Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-01-10
~. mil Ar PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.

Treasury aud now, that they see that the
onerous debt with which they have been so
! long burdened, is each year certainly and ra-
PLY GiSapPearing-tha the amount required
to meet the interest is annually being dmu-
! ished-that consequently still greater sum
can each year be devoted to the reduction of
! the principal of the debt, without resorting to
additional sources of reYenue-and that, with
proper outstanding of the resources Of the
| State, the day is not far distant when direct
/ taxation in Pennsylvania will cease altogether
! the payment of such taxes as may for the
time be required to meet the public necessities,
will continue to be met with cheerfulneSS aud
alacrty. But they will unqueStionably hold
those to whose care they have entrusted the
financial interests of the State 10 a rigid ac
cOuntabity. That there should, at this par
ticuar juncture, when the business and none
tary affairs of the country are so greatly de-
| pressed, be the Strictest economy in public ex-
| penditures, is so manifest, that it can scarcely
be necessary to call attention to so plain q du-
! ty. 1t Is equally clear that any legislation
which would tend greatly to lessen the rev en-
ues of the Commonwealth, would, at this time,
! be peculiarly unwise and ineYpedient. The
eXigencies of the future 10 man can foretell-
! the prospect before US is beclouded with doubt
and uucertainty-it is therefore, no more than
the part of wisdom to guard, with unceasing
| vigilance, all our present sources Of revenue,
and to thus be prepared for every possible con-
/ tiugeacy.
Since July, 1858, the Pennsylvania railroad
! company has refused to pay the tax ou ton
mage required to be paid by the act incorpor
/ atiug the company, and its various supple
] ~. L.,
/ that account, exclusive of interest, the sum Of
SG74, ,296 % Including the interest, the
SUN now due is about $500 900 Before my
last annual message was communicated to the
! Legislature, a case had been tried in the court
Of common plea, Cf Dauphiu county between
! the Commonwealth and the railroad company,
| involving the question of the constitutionality
/ Of this tax, which was decided in favor Of tie
| State. and the imposition Of the tax prououn-
| ced constitutional. In January last, another
/ suit was tried between the same parties in the
same court involving the same question, with
like result In December last, Il Judgment
was obtained in the district court of Philadel-
phia, upon one of the semi-anHual settlements,
! for SlIc, 600 So that judgment has been
obtained for $365 600 of the debt, being the
whole amount which became due prior to
1860. The tax which accrued during the past
year, amounts to S308 S29 03 The first set
tement for the year is before the Dauphin
County court, on an appeal taken by the con-
pany aud the second, or last, settlement was
made but few days since, by the accountant
department of the Commonwealth.
After the recovery, in the common pleas Of
Dauphn county, the cases were removed by
wriJs of error, taken on behalf of the defend
; ants, TO the Supreme Court Of this State,
where they were argued in June last, and ia
October that trbana sustained the decision of
the court Of com non pleas, and held the tax
to be clearly constitutional thus uniting with
the law making power in affirming the right OF
the State to tax a corporation under law 20
which it owes its existence. Bat, uotwIth-
standing this concurrence Of opinion and ac-
ton on behalf Of the constituted authorities
| Of Pennsylvania, the litigation is not yet at
an tul for the railroad company has recent
/ iv removed the cases, by writS of error. to the
/ Supreme Court of the United States where
they are now pending. That the decision OF
that court will, when made, fully sustain the
right of q sovereign State to enforce a con-
tract between the State and a corporation, and
entirely vindicate the power of a State TO iGn-
pose such taxes upon corporations, in her
sovereign will she may deem proper, [ cannot
for moment doubt.
To complete the history of this important
litigation, and to show that every effort has
been thus far, made TO compel the payment
of this large sum Of money into the Treasury
| Of the State, it is proper to add that the law
officer of the Commonwealth being of opinion
| that the writs of error were not issued from
! the Supreme court of the United States in
! time to prevent the collection Of the udg-
ments rendered in the State courts, executions
were issued to the Sheriff of the County Of
! Dauphin, and proceedings are now pending in
/ the Supreme Court of this State, to determine
| whether the Commonwealth can compel the
payment of the judgments already recovered,
before the final decision 10y the Supreme Court
of the United States.
The Sunbnry and Erie railroad company
| having failed to negotiate its mortgage bonds
! in their present condition. the expectations
confidently entertained of an early completion
of that most important Improvement, have not
been realized. The work during the past year,
| however, although greatly retarded has been
continually progressing upwards Of one mil
| lion of dollars having been expended ou the
! liue from November, 1859, to November, 1860.
| The whole length OF the road. from the boro'
of Sunbury to the harbor on the lake, at the
city of Erie is 2SS miles of which las miles
are now finished and in operation, and ll5
miles of the remaining portion of the line are
graded leaving but twenty-five miles yet to
grade Pennsylvania IS largely interested in
the early completion and success of this great
thoroughfare, not only because she is the cred
itor of the company to the amount OF three
and half millions CT dollars, bnt for the ad-
ditional, and more cogeut reason, that the I'M.
! r,rnunnnnnt Milan nnnr,lntnd will nnnn one of