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

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To facilitate the making os allotments of
their pay. by our volunteers in the field for the
support of their families at home, | appointed
Hon Edgar Cowan, Thomas Z, Franklin aud K
q. Humes, Esqs., commissioners to visit the
camps OF our men on and south OF the Potomac
and also James Park md NJ W Beltshouver,
ESqs., commissioners TO visit those III Kentucky
and elsewhere in the western country to call
the attention of the troops to the system of al
iotment and 10 encourage them ia adopting a
practical plan for carrying it into effect
The several reports OF these commissioners are
highly satisfactory
For details on the several subjects connected
with the military operations of this State, re-
fer to the reports of the Adjutant General. Sur
geon General, Quarter Master General. Commits
sary General and Paymaster General which ac-
company this Message.
The duties imposed on me were SO onerous
that found II necessary to invite the temporary
assistance OF gentlemen on nay staff to aid me
To perform them.
IN this capacity, Coils. Thomas a. Scott Gid.
con j. Ball and John 4. Wright contributed
their valuable services from the middle of
April until they were called away by other du-
ties. Col. Scott remaining until he became con
hected with the War Department, Col Bail
until the lat Of June and Col. Wright until the
2Sd OF July; for the time thus devoted to the
ceiye any compensation.
Coils Joseph d. Potts A. L. Russell. J Brown
Parker and Craig Biddle were i'll service up to
the 10th of December. The Department of
Telegraph and Transportation was under the
exclusive control of Col. Potts The system
and economy of its management show how
faithfully aud we'll he fulfilled his office
1t is but just to all these gentlemen that |
should bear testimony to the untiring Zeal
and x da1 fla lob ? TEas.
formed
The quota OF the State having been more than
filled, aud her military force organized, was
enabled on the twentieth of December last
to dlsp nse with a personal staff, and the
temporary arrangement which had been made
for its employment was then clio, ed.
BY the 18th section of the Act of the 18th of
May, 1861, | was authorised 10 draw my war
rauts on the Treasury for a sum not exceeding
| $50 600 for compensation to such persons as
might be required to serve the country in a
| military capacity, Sc OF this fund | have
drawn from the Treasury So, 500 out of which
paid the compensation OF my personal staff
also other expenses of the military department.
and the actual expenses of persons employed
| on temporary service, none of whom received
| any further compensation, and expenses of the
commissions appointed to investigate alleged
| frauds, &c, and the expenses of establishing
| hundred dollars on secret service My account
is settled in the office of the Auditor General
| up to the lst of December. On that day l
had expended Sc 400, and except some incon-
| siderable payments made since, the balance
| remains IN my hands.
| The report of the Auditor General will exhi-
| bit the items of the account.
An account of military expenditures by the
| State on behalf of the United States, as far as
h.,4 hs,ny i
| by the accounting departments here. was made
up to the lst day of September, 1861, and pre-
sented on the 18th of that month at the Trea-
sury Department of the United States for settle
ment and allowance The sum of 5000 900, has
| been received from the Treasury Department on
| that account. The repayment by the General
Government of the expenses attending the organ
| lzation and support of the Reserve Corps may
| not be provided for by any existing act of Con
| greSs. AS these expenses were incurred by the
State for the benefit of the General Government,
and have been productive of results most i'm
pOTtant TO the welfare and even safety of the
country, 1t would be right that an act of Con-
gress should be passed providing expressly for
| their repayment. 1t lies with the Legislature
TO adopt the proper means for directing the
| attention of Congress to this subject.
| Assurances have been received from the
| Treasury Department that the examination of
| ceeded in without delay, SO that the State may
receive credit for the balance due, in time to
apply the same towards the payment of her
quota of the direct tax. Assuming the completion
OF this arrangement, if the State shall assume
the direct tax for this year, saving of fifteen
per cent will accrue to her, and no present in
crease of her taxation will be necessary.
Whether this credit be given or not, | re-
commend that the payment of the direct tax
| be assumed by the State
In case the State assumes the payment of this
tax there should be such revision of the
tax laws as will hereafter equitably apportion
| the burden among the various interests now
subject or that can properly be made subject to
taxation The saving of fifteen per cent. to the
people of the State by the assumption is g mat
ter worthy of thought, but a more important
consideration is that it will enable you who re-
present all the varied interests of the Common
wealth to apportion the tax in such manner as
to bear equally upon all Our revenue laws
had imposed on real and personal property As
its full proportion but little more than one
third of the taxes needed for the ordinary ex-
penditures of the government BY the act of 10th
May last, the tax on this species of property
has already been increased one-sixth. Should
the State refuse to assume the United States tax
the whole burden of it will fall upon these in
terests interests too, most unfavorably affected
other sources of revenue, judged by our laws
able to pay nearly wo-thirds of the present
revenues of the State, would not be called on
to contribute one dollar of additional tax.
The militia system of the Commonwealth is
very imperfect / recommend the establish
ment of a commission to frame and report
system more adequate to the oxigenCy of the
times
earnestly recommend to the legislature that
provision be made for the military instruction
of youth The appointment of military in
structor in the normal schools, would III a short
period give teachers to the common schools
who would be competent to train the boys in
attendance on them. 1t would in my opinion
be wise also to provide for the purchase or
leasing by the Commonwealth Of a building for
military school, and for employing competent
instructors at the expense of the State requiring
the pupils to defray the other expenses. No
nuuiI should be admitted to this school without