Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-01-10

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either the State or Company relating 30 the is
suing. delivery, and cancellation of bonds, have
| been fulfilled by the respective parties and the
| State now holds all the .nds of the company
as specified in said act, excepting one million of
the bonds authorized by the second section
which were delivered to the Philadelphia and
! Erie Railroad company on the 9th of May last
under a warrant of the Governor as authorized
| by the sixth section of the act aforesaid.
My experience in this Department for the last
| year has satisfied me Of the necessity of a
thorough alteration and revision of ourrevenue
laws The burtben of taxation under our
present system is certainly unequal and unjust
Whether this arises from the inefficiency of our
laws entirely, or laxity on the part of asses
6ors. collectors, and other officers in enforcing
their provisions, am unable to say. When
the fact is stated (Which was alluded to by my
predecessor in his last report that the valuation
of property of all kinds in our State, including
money at interest, tax on offices &c is one
third less than that of Ohio, and two thirds
less than New York, it must be evident
to every one, that property in our State
is either assessed at d mere fraction If its
value or else that very large proportion
of property escapes taxation altogether. 1t has
been the boast of Pennsylvania for years that
our rich agricultural domain and our immense
mineral wealth and resources, constitute US one
of the richest States in the Union, and vet ac
cordIng to the valuation or our property for
taxable purposes, we are comparatively one of
the poorest, From facts which have come un-
der my own observation, | am satisfied that
large number of our wealthy citizens escape
taxation almost entirely by reason of having
their wealth mainly, if not exclusively in bonds
and mortgages, ground rents, and other Sc
curities which they fail to return for taxation,
and which cannot be discovered by our assessors
under the present system thus throwing an un-
just and unequal amount of taxation upon real
estate and other tangible property, and upon
those citizens who are faithful and Just in the
returns they make of their means and wealth.
This state of things should not exist every
citizen of this Commonwealth is protected alike
in his person and his property by our Govern
ment and its laws and should pay fair proper
tionate share of the expenses of the Govern
ment from which he receives such protection.
BY Joint resolution of the last Legislature the
Governor was authorized to appoint board of
commissioners Ito revise, collate and dijest all
acts and statutes relating to or touching the
revenue laws" that commission was ap-
pointed, and it is to be hoped they will be ready
to report some basis of action during the present
session.
l beg leave respectfully to refer to a matter
affecting the honor and credit of our State, and
to which reference was made by my predecessor
III his last report; l refer 10 the law taxing her
own loans at the time our citizens responded
to the call of the State and gave her the use of
their money, it was with the express agreement
and understanding that they were to receive
interest for the same at the rate of five per cent
per annum. Surely this obligation On the part
of the State should have remained sacred and
nviolable, and l cannot but think that she suf-
fered in her character and reputation, when,
without consent of the parties whose money she
thus obtained she repudiated her obligation by
reducing that low rate of interest still lower by
taxation. ! cannot but express the hope that
the State will do that, justice to her cred tors
which they have right to expect by repeating
the law which is thus affecting her own honor
and credit.
The subject of guaranteed interest on loans
to the Danville and Pottsville Railroad Compa
ny is one which should also receive the atten-
tion of the Legislature. A balance of interest
is yet due to the holders of that loan, and the
faith and honor of the State having been pledged
for it, she should in this, as well as ia all other
matters, set her citizens an example of unim-
peachable good faith, by making an appropria-
tion to pay the balance of that interest.
My predecessor has truly said, at would
greatly simplify the accounts in this department
ifthe amount of State taxes assessed was charged
directly to the county, and he might have added
it would also save large amount to the State,
for in some counties the taxes have been accu
mulating for years, until in the aggregate over
a half a million remains unpaid. These taxes
are handed down from year to year to new
Treasurers as they are appointed, and some
counties are now behind more than whole
years assessment. 1t is to be hoped that this
subject will also receive the attention of the
Board of Commissioners appointed on the reve-
nue. laws.
herewith submit tables giving in detail the
operations of this department for the last fiscal
year, together with estimates of the receipts
and expenditures for the present year; all of
which are respectfully submitted.
HENRY D. MOORE,
StGts Treasurer.
January 7tt, 1852