The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-01-12

the purpose of rendering this source of
| revenue more productive, and amending
other defects in those bills.
The revenue derived from the tax on
banks during the year amounts to
| $685., ,606.67, but under the enabling act
of the State SO many OF our banks have
be come National banks under the act of
! Congress, that this source of revenue may
| be considered as substantially ex,iUguished
aud it will be necessary in some way 10
make up the deficiency from other sources.
| The act of Congress authorizes the tax
/ alton by the State Of the stock in the
! National banks in the hands of the hel1ers,
not exceeding the rate Of taxation imposed
on other similar property, and part OF the
deficiency may thus be provided for
| The amount OF debt eEtinguished by
the Sinking Fund during the year is
unusually small, which is to be accounted
for by the extraordinary expenses which
have been incurred. Seven hundred and
thirteen thousand dnllars Ce7I3 ,000) have
been paid to refund to the banks the
money advanced by them 70 pay the vo!-
unteers iD service during the invasion Of
the State in 1868 One hundred thousand
dollars (SlO0. .000) have beer distributed
among the inhabitants oe Cham m5erSburg,
suffering by the rebel destruction of their
town. About two hundred thousand
dollars (5200,000) have beet expended
under the acts providing for the payment
of extra military claims, and in addition
to these extraordinary outlays, the amount
appropriated TO charities was last year
larger than usual.
In my opinion this matter OF donations
to charities is fast running into great
abuse. Houses Of Refuge, and Insane,
Blind and Deaf and Dumb Asylums, ap-
peart to be proper subjects Of State bounty,
because their objects are of public impor-
tance, and to be useful, and well and
economically managed, it seems to be
necessary that they should be more exteu-
sive than would be required for the wants
Of particular county. But Ia our system,
ordinary local charities are left to The care
Of the respective localities, and to give the
public money for their support is really to
tax thasiC haDitants OF all the counties for
the benefit OF one.
The national taxation is heavy and must
probably be made heavier, and the Local
taxes ulhorized bv unwise legislation and
pdlu Y Odi ISbpiS diC SArtSSlht. III view
OF these circumstances, We should endeavor
TO avoid increasing their burdens by ma.
king undue appropriations for any purpose
1t being alleged that the Atlantic and
Great Western Railroad Company has not
in various particulars obeyed the law by
which it was incorporated. the ATTORNEY
General Con the suggestion of parties
claiming to be thereby injured has filed
an information in equity against that
company, seeking an injunction to prevent
Il continuance OF its past, and the persist
ence in its intended Illegal course.
Since my last annual message on the
report of John A. Wright, Esq, that the
Sunbury and Erie railroad was finished. |
ordered the bonds remaining in The treasu-
ry to be delivered to the company.
1t is a subject of just pride to the pco-
pie of this Commonwealth, that this great
work is completed, and whilst it opens
large and wealthy part Of the State to the
commerce Of the sealreayd and unites
capital and enterprise within our borders,
it secures to the Commonwealth the .y-
ment Of the sums due her from the com
pany.
La my special message of 30th April
last, to which refer, | communicated to
the Legislature, III some detail, the cir
cumstances connected with the advance by
banks and other corporations of the funds
to pay the volunteer militia of 1868
LII Is not necessary here to recapitulate
them at length, Tie case vas peculiar,
and It. Is believed none quite like it has
occurred. The call for volunteers was
made by the authorities of the United
States, but it being found that men could
not be got under that call, the form of "A
call by the State authorities for the defense
OF the State was, with the assent OF the
President substituted. The United States
agreed to furnish the arms, subsistence
and supplies, but it was alleged that
Congress had made no appropriation
covering the pay. IL this state of things,
the emergency being great the Secretary
OF War teiegraphed NE thus:
WAsHISGToN, July %, 1863
To his ErcelLency, Cor "a. q. Curtiq:
Your telegrams respecting the pay of mill
tia, called out under your proclamation of the
9th of June, have been referred to the Pres
dent for instructions, and have been under
his consideration He directs to say that
while no law or appropriation authorizes the
payment, by the general Government, of
troops that have not been mus tered into the
service of the United States, he will recon-
mend to Congress to make an appropriation
for the payment of troops called into Sta te
service to repel an actual invasion, including
those of the State of Pennsylvania If, in the