Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-03-23

necessary for this Commonwealth now, or at
least during the present session, to take
some measures to revise the general revenue
system Of the State But it occurs to me
that the subject is SO extensive, that COM
miGtee would not be able to complete the
task during the present session Of the Legis-
latuTe
1t seems to me that it may be necessary to
get up a special committee or that subject,
who may sit during the recess, composed Of
members Of the Legislature, or otherwise,
as may be deemed best.
But it appears to me that the committee
need not initiate against the committee APP
pointed under the resolution of my friend,
| the Senator from Bedford Mr. Househol
der
The interests of the school system are
| sufficiently great to engage the attention oea
committee such as is contemplated, and l
apprehend that the action of that commit
tee may be submitted to the Legislature for
l their information and there is no reason
why the action OF that committee, and the
committee appointed upon the general Teye-
nue. revision, may not harInonize.
| You viii infer from the remarks Of the
Senator from Bedford that it is an extensive
| subject and think the actien of a commit
| tee would relieve the labor of the Senate to
great extent
| For these reasons I an1 in favor of the res
olutons of the Senator from Bedford, and
trust the erfnmittee asked for viii be ap-
pointed
Mr.. Householder.-M Speaker, it may
be necessary to reply to q few of the remarks
of the Senator from Allegheny Mr. Big
harn|'f thought when the idea first occurred
to me, of areVision Of the common school
system and Of its financial condition, that
we had better unite the two objects as sug-
| gested By the Senator from Allegheny; but
upon more mature consideration, perceive
that the subject is too great, too complex,
and that we cannot harmoniously blend them
together and bring out perfect ana elabo-
rate system.
The system have proposed, / must con
| fess, does not meet my entire appreciation,
but it is the best that / could devise and pre-
| sent IN q tangible form before the Legisla-
| ture.
] | think by taking the good of the system
Of New England, Ohio, New York and else
where, and rejecting that which does not
suit US. we can perfect system in It's de-
| tails which would be superior to that of any
| Of the systems in tins country.
The plan have suggested does not con
template perfection.
Ny idea will secure entire uniformity, but
| / have suggested that it is not as equitable
throughout all the country as | should pre-
fer
/ [ think that committee appointed fcr
this special purpose would be preferable
The revision OF the school system and the
i general revision the revenue laws, which
! the Senator from Allegheny contemplates,
would be a very great task for one COM
mittee. | think there had better be two COM
n1Ittees appointed one for this special pur-
/ pose and another for that general revision,
| and let the two committees harmonic and
cooperate together, if necessary. / think
by an interchange of opinions between the
two committees they could get gp something
that would meet the appreciation of the
Senate upon the common school system,
and also upon herevenue system. | have
i examined both 10 some extent and perceive,
/ l think, thlee different plans OF adjusting.
or partly adjusting the defects in ske school
1 system, contingent upon the revision of the
revenue: but, of course, they are all based
/ upon the same general idea, but I cannot
think tnat the general revision of the reye-
nue. system and ofthe school system by the
same committee would be preferable.
As the Senator from Allegheny, Mr. Big
| ham has referred TO the city and county
! of Philadelphia, permit me to make
| one remark. [ had theextrene pleasure of
visiting the board of control Of Philadelphia
| few weeks ago, and l must say of those
gentlemen that | met a very cordial recep-
ton indeed They very kindly gave me all
the formation in their possession Their
reports and their assessments, and whatever
pertaiEed to the general management of
their school system. The revenue which
supports the school system of the city of
| Philadelphia is derived from a general fund
and Is distributed equitably throughout all
| the schools Of the city of Philadolphia This
is what | desire for The State at large.
want an equitable system extended to the
whole State Of PENNSYLVANIA. that no one
portion of the people viii be oppressed By
| taxation
Mr. Champneys ys.-8Ir Speaker, / have
listened with great satisfaction to the re-
marks upon this subject, and have no OBJ
lection to the committee which the Senator
from Bedford (AIr. Householder SUGGESTS
It is subject which is, ofeourse, dear to me
The common school system should shed its
light into every heart Ia the land-4not Of
the poor alone, but of all classes. This is
the great beauty ofthe system
There are inequalities in the present sys-
TEN, but whether they can be remedied or
not is another question. It is an experiment
and therefore / would be satisfied with the
resolution.
But my friend, the Senator from Allie
gheny Mr.. Bigham, wants to launch into
a general revenue system. and, upon revis-
ION ofour finances and start with new project
1 presume. Such aeourse may involve us
in increased taxation and | am not prepar-
ed for that.
Now as to commissions | think that we
have had commissions enough upon that
subject. We have had acommission to re-
wise the revenue laws / read reroft of
the commission with care and commended ID
almost from beginning to end. Il vas fer
altering everything. ana dc NOT think would
be Of any benefit to the Treasury Of the State
That IS myJudgement nl shat commission.
ihe plan they propose wGeid rather in
crease taxation
l rise, not 10 digest t,,a revision of The
co mnon school system. bu merely 10 object
to beng set TO saa Without chars 5r Compass
upon an expedition to ssaFeh 4 new revenae
system. tTouid require She eJmnsietee to
SIT 1T least SIX months tp review Che revenue
laws OF other States and rsgsS our oWn.
would therefore oppose tne ls0ppSi:lnn af
the Senator from Alice houg, Ns. Biehan
but shall vote for the fes6;aton ot the Sae3
tor from Bedford Mr.. Householder.
Mr. Bingham, Ail. Speaker. | merely
made Suggestion, and i9xtead Of promising
to increase the taxation, / proposed no tax-
ati0n af III for Sfstf5a ,,,,..,s 80