The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-30
2,555579 OF

By the report of the State Treasurer it will be
observed that the extraordinary expenditures
growing out OF the war, not refunded by the
General Government, have been 81 OPS 627'2l
This includes the direct tax paid to the United
States by the State, which is not reimbursaUle.
In the balance is included the $67l, ,476'43 paid
TO the militia, which, with good portion of
the remaining expenditure. Is clearly due the
State IRON the General Government.
The necessity Tor extraordinary expenditures
having ceased with the suppression of the late
Rebellion, measures should be taken to examine
our resources, and relieve, as far as possible the
heavy burdens to which our people are
subjected.
1t has been the habit of late years to appro.
pirate freely annual sums for the support of
local charities; and such appropriations are
almost every year increased in number and
amount. Houses OF Refuge, Institutions for the
Deaf and Dumb and TOR the Blind Lunatic
Asylums-these appear to me to be proper
objects of State bounty, because few of them
are sufficient for the whole State, and to leave
them to be provided for by the local authorities
would, in fact, be to deprive of protection the
unfortunate classes for whose benefit they are
designed But mere local charities, however
meritorious and effective, should, 1 think be
left 70 the support of the benevolent parties who
established them
1t is unjust that the people of the Common
wealth should be coerced TO pay taxes, in order
that part OF the money so raised may be given
10 the support of local charities conducted by
private associations especially when it is re-
membered that hitherto but a small proportion
OF the private charities in the State have asked
for such appropriation. ..
/ recommend, therefore, that no appropriation
be made tor charities, beyond the institutions
which have above specified.
The taxes at present laid on corporations are
unequal, and TO certain extent thereby unjust.
recommend the subject to the attention Of the
Legislature, with view to a revision of the
system.
Within few years acts have been repeatedly
passed directing the expenditure OF as much
money as may be necessary 10 effect named
purposes, sometimes without clearly designating
by whom the money is to be expended, or how
the accounts are TO be examined This custom
is very recent, and has already led to abuses.
l recommend that the practice be corrected,
and that no appropriation be made without haV-
ing the exact sum appropriated, the specific pur-
pose to which it is to be applied, and desigCat
ing the officer by whom it is to be expended, and
providing that the accounts shall be settled in
The AuditorG Generals Office in the usual manner.
Notwithstanding the large expenditures by the
State for military purposes since the breaking
out of the Rebellion, the condition of the trea
sury is now So, $3.50 579l2 better tnan it was then
and am proud to be able to state further, thai
on the lst day of December, 1865, the State debt
was S492, ,93S'G6 less than 1t was on the LIST o
January, 1861. These are truly gratifying facts
Under these circumstances, IL may be possible
with entire safety to our finances, TO reduce ol
even repeal the ordinary State tax OF two anc
half mills on real estate. The tax OF one-hal
mill laid by the act of May l6, 1864, was by tina
act expressly pledged for the repayment of the
loan Of $3,0OO,OOO, thereby authorized, and 0
course cannot be repealed or reduced until tina
repay ment shall have been made. | recommend
this subject 10 the careful and deliberate con
sideratton and Judgment of the Legislature, anC
II 1t should be found that the tax can be re
pealedi recommend that all laws authorizing