Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-12

ton, and the prospect of new gains by re-.
enlstment-a process which they expect 10
repeat an indefinite number of times. OF
the number of men for whom bonnties have
been paid it is believed that not one-fourtb
have been actually placed in the ranks Of
the army, aud even those who have Joined
it have probably not on an average received
for their own use one-half Of the bounty
paid for them. Immense sums have thus
been appropriated by cheats and swindlers
in many cases believed to be acting in
completely with agents of the Government
An effort was made to prosecute some Of
the parts concerned in such frauds under
the act of Assembly Of 14th August last
and they were bound over by the Mayor Of
this city, but after the witnesses had come
here, on the meeting of the court, they
disappeared from the public eye. | recon-
mend the whole subject to your careful con
sideration, that the system may be purged
of these evils.
OUR STATE QUOTA 6,999.
| am officially informed that the quota Of
this State, under the recent call, is &c, 999.
but | am not informed Of the principle on
whicl the draft is to be made 1t appears
from the Presidents proclamation that it is
made chiefly to supply an alleged deficiency
in former calls. am surprised at the amount
of this large deficiency, and can only ac-
count for the difference between the num-
Der Of men furnished by the State and the
deficiency alleged to exist in the assign
ment of the present quota by the assump-
ton that the men never reached the army,
although enlisted and mustered after the
payment of bounties by the localities to
which they were supposed to be credited.
1t is probable that there are very few coun-
ties in the State which have not paid large
bounties for a number of men sufficient to
fill their former quotas. Taking the local
bountics at the low average of four hun
bred dollars, it is believed that it can be de-
monstrated that the people of ofPennsylvania
have been thus robbed of more than twelve
millions of dollars during the past year.
THE BOUNTY SYSTEM NOT To BE TOLERATED
This estimate does not include the mon
ey fraudulently taken from men who have
actually gone into the service. The con-
tinuance of these monstrous and unparal-
led abuses cannot be tolerated.
Certainly more men are required to aid
our gallant soldiers in the field in crushing
this rebellion, and every consideration of
patriotism and of regard for our brothers
who are now III the face of the enemy, obi
gcs us to spare no effort to raise the neceS-
sary force
VISITORS IN THE STATE PRISONS AND THE POOR
HOUSES.
In June last | gave letters to commit
tee Of the Prison Society of Philadelphia,
requesting that the members Of the COM
mittee might be allowed to visit and exam
inc the prisons and poor-houses throughout
the Commonwealth. transmit with this
communication a copy of the report made
to me by the society of the results Of their
| labOrs, and commend the same to your at
tention, with view to the adoption of pro-
per measures to reform the abuses which
have been found to exist
PROVISIONS FOR RESPECTED PRISONERS.
In connection with this subject, again
call your attention to the eXpediency of pro-
viding for the reception in the penitentiar-
les of persons convicted of murder in the
| first degree, and who may be pardoned Oh
! condition of serving a limited term therein.
| 1t has become the custom that an incoming
! Governor should not issue a warrant of ex-
ecution in cases left unacted on by his pre-
| decessor, and it not untrequently happens
! that even in cases which are recent, while
! some punishment should be inflicted, that
of death may appear to the Executive to be
| too severe The result is that there are at
! this time, i'll the various prisons, some IS
! or 20 persons under sentence Of death, and
who may lie there for an indefinite period
| of time.
CLERKS FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMON
WEALTH
The vast amount of additional labor
which has been imposed upon the Secretary
of the Commonwealth by the existing state
Of affairs renders it absolutely necessary
that the clerical force of his department
should be increased. The making out of
commissions for our large army of volun
teers in the field, and the preparation Of
election blanks required by law to be sent
to the army the receipt filing, and record
ing the returns of the soldiers votes the
enrolment Of the yearly-increasing number
of acts of Assembly, and of charters obtain
ed under general laws and the letters-pat-
ent for them-all these, together with the
previous heavy duties Of the office, form an
aggregate the weight Of which must ulti-
mately break down his few subordinates,
diligent, faithful, and enduring as they are
L recommend, therefore, that provision be
promptly made to meet the necessities of
! this case.
FLoURISHING CONDITION OF OUR SCHOOLS.
1t is subject of just congratulation that
Notwithstanding the distracted condition of
the country, our system of common schools
continues to flourish. The report of the
Superintendent, which here with transmit,
shows that there has been an increase of
scholars during the past year. 1t is i'm
portant to secure as teachers sufficient
number of men of suitable education and
ability, and with a view of this object, |
su gest for your consideration the expedi-
ency of making out of the school fund it
self some provision for the support of such
teachers as shall, after a given term of ser
vice, become superannuated or disabled
while in the performance of their duties
FUNDS FOR MILITARY CONTINGENCIES.
Of the fund placed in my hands by the
acts of the 10th May, 1861, and of the 4th
of May, 1864, and to be appropriated in my
Judgment in military service, have ex-
pended in the last year Sc, ,l24 6S in sup
port of the agency at Washington, up and
until the 30th of May last, for my personal