Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-01-10

either the State or Company relating TO the Is
suing. delivery and cancellation of bonds, have
been fulfilled 10y the respective partitN, and the
State nov holds all the b nds Of the company
rs specified in said act, excepting one million o
the bonds authorized by the second section,
which were delivered to the Phil ,delphia and
Erie Rairoad company On the 9Th of May last,
under a warrant OF the Gove'n nor as authorized
10y the sixth section of the act aforesaid
Ny experience in this Department for the last
Y, al has satisfied me Of the necessity Of "a
thorough alteration and revision OF our revenue
laws The burthen of taxation under our
pres Mt system is certainly unequal and unjust
hether this arises from the ineifici-ncy OF our
laws entirely, or laxity on the part of asses
sOrs. collectors, and other officers in euiOIclng
their provisions. am unable to say. When
the fact is stat d (Which alluded 10 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 sc is one
third less than that Of Ohio, and two thirds
less than New York, it must be evident
10 every one, that property in our State
is either assessed at a mere fraction # its
value or else that very large proportion
OF property escspes taxation altogether. 1t has
been the boast OF Pennsy lvania for years. thai
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 of 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 II
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 he 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 jut in the
returns they make Of their means and wealth.
This state Of things Should not exist every
citizen OF this Commonwealth is projected alike
iD his person and his property by our Gove,n-
meut and Its laws and should Pay a iar proper
tionate share of the expenses of the Govern
nent from which he receives such protection
BY a Joint resolution of the last Legislature the
Governor was authorized TO appoint board of
Ito revise, collate and dijest all
acts and statutes relating to or touching the
revenue ltws," that commission was ap
pointed, a"l il is to be hoped they will be ready
to report some basis of action during the present
session.
| beg leave respectfully 10 refer t. a matter
affecting the honor and credit of our 81 ate, and
to which reference was made by my predecessor
in his last rerort ! refer 70 the law taxing her
Dwn loans AT the time our citizens respondei
TO the call of the state and gave her the use of
their money it was with the express agreement
md 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
If the State should have remained sacred and
nyiolabie and | cannot hut think that she sui
cred in her character and reputation, when,
without consent OF the parties whose money ,he
hus obtained, she repudiated her obligation 10y
eiucing that low rate Of interest still lower by
sxatiOn i cannot but express the hope that
he State will do th,t Justice to her creditors
which they have right u expect by repe ,ling
he law which is thus affecting her own honor
md credit. |
The subject of guaranteed interest on loans |
o the Danville and Puttsville Railroad Compa |
" Is one which should also receive the atten- |
ion of the legislature A balance of interest |
S yet du- to the holders Of that loan and the |
aith and honor of the State having been pledged |
or it, she should in this, well as in all other |
matters, set her citizens an example of unim |
god faith, by making an a;pTopria |
ion To pay the balance Of that interest
Ny predecessor has truly said, 1T would
Teatly simplify the accounts in this depaItm mt
fthe amount of State taxes assessed was charged
lirectly to the county, and he might have added
t would also save large amount to the State,
or in some counties the taxes have been accu-
nulating for years, until in the aggregate over
half million remains unpaid. These taxes
Ire handed down from year to year 10 new
CreasuTers as they are appointed, and some
,ounties are low behind more than whole
sears assessment 1t is to be hoped that this
'ubject will also receive the attention of the
3 ard Of Commissioners appointed on the reve
lue laws
| herewith submit tables giving in detail the
operations of this department for the last fiscal
year, together with estimates of the receipts
md expenditures for the present year; all of
which are respectfully submitted
HENRY D. MOORE,
STAT Treasurer.
LL..LLI.-.. I'll lAs.l