American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-01-13

force alike to your sympathies and your
sense of fjustice. Their whole country has
been laid waste by the contending' armies
of the Government and the rebels. -Four
times large armies have passed over that
district, destroying or carrying off all that
had been gathered for the approaching win
ter, and now the women and children are
left in state Of desolation.
The representations made by sundry
gentlemen of the highest responsibility,
from that State, are of the most heart rem
ding character Starvation, actual and
present now exist Can we, in the midst
of aflluent abundance, for a moment hesi-
tate as to what our action should be towards
the people whose only crime has been their
loyalty and devotion to the Government?
Even if portion of our charity should
reach the starving families of those insym-
pathy with the rebellion, better it should,
than that those devoted, self-sacrifcing
people who have so unhesitatingly adher-
ed to the Government, be left to suffer.
Whenever pestilonee and famines dis
tressed the people of any portion Of our
country, we have always been foremost in
relieving them, and the people of Penn
sylvania have extended their open-hand
ed benevolence and broad charity to the
starving people of foreign countries Shall
it be said that the appeals of these people
for bread fell upon the heart Of Pennsyl-
vania in vain, and thatwe who have 50 re-
Gently given thanks for abundance have
no relief for them in their extremities ! |
commend the subject through you to the
people of the State, as worthy the immedi-
ate attention and active exertions of the
charitable and liberal.
REVISION OF OUR REVENUE LAWS.
Ishould be glad if the Legislature would
make a general revision of our Revenue
Laws, with a view to their increased pro
ductiveness. 1t ought to be observed that
for period of more than twenty years, no
material change has been made in the Rev
enue Laws of this Commonwealth. Dur
ING that time some interests have grown
into new importance, and should be made
to bear their just proportion Of the puplic
expenses. since all taxation should, as far
as possible, press equally upon the proper
ty and employments Of our people. Fail
ing such revision, recommend to the con
sideration of the Legislature, the following
suggestions connected with the subject
RECOMMENDS TANNING CERTAIN RAIL
ROADS.
]. There are several companies in the
State, which, in addition to large mining
privileges, have the control of the routes
Of TRANSFORMATION, by which alone the pro
ducts OF the l.dnes Of individuals in then
respective districts, car reach market
These companies thus enjoy s9bstant,ai
menopolies, by means of which they moi
only receive the fair profits Of their own
property, but are enabled to make addi-
tional heavy gains at the expense of indi,
viduals. In my opinion such privilege:
ought never to have been granted but as
they exist it appears to be just that the
class of companies which enjoy them
should pay therfor an additional specific
! tax.
REVENUE FROM THE PATENTED LANDS
2. Very large sums are due to the Com
monwealth from unpatented lands. For
bearance clemency and liberality have beer
in vain tried in the numerous attempts tC
procure the payment Of at least a part o
this debt, from the large portion of thos'
who are indebted on that account. The
continuance of this state of affairs is un-
lust to the Commonwealth and to the vas
majority of her people who have honestly
paid for their lands. 1t has become un
endurable | recommend that the Legis
lature provide that the Surveyor Gen
eral shall file on record in the office Of thu
Court of Common pleas of each county, ;
description of the lands subject to the lier
ofthe Commonwealth for purchase money
and statement of the amount Of princi
pie and interest now due to the Common
wealth, together with the patent fees OIL
each tract and ten per cent ohNhe amoun
so due for the labor and cost of making
and filing such statements, and the aggre
gate amount thus stated, for each tract
shall be held to be the amount now du
to the G Commonwealth, which shall bear in
terest at the rate Of twelve per cent. pc
annum till paid, and shall continue to b.
the first lien on the land till paid, AM
shall not be divcsted by any judicial or 9th
er sale whatever. also recommend tn
adoption of suggestion contained in tn
Surveyor Generals report that specili
tax be laid on all unpatented lands,
RECOMMEND TAX ON LOANS. AND RAIL
ROAD RECEIPTS.
8. By existing laws municipal corpora
tions are required to deduct and pay int
the Treasury the tax on all loans contract
ed by them 1t is believed that a larg
addition would accrue to the revenue b
TIE extension of this provision to all couu
ties and to all corporations private or pub
lie.
recommend that it be so extended.
: 4. A tax on the gross receipts OF "a
railroad and canal companies would, it
believed, be productive and not be OF
pressive.
PHILADELPHIA AND ERIE BONDS.
Upon satisfactory reports according
law, made by Colonel John A. Wright,
; have drawn my warrants for the deliver
: to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Con
pany of another million of the bonds de
posted in the State Treasury, -Four mi
ions of said bonds have therefore been no
delivered. There can be no reasonab