The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1862-01-16
have refused to receive any compensa.

have refused to receive any compensa.
tion.
Coils Joseph D. Potts. a. L. Russell.
j. Brown Parker, and Craig Biddle, we're
in service up to the 10th of Dscember.-
The Department of Telegraph and Trans
portation was under the exclusive con
troll OF Col. Potts. The system and econ
ony OF its management show bow faith
fully aud we'll be fulfilled his ofice.
It is bat jus, to all these gentlemen that
should bear tcsti nony to the untiring
zeal and fidelity with which their duties
were performed.
The quota of the State having been
m ore than filed, and her military force
organized, was enabled on the goth OF
December last to dispense With person.
al staff. and the temporary arraDgeme mt
which had been made for its employment
was then closed.
BY the 9th section OF the act of the
18th of May, 1861, vas authorized to
draw my warrants on the Treasury Tor
sun not exceeding $40, 900 for compen-
sstion to such persons as might be re-
ouired to seIye.the country iu military
capacity, &c. Or this fund | have drawn
from the Treasury $500, out of which
l 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 VI hom received any further CON
pen-ation, and expenses Of the commits
sions appointed to investigate alleged
frauds, &c., and the expense OF estab
lishiDs military patrols on the Maryland
lines, and FIVE hundred dollars on secret
service. My account is settled iu the Of
fee of the Auditor General up to the
lst OF December. On that day bad
expended $4,000. aud, except some in-
considerable payments made since, the
balance rem aius in my hands.
The report Of the Auditor General will
exhibit the items Of the account.
Ao account of military expenditures
By the State on behalf of the United
States, as far as the same bad then been
ascertained and settled by the accounting
depart Dent bcre, was made up to the LIST
day Of September, 1861, and presented
on the 18th of that mouth. at the Treasu
ury Department of the United States for
settlement and allowance. The sun OF
S606,000 has been received from the
Treasury Department oD that account
The repayment by the General Gosern-
nent OF the expenses attending the organ
ization and support of the Reserve Corps.
may not be provided for by any existing
act Of Congress. As these expenses were
incurred by the State for the benefit of
the General Government, and have been
productive of results most important to
ibe welfare and even safety OF the coun
try, it would be right that an act of Con
sress should be passed providing express
~ for their repayment. 1t lies with the
Legislature to adopt the proper Eeans for
directing the attention OF Congress to this
subject.
Assurances haze been rcceiGed from
the Treasury Department that the exam
inatiou Of the military accounts of the
State will te proceeded 10 without delay.
70 tha. the State may receive credit for
the balance due iu time to apply the same
towards the payment of ber qaota of the
direct tax. Assuming the completion OF
this arrangement, if the State shall as
sumo the direct tax for this year, sas-
ing OF fifteen rer cent. will accure to her ),
aud no present increase OF her taxation
will be necessary.
Whether this credit be given or not. !
recon mend that the payment of the di
rect tax be assumed b. the State.
In case the State assumes the payment
of this tax, there should be sucb revision
Of the tax laws as will hereafter equts-
bly, apportiou the tax borden among the
various Interests now subject. or that can
properly be made subject. to taxatiou.-I
The saving of ifteen per cent to the peo-
pie of the State by the assumption is a
IN after worthy of thought; but more in
rortaDt consideration is, that it will ena
bic you who represent all the varied in
terests of the Commonwealth 30 .ppor.
ton the tax in such manner as to tear
equslly upon all. Oar revenue laws had
imposed on real and personal property,
as its full proportion, but little more than
one third of tue taxes needed for the or
dinsry expenditures of the Government
By the act Of 18th May last, the tax 90
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
j nterests-interests, too, most unfavora-
bly, affected by tho war-wbilst other
kinds of property and other sources of
revenue, judged by our laws able to pay
nearly two thirds of tbs present revenue.
of the State, would not be called on to
contribute one dollar OF additional tax.
The militia system OF the Common
wealth is very imperfect, recommend
the establishment of a coumissiou to
frame and report system moro adequate
to the exigency of the tines.
l earnestly recommend to the Legisls-
ture that provision be % sde for the mill