Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-01-11

exists tor legislative action, either 90 the sub
jest Of creating new. or rechartering old banks
aud that the time and attention Of their Rep
reseutatiyes will now, happily, be 10 longer
monopolized in the consideration of q subject
hitherto productive of so much strife aud con-
tention, If not of positive evil.
The rapid increase of private bankS, thro'-
out the State, makes it eminently right that
they should be placed under proper legislative
restrictions, and that the large amount of cap
ital, thus employed, should be made 10 con-
tribute It's fair proportion to the revenues Of
the Common wealth. Their business, in the
aggregate, is now believed to amount to sum
almost, if not quite equal TO the whole basi-
ness Of the regularly chartered banka; aud
yet il is entirely unrestricted, and, With the
exception Of merely nominal license tax, is
free from taxation. This is unjust to every
other class of our tax paying citizens, and es-
pecialy 50 to the banking institutions holding
charters from the Commonwealth, for which
they have each paid liberal bonus, and are,
in addition, subject to a very large tax on their
dividends. | respectfully commend this sub
ject TO the attention OF the Legislature.
/ A high sense Of duty impels ma again 10
call the attention Of the Legislature to the IN
adequacy of existing laws, regulating the re-
oeivlng, keeping and disbursement OF the rev.
euues Of the State. The public moneys are
uow paid directly to the State Treasurer, who
deposits them, at bis own discretion, whenever
| and wherever be chooses, and pays thom out 10
sums, either small or great, upon his unat"
tested check exclusively. Tue amount thus
received, kept and disbursed is annually be-
tween three and four millions of dollars, with
balances on hand, at times, exceeding one mil
lion of dollars; while the bord of the State
Treasurer Is for only eighty thousand dollars.
His accounts are settled monthly BY the Aud
itor General, by whom the receipts fer money
paid into the Treasury are countersigued, and
these are the only safeguards provided by Law
20 prevent the illegal aud improper use Of the
money of the State by the State Treasurer.
Happily the revenues of the Commongealt
have hitherto been safely kept, properly dis
bursed, and promptly accounted for, by those
in charge Of the public treasury; bat ia view
Of the serious defaloalions which have occGr-
red elsewhere, aud iE other States, this fact
should furnish no reason why We ought not to
guard against loss in tine future. Referring to
my former annual messages, respectfully, tut
most earnestly. recommend that provision be
mads by law:
Eirst-That no money shall be deposited by
tue State Treasurer ia auy bauk, or elsewhere,
without first requiring ample security TO DO
given 10 the Commonwealth for the prompt re-
payment of such sum as may be deposited;
and that such securities shall be deposited IN
the Office of the Auditor General.
Second-That ell checks issued by the State
Treasurer, shall be countersigued by the Aud
tor General, befsro they are used, aud that
daily accounts shall be kept of iae moneys re-
ceived, deposited and disbursed, 10 the Audi
tor Generals cfice, as veil as in the Treasury
Department.
Third-TSat condensed monthly statements,
verified by the signatures of the Auditor Gen
sral and State Treasurer, shall be published 10
one newspaper in Philsdelphla and one iu Har-
risburg, showing the balances in the Treasury
and where deposited, with the particular amount
of each deposit; and
Fourth-That the bond of the State Treas
urer be increased to the sum of two hundred
aud fifty thousand dollars.
Our various charitable and rsformatory in-
stitutious-lbe State Lunatic Hospital, at
Harrisburg, the Western Pennsylvania Hos
piial for the insane, at Pittsburg, the zsylums
for the blind, aud deaf, and dumb, ct Phila-
and Pittsburg, and the Pennsylvania Training
School for idiotic and feeble minded children,
at Media, will present their usual aunual
claims upoA the bounty of the State. These
excellent charities are continually dispensing
benefits and blessings upon suffering and err
ring humanity, which can scarcely be overra-
ted. They are heartily commended to the dis
eliminating iberality of the Legislature. l
refrain, as have herstofore done, FROM recom-
mendiug, as proper objects for appropriations
from the State Treasury, other charitable and
benevolent institutions, not because they are
undeserving the confidence aud patronage of
the public, but because they are local in their
character, and in my judgment have no claims
upon tho common fund which can be admitted,
in justice to the rights and interests Of other
PORTIONS Of the Commonwealth.
The inspectors Of the State Peuitentiary, for
the Eastern district Of Peunsylvans, in their
annual reports for the years 1855 and 1859,
called the attention of the Legislature to the
insecurity of suoh parts of the peni.ensiary
building as we're exposed TO their own 6rss and
those OF the neighborhood, aud recommended
that roofs OF such of the corridors as were
covered with shingles, and needed renewal,
should be replaced With slate or metal. On
ylsitiGg the institution, my attention was cal
led to the subject BY the inspectors. The ne
cessity for the change was 80 apparent and ur-
gent. that advised them not to hesitate in
having the old, dilapidated and dangerous
wooden roofs Of such portions of the building
as required renewal, replaced With some SUBJ
stantial FIRE proof material. This has accord
ngly been done, and respectfully recommend
that q quail appropriation he granted 20 defray
the expense incurred.
! commend 20 your consideration The report
OF the State LibrArian, whose attention To Tho
interests Of the Library under his care, do