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

desire TO invite the attention of all our
volunteers, officers, soldiers, and Il cir
families, TO the fact that the State agents
will collect all their claims on the Gov
ernment itously, as have reason 10
bt lieve that mary are still ignorant of
that lact, and are greatly imposed upon
by the exon bItaut commissions charged by
private claim agents.
Under the act OF the 9th of May, 1861,
[ appointed Hon. Thomas H. Burrnwes 10
take charge Of the arrangements for the
education of the orphans Of soldiers. |
communicate herewith copy Of his report
on the subject. lie has i-chargeG his
duties with commeudable zeal, fidelity aud
efficiency. earnestly recommend that a
permanent and liberal appropriation be
made 10 support this just and worthy
scheme of beneicence.
L recommend that an appropriation be
made Tor pensions TO the volunteer militia
men Cor their families) who were killed or
hurt in service in the years 1862 and
1868. AS soldiers sometimes arrive here
who are insane, and who should be pro
tccted and cared for, recommend that
provision be made for their being placed
III the State Asylum Tor The Insane, at
this place, and keut uEtil notice can be
given to the authorities Of their respective
counties, who should be required to re-
move aad care for them.
| feel it to be my duty to invite your
serious attention to the c2ils growing out
Ut the system OF passing acts OF incorpora-
tlon for purposes which are provided for
by general laws. We have passed acts
authorizing charters to be obtained with
ont special legislation These acts have
been generally prepared with some care,
and contain the provisions which the Leg
lslature thought necessary to protect the
Commonwealth and her citizens II these
general laws are NOT found to answer such
purposes, they should be amended and
perfected. l. any company desires to be
incorporated with greater privileges than
are conferred, or to be relieved irom any
OF the conditions imposed by these acts, it
appears 10 me that 1t should be required
first to obtain charter under the general
laws, and then apply to the Legislature
for an act making the changes which are
desired, Tie attention of the Legislature
will thus be drawn TO the specific object,
and Il judgment can be formed of its pro-
priety. L would also observe that great
evil results from the habit Of grating
privileges to Il corporation by mere RET
erence to some former private act relating
to other corporations, sometimes without
giving the date of these acts. ALI these
practices are bad, and although they may
sometimes be pursued by parties having
10 baG intention, yet they certainly origi-
mated i'll the design Of surprising the
Commonwealth into grants of privileges
which it was known could not be obtained
if their extent were understood, and they
are often followed nOw fJr the same FRAUD
uicnt purpose.
L strongly recommend the repeal Gf the
act passed The 18th day OF July a D.
1868, entitled AN act relating to corpo
rar;ons for mechanical, manufacturing :,
mining and quarryIn2 purposes"
Its provisions are found 10 be practically
30 inconsistent with the due project ion OF
the citizens, and with the just policy OF
the CONFERENCE.-The, that it ought not to
allowed to stand longer on our statute
book. [ approved the act in question
with great reluctance, and subsequent
reflection and observation have satisfied
nc oi its mischievous character
L also recommend the repeal of an act
passed the I'D day of July, \. ID. 1868,
-ntitled "A further supplement to an act
10 enable joint tenants and tenants in
common, aud adjoining owners Of mineral
lands in this Commonwealth, to manage
and develop the same"
This act allows foreign corporations to
hold three hundred acres of land in this
State for mining purposes. Il was passed,
it is believed, tor the purpose of enabling
companies near oar border engaged in the
manuiacture of irou, TO hold land as ore
banks. But under the idea chat the sink
ing of an OIL well is mining, il is believed
that companies have already been organ
ized under the laws of other States, and
that more will be, for the purpose of
holding lands and carrying on the oil
business in this State. Ii would be better
to remove al! doubt on this question by
repeating the act. These companies, being
foreign corporatIonS, are not within the
control OF our laws to the extent that they
ought TO he for the purposes of taxation
and regulation.
The immense development of wealth in
some Of our western counties by the dis
covery of oil, has added vastly to the
resources of the Commonwealth
| have made efforts to ascertain the
value of this product during the last year,
but have failed in procuring information
sufficiently accurate to justify me in esti-