Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-13

neople of foreign countries ohah u DC
said that the appeals of these people ior
bread fell upon the heart OF Pennsylvania III
vain. and that we who have so recently CIV
en- thanks for our abundance have no Iti relleI
fnr them in their extremities? L comnehio si
tbe subject through you to the people OF tile
State. as worthy the immediate atfehlIotI i
md active exertions of the charitable anu
T should be glad if the LegislatuTe would
mako a general revision OF our 'eFehue
Law. with view TO their increased pIouro-
4;yeneSs It. ought TO be observed tilaO Iof
:, reriod of more than twenty years; no ma
rarisI change has been made In the heVenue
- his Commonwealth During that
- sone interests have grown into new I'M
a,.tonce, I'M and should be made 10 bear their
INST proportion of the public expense, since
Ill taxation should as far as possible, press
r1uallv upon the property and employments
Of our people:
Failing such revision, | recommend to
the consideration of the Legislature, the fol-
lowing suggestions connected with the sub
.ject.
There are several companies III the
State which, III addition to large mining
privileges. have the control of the routes of
transportation, by which alone the products
Of the mines Of individuals in their respect
companies thus enjoy substantial m0nopo-
lies by which they not only receive the far
profits Of their own property. but are ena-
He'd TO make additional heavy gains at the
expense of individuals. In my opinion such
privileges ought nsger to have been grant
ed. but as they exist it appears to be Just
that the class of companies winch enjoy
them, should pay therefore an additional
specific tax.
, Very large sums are due 20 the Com
monwealth for unpaJeuted lands. Forbear-
ance clemency, and hberality have been in
vain tried in the numerous attempts to pro-
cure the payment Of at least part OF this
debt from the larger portion Of those who
are indebted on that account. The contln-
uance of this state of affairs is unjust to the
Commonwealth and to the vast majority OF
her people who have honestly paid for their
lands. It has become uncomfortable. l re-
commend that the Legislature provide that
the Surveyor General shall file Of record in
the office Of the Court OF Common Pleas Of
each county, a description OF the lands sub
iect to the lien OF the Commonwealth tor
purchase money, and a statement OF the a
mount OF principle and interest now due to
the Commonwealth, together with the pat
ent fees on each tract and ten per cent. on
the amount so due for the labor and cost of
making and filing each statement and the
aggregate amount thus stated, for each usct,
shai! be held to be the amount now due
thereon to the Commonwealth. which shall
lear interest at the rate OF twelve per cent.
per annum, till paid, and shall continue 10 be
the first hen on the land, till paid, and shah
not be diyeated by any Judicial or other sale
whatever. | also recommend the adoption
e: suggestion contained IN the SurN eyor
General report that q specific tax be laid
uh I'll uapateHter lands.
$ By existing laws municipal corpora
tons are required to deduct ald pay into
The Treasury the tax en- ali loans contracted
J = them. It IS believed that large addi-
t.1u would accrue to the revenue By the cx-
JenjiUn' oi this provision &c ali counties aud
10 all corporations private or public. / re-
com mend that Ii be extended
J. i tax on the gross receipts OF ali rail
road and canal com paules would. il IS be
l.tyed. lie productive and not oppressive
| pon satisfactory reports, according 10
law, made by Colonel John 4. Wright,
have drawn my warrants for the delivery tU /
IN Philadelphia and Erie Railroad COMPANY /
O.. another million Of the bonds deposited in |
yh- State Treasury. -Four millions OF said I
-EG5 have therefore been now delivered /
There can be nO reasonable doubt Of the early /
completion u the work, and, when com pie (
ted, i IS confidently expected that the boeds /
held by the State. secured on the road for .
$500, 900, viii become good interest-payIng
securities
[ renew most earnestly the recommends t
lion made In Inv last annual message of a re-
sion Of the militia laws They are ut pres-
rut shamcfully defective Indeed, If by q /
militia law Is meant a law intended 10 pro-
..1e for 50 enrolling and organizing the |
military force % the state that it may be put |
iH;o service when required, we may be said
tJhaye no militia law In each Of the last
Two years have been obliged to call out the
militia. but in fact those who obeyel the
call We're volunteers aud, with some exceD-
tons, were wholly uDorganized, so that al
Most III face Of the enemy, time had to be
consumed in distributing the men into com
!anleS and regiments. In eleeting officers and
ID other preparations for effective organi-
ZatI0n
In the report of the Adjutant General
"lll be found list Of the Pennsylvania re-
gimentS and a statement showing the sever
alarmles and departments in which they are
now serving. In this connection, | suggest
The propriety of legislative authority being
gwen for the preparation Of a history of each
!. Yi ourregimentS and other organizations, to
pe preserved among our archives The
necessary documents are now accessible, and
as they may in time be lost or destroyed,
The making of such record as | propose
should not bedeferred 1t is due alike to
The living and the dead that this Subject
should be promptly acted on.
recommend that the proposed amend
AentS 10 the Constitution, giving to citizens
IN the public service out of the State, the
night to vote, be passed promptly and sub
LjAltted TO 4 vote Of the people at as early a
Gay as possible, SO that such citizens may