lI4,l2s s.
The amount due from Individuals and Cor
porations, is only an approximation, and csr
mol be counted as its face. A small portion
o, II will be needed, with the balance now IN
the Treasury, 10 pay the interest on public
debt, due lsi February next, and for ordinary
expenses Of the government.
! The fact thai so large an amount is due TIE
Commonwealth, some oG ii entirely worthless,
some Of il in litigation, depending for It's val
ue on future decisions of ,ne Courts, makes
il apparent that the law, al some time, II not
now, has been at fault. Either proper Sc
curiiy has not been required, or sufficient
power has not been conferred on the account
ing departments 10 enforce prompt payment.
Such additional legislation as may be Tequir-
ed to remedy The defects that experience has
pointed out, will mere properly be indicated
by the Law officer of the Commonwealth.
The several laws Of the Commonwealth re-
curing the various county officers 10 make
quarterly reports, and, if required. monthly
payments, 10 this Department, have been
greatly neglected. Every such officer has
been requested TO comply strictly with the
laws; but few comparatively have responded.
A failure on the par, of such officers to per-
form their duties, as required by law, after
notice, and reasonable time given, should be
deemed sufficient cause for prompt removal
from office. There can be no hardship in re-
quiring public officer 10 pay promptly all
moneys received by him, from others. Such
law would greatly lessen, if not entirely
prevent, declarations.
would suggest that power be given to the
accounting officers, with the approval OF the
Attorney General, to dispose of all old ac-
counts, when clearly ascertained 10 be worth
less. very large number Of these accounts,
are reported wear after year in the list OF de-
iaullers, unnecessarily injurng the reputation
o. our people by publishing the accumulation
OF all defalcai,uns for the last half century.
In this way, the present is unjus,!y made TO
bear The sins of the past. In addition to all
this the saiuiary effect which the Legislature
expected 10 arise from the publication of a
list of delaulters, is almost If not entirely
coun;erac,ed. The Just stigma which was in.
tended to attach TO recent cases of default by
publication, is new nearly obyiated by the al
most in,ermInahe list which annually lum-
btrS orr public documents. And whilst such
a vas; number ol accounts are open on the
books of the Departments, there is danger
that amidst so much rubbiSh-useless, and
cOnlusing-o,her accounts, more valuable,
may be overlooked, until they too are worth
less.
Or III. cd dag of Jcne, 1859, the Governor
Of the Commonwealth issued a reqlistion d.
recting me to deliver TO the President Of the
Sunbnry & Erie Rail Road Company, One
Million of Dollars of the Bonds Of said Com
pany, then in the State Treasury, viz; $3.50.
900 of the Bonds of the Delaware Division
Canal Company oc Pennsylvania and 81 so ,00(
OF the Bonds of the West Branch and Susque'
hanna Division Canal Company.
/ Also, on The 27th day Of August, 1859, the
Governor issued second reqnisition, direct
ing me 10 deliver 10 the President of said
Company One Million Of Dollars of the bond:
of said company, VIZ: $i50,0OO of the Bonds
! of the Delaware Division Canal Company O
PENNSYLVANIA; S350,0Oo OF the Bonds of the
West Branch & Susquehanna Canal Compa
nv; $4,000 OF the Bonds of the Wyoming
Canal Company; aud 100000 of the Bond:
Of the North Branch Canal Company.
Also, on the 7Ih day of November, 1859
the Governor issued reQuisition, directing
me to deliver to The President of said Com
pany, One Million OF Dollars of The reserved
Bonds of said Company, endorsed as provid
April, 1858.
Said requisiiions are all recorded IN thi!
Department and the originals on file. Thert
are now in the Department, Two Million:
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Of said re
served Bonds, subject 10 future requisitions
according to the terms and conditions of saiC
act. of 2lst day Of April. 1858.
II must be matter Of great satisfaction Il
the citizens of the Commonwealth, 10 know
that the burden of taxation, so freely and 81
patiently borne BY them for SO long period
is now rapidly diminishing the public debt
BY faithful adherence to the main features
of our present revenue laws, and an econom
ical administration Of tie government, the in
debtedness of the Stale mus; continae 10 de
crease, and, in less than half the period O
time from lis inceptica, in 1921, 10 lis culmi
nation, in 1854, ii will be entirely wiped out.
Annexed are tables which exhibit the de
tailed operations Of the Treasury for the las
6scal year; also estimates OF receipts and ex
pendiiures for The next; which, with the fore
goirg statements and suggestions. are respect
fully submitted TO your consideration.
ELI SLIFER, State Treasurer.
January Q. 1860.