Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-01-18

1he quota OF the State having been
more than filed, and her military force
, organized, | was enabled on the twentieth
of December last, to dispense with a per-
sonal staff, and the temporary arrange.
ment which had been made for its employ.
ment was then closed.
BY the 18th section of the Act of the
18th of May, 1861, was authorized to
draw my warrants on the Treasury for
sum not exceeding $50 900, for compensa-
ton to such persons as might be required
to serve the country in military capaci-
ty, &c.
Of this fund have drawn from the
Treasury $500, out of which | paid the
compensation OF my personal staff, also
ether expenses of the military department
and the actual expenses of per,ons en-
ployed 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 military patrols
on the Maryland line, and five hundred
dollars on secret serv ce. Ny account is
settled in the Office of the Auditor General
up to the first of December On that day
had expended S6,4O0, and except some
inconsiderable payments made since, the
! balance remains in my hands.
The report of the Auditor General will
exhibit the items of the account
An account of military expenditures by
the State on behalf of the United States,
as far as the same had then been ascertain
ed and settled by the accounting depart
ments here, was made up to the lst day
OF September, 1861 and presented on the
18th of that month at the Treasury De-
partment of the United States for settle
ment and allowance. The sum 100000
has been received from the Treasury De-
partment on that account.
The repayment by the General Govern
mcnt of the expenses attending the organ
ization and support of the Reserve Corps
may not be provided for by and existing
act of Congress. AS these expenses were
incurred by the State for the benefit of the
General Government, and have been pro-
ductive of results most important to the
welfare and even safety of the country, it
would be right that an act of Congress
should be passed providing expressly for
their repayment. 1t lies with the Legis-
lature to adopt the proper means for di-
recting the attention Of Congress to this
subject
Assurances have been received from the
Treasury Department that the examination
of the military accounts of the State will
be proceeded 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'arrange-
mont, if the State shall assume the direct
tax for this year, saving of fifteen per
cent. will accrue to her, and no present
increase of her taxation will be necessary.
Whether this credit will be given or not,
recommend that the payment of the di-
rect 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
app'rtiou 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 matter
worthy of thought. but a more important
consideration is, that it will enable you,
'7ho represent all the varied interests of
the Commonwealth, to apportion the tax
in such manner a. to bear equally upon
all. Our revenue laws had imposed en-
real and personal property, at its full pro-
portion, but little more ihan one-third of
the taxes needed for the ordinary expendi-
lures of the government.
BY the act of 18th May lat, 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
interests, interests too, most unfavorably
affected by the war, whilst other kinds of
property and ether sources of revenue,
Judged by our laws able to pay nearly
two-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 estab--
lshment of commission to frame and
report a system more adequate to the exi-
gency of tho times.
earnestly recommend to the Legisla-
ture that provision be made for the mill
tary instruction Of youth. The appoint
ment of a military instructor in the normal
schools, would in short period give
teachers to the common schools who would
be competent to train the boys in attend
ance on them.
II would in my opinion be wise also to provide for
the purchase or leasing by the Common wealth of
building for military school aud for employing eomps-
instructors al the expense Of the State requiring
the pupils TO detiay the other expenses No pupil should
be admitted to this school without having passed
thorough examination mathematics aud all fitting
subjects uf instruction except the military art proper
respectfully this subject on your yearly eonside-
ralion as one of material perhaps vital importance.
have taken measures 10 direct the efficient attention
OF the General Government to the forthcaton Of the
water approache6 on the seaboard aud the lakes aud
arrangements in the course of being effected which
it is hoped viii be satisfactory IN their result
| send with this message copy of a municstiOn
from General Totten Chief Ot the Military Engineer
Department at Washington have also represented
TO the Secretary Of the Navy the necessity Tor floating
deenscs the Delaware and have his that
they shalt be prepared nj the.earliesl moment.
IhaVe had GORE spohdcnpe win the authorities and
snmn elznns of Eric The smheel o the delensr