Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-13


the Commonwealth during the period OF sthe Revo-
lutivn 1t is gratifying that, Notwithstanding the
waste to which it has been subject in past years,
owing to the want OF proper attentIon,-under the
careful supervision of the present Librarian, u mas
since he has had the charge Of it, nearly doubled
its nun Ter of volumes, and now contains IN al zz
600 volumesthe largest State Library IN the mon
with the single exception Of that OF the State OF
New York. The collection OF law books, ana es-
pecially law reports is considered by those eompe
tent to Judge, among the best in the country Inc
Library. from its intrinsic valee and importance.
and its historic relations, deserves, aud trust IL
will receive, the continued hberaty OF the Legs
loture.
In my inaugural address, as well as in my last
annual message, expressed the opinion that oar
present banking system was extremely deiectYe,
and that, unless it Were radically changed, shouia
consider il an imperative duty to withhold tue B1-
ecutire approval from all bills creating new banks
ithout again giving in detail the reasons which
influenced my action thisquestion or repeating he
suggestions and recommendations heretofore maae
to the Legislature il is proper to remark, at thlS
time that my convictions have been confirmed. by
| time aud reflection-that my opinions remain un-
changed and that cannot approve of any increase
of banking corporations under existing laws. IL
corporate privileges, for banking purposes, are
needed, to accommodate the business wants OF any
portion of the State, justice requires, that such
institution should be compelled to protect the COM
munity receiving its circulation by requiring that
ample security shall be given for the prompt re-
ac: of the corporation could impair.
| All experience in this State, and elsewhere,
| has demonstrated, that the present system af-
fords little or no protection to note holders,
beyond The personal integrity of the officers
controlling the management of the several
| banks. For a full exposition of my views on
this question, | respectfully call the attention
of the General Assembly to my last annual
message.
The reports of the Auditor General, the
State Treasurer, the Surveyor General, the
Adjutant General, and the Attorney General,
will be lad before you, and will show, in de-
tail, the operations of their respective depart.
ments for the past year.
| Deeply impressed with the belief that the
present mode o. receiving, keeping and dis
bursting the public revenue IS entirely unsafe
aud inadequate to the complete protection of
| the interests of the Commonwealth involved, |
agaib respectfully, though earnestly, invoke
! legislative action on his highly important sub
ject. The receipts and disbursements of the
Treasury are each, annually, from three to four
millions of dollars. At times there is on hand
balance exceeding oae millien OF dollars
The State Treasurer gives security to the Com
lnonwealth in the sum of only eighty thousand
dollars. He deposits the money of the State
when and where he pleases, and il is paid out
upon bis own check exclusively. His accounts
are settled by the Auditor General, once a
month, and this is apparently, the only safe
guard provided by law to prevent the illegal
use of the pubic fuuds while under the con-
| troll of the State Treasurer. That the Treas
ury of the Commonwealth has hitherto escaped
! from disastrous defalcation, is owing to the in
tegrity of the officer, and not to the efficiency
of the laws; and while cur main reliance, in
I nevertheless, the PLAIN duty OF fhe government
by proper legislative enactmcnts, to prevent.
az far as possible, the illegal, improper or
fraudulent use OF the funds of the State by a
i faithless or dishonest pubic agent. i respects
fully recommend, that provision be made by
law that No lnoney shall be deposited in any
bank, or elsewhere, by the St4tes Treasurer,
without irst requiring security 20 be given to
the Commonwealth for the prompt Repayment
Of the sums deposited; that all checks, Issued
by the State Treasurer, shall BE- countersigned
: by the Auditor General before they are used;
aud that daily accounts of the moneys receiv-
ed, deposited and disbursed, shall be kent in
the office of the Auditor General as we'll an in
the Treasury Department; and that weekly
statements of the balances in the Treasury.
aud the places aud amounts of deposits shall
be kept in book to be provided for that pur-
pose in each department.
i The Commissioners appointed IN pursuance
| of the resolutions of the 10Th of April. 1858.
10 revise he Penal Code Of this Common yealth
have presented to me their inal report, which
is herewith trausmitted to the General Assem-
RI bly,. It's Importance to our whole community.
and the great labor devoted to It's preparation,
commend ii to your early and earnest atten-
ton. The manner 10 which the duties of the
commission have been performed cannot fail,
in my opinion, to receive your appreciation.
i commend TO your fostering care the State
Lunalc Asylum, at Harrisburg, the Western
Pennsylvania Hospita! for the insane, at Pitts
burg, tie asylum for the Blind, at Phladel-
pbia, the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. at
Phiadelpbil, she Pennsy yIvania Training ScLool
for idiotic aud feobie minded children, at Me-
diu, The House of Refuge, at Philadelphia,
aud the Western House of Refuge, at Pitts
burg. These excellent, charitable and refor-
matory State institutions have dene, and are
doing, almost incalculable good, in the relief
Of suffering humanity, and in the reclaina ton
and reform OF the erring young. They have
strong claims upon the continued bounty of
i the Commonwealth. The annual repor; of
these noble charities will be laid before you,
and will exhibit, 10 detail, their operations du-
ring the past year.
refrain from recommending, as propor OBJ
j4cts for the bcuoty of the State, number of
benevolent aud charitable associations, equal
ly humane and benefcent in their operations,
because they are entirely local in their charac-
ter, and however merctorous their claims may
be, and nnq1estionably are, upon the respect
i've communities for whose particular ase they
are founded aud conducted, in my opinion,
they have no claims upon ;ae Treasury of the
State, which can be recognized With just re-
! u tie I'M, az 81