North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-01-09


ner as inspectors OF elections are chosen,
each citizen voting for one jury commits
sioner, and the two persons having the
highest number of votes to be the Jury
commissioners of the respective courty, to
perform the same duties, in the selection of
jurors, that are now imposed upon the
sheriff and county commissioners,
1t is impossible to provide, in all respects
for the increasing and changing interests of
our people, by the enactment of general
laws, but to large extent it is practicable
to relieve the Legislature from special leg
isIation which Is demanded and occupies so
much OF its sessions. Special legislation
is generally passed with out due considera
tion. much of it at the close of the session,
and is chiefly objectionable from the par
tiality with which powers and privileges
are conferred.
1agan recommend the passage of fgener,
al laws, when it is at all practicable, and in
this connection recommend the passage of
a general law, regulating railroads now ex-
isting and the Incorporation of new COM
panes, so that so far as possible there may
be Just uniformity in the franchises grant
ed and equal facilities afforded to tie peo
pie of all set tioDs of Commonwealth.
There are at this time, in the various
prisons,a number of persons under sentence
of death, some ftheh for many years, and
As it has become a custom that an incom-
ing Governor should not issue a warrant OF
execution in cases enacted on by his prede
Cessor, it not unfreqHently happens that in
many cases, some of which are recent,
while some punishment should be inflicted,
that of death may appear to the Executive
to be too severe.
| earnestly repeat my recommendation
heretofore made, that provision be made
for the reception of such persons into the
penltiaries. who may be pardoned on con-
dition, of remaining limited time therein.
/ re-appointed Hon. c. r. Coburn, Su-
perintendent of Common Schools, on the
expiration of this term in June last, and lie
continued at the head Of that Department
until the 1st of November, when he resign
ed, and appointed Col. J. P Wickersham.
1t is due to Mr.. Coburn to say that he full
filled all the duties of his office faithfully
and efficiently. 1t appears from his re-
port that there were in the school year of
1865, 1868 school districts in the State:
1916 schools; lG,I4l teachers, and 725,
3l2 pupils with an average attendance of
478,066. The total cost of the school sys-
tenn, for the entire State, including taxes
levie and State appropriation, was for the
year 1866 81, ,l95 256,57, The increase
in the number Of school districts was 20; !;
in the number of schools, 222; in the mum
Der of CHI dren attending school, 1926,
and in the total cost of the system, Sj8l,
02O,02. | invite your attention to the val
liable suggestions made in his report, and
that of Colonel Wickersham, and commend
our system of public instruction to the con-
timed fostering care Of the Legislature.
herewith present the reports of Col, F.
Jordan, Military Agent of the State, at
Washington of Col. II. ii. Gregg, Chief
of Tranporta of 5. p. Bates, on mill
tary history of our yoluatetrs; of trustees
Of the Soldiers GETTYSBURG National Gem
etery; OF the proceed ngS and C, remonv of
the return of The flags, on the 4th of July,
in the city of Philade phia, and of Col.
James WorIe, commissioner appointed
under an act relating to :he passage of fish
in the Susqu' hanna, and invite your at
tention to them. and the reports of the
Surveyor General and Adjutant General.
The Agency at Washington should, in
my judgment be continued. 1t has prov
ed very useful in all respects, and especial
ly to ouI volunteers and their families
Four thousand six hundred and ninety
claims have passed through the Agency
duling the past year, and three hundred
and eleven thousand seven hundred and
three dollars have been collected from the
Government and transmitted to the claim
ant free of charge,
1t will be necessary to continue the Of
flee of Chef of Transportation, as there are
unsettled accounts with railroad companies
and the National Government, and duties
to be performed in the removal and care of
bodies of the dead, which require it An
additional appropriation will be required
for this Department.
earnestly recomm end, in justice to the
Ewing and the dead, that onr military his
tory re pushed forward vigorously, and
that money for that purpose be approPria-
ted.
The trustees of the State Lunatic hospi-
tai represent th.,t it is impossible for them
to accommodate ana care for the number
OF patients committed !" them under the
laws regulating admissions l,.to the hospi
ial, and earnestly recommend that ,nrovls-
ion be made for increased accommodation,
| need not say that the institution is
carefully and economically managed, or to
refer to the great good it has produced =
and that cordially unite in the statement
and recommendations of the memorial
herewith presented.
invite your attention to the condition
of the Arsenal.
1t is too small-unsafe as depositary
for the large amount of valuable military