Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-01-17
Econclnaea from fIrst Faae.l

deeply interested, the responsibility for
which, after the adjournment, but few mem-
bers could be found willing to assume or
even to admit any knowledge Of their pass
age. lit is expected that every legislator
should be acquainted with az that ls trans
piring in the legislative halls. tie Is not
simply chosen to give his support 10 certain
bills which have been called 70 ms indiYld-
nal attention, but to be constantly on the
alert to Illustrate every act that may have
tendency to jeopardize the public interests.
To plead ignorance after real or imaginary
wrong has been done, is to acknowledge
want Of attention to the trust reposed by
his constituents One bill, the authorship
and knowledge of which has been generally
diselaimed. passed both branches Of the As
sembly, and was sent in due form, with the
signatures of the proper officers, for the
Executive approval, and in several instances
bills were passed and sent for approval IN
duplicate All such hasty and careless legis-
lation should be avoided, and the members
of the session now about to commence be
enabled at its close to give an account Of
their participation in e~1ry act, however
unimportant The Legislature, coming as
it does, fresh from the ranks of the people,
should set an example in economy, Tetreneh-
ment and reform Ii is the custodian OF the
public interests, and any unnecessary ex-
traVagance or prodigality in the expenditure
of public money is reprehensib,e. IL was
matter of common notOTiety at the last ses-
sion that a number of subordinate officers,
in both branches of the Assembly, we're APP
pointed to whom liberal salaries were paid,
and who were never seen at their designated
posts, and rendered no service to the State.
This practice has been emphatically con
demned by the press and the people, and
will not be continued by any Legislature
which means to acquire reputation for
faithful performance Of duty. Your atten
ton is respectfully iAYited to the law on this
subject as contained in sections fifteen to
eighteen of the act approved the 7th day of
May, 1855.
ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Your attention is directed to the practice
of Withholding the annual appropriation bill
until the latest moments Of the session. In
the public estimation great importance is at
tached to this bill, and no action of the Leg
islature undergoes a closer or more careful
scrutiny. Its provisions concern the en-
tire community, and in their enactment too
much caution cannot be observed. Last
year the appropriation ibill.was not passed
until the last night Of the session, when it
was hurried through both branches Of the
Legislature anu On lil6 lOnOhlbB mOIulDg
presented for approval, without affording
time for the necessary investigation, and
subiecting the Executive to the alternative
of signing it with all It's imperfections, or
suspendiDg, for the ensuing year, the indis-
pensable means for the operations of the
State Government 1t is, therefore, earn
estly desired that the appropriation bill be
taken up, discussed, and passed at a suffi-
ciently early period during the session to
enable it 70 receive that thorough examina-
ton which its importance demands.
PERQUIsTTEs OF OFFICE.
Very many serious complaints have been
made for many years past relative to the
disposition of the debris which annually ac-
eumulates about the Capitol This seems
to have been regarded as legitimate perqui-
sites of certain attaches Of the severa! legis-
latiYe and other departments, and has
consequently led to practices which should
be prevented It is alleged that valuable
property has thus been taken possession Of
and applied to personal uses, or sold for
mere nominal sums, and the amount obtain
ed privately appropriated A remedy for
this evil is to allow no perquisites whatever
TO any Of the employees of the government.
Salaries, sufficient in all cases for the services
rendered, should be appropriated, beyond
which no other consideration should be
allowed. The adoption of this principle
would remove the temptation for young men
In the departments to resort to improper
practices. All the public property, of every
description, as well as the buildings and
grounds, should be placed in charge of the
superintendent appointed for that purpose,
chosen for his known integrity and general
eapabihty, and required to give sufficient
bonds for. the faithful performance Of his
duties. all property and material not
needed for public use, the superintendent
should be required to sell at publicsale, and
pay over the proceeds TO the State Treasury.
GENERAL RAILROAD LAW.
The subject of & general railroad law has
long been agitated, and although it has
found opponents, but few objections have
been urged against it whilst arguments
accumulate in its favor. 1t seems impossi-
bic that any person can receive injury from
Its adoption, whilst its benefits may be felt
By all classes Of citizens. Even the char
tered companies have no reasonable grounds
for opposition. The intention of the
proposed law is not to deprive them of any
vested rights or franchises; but to secure to
others the same privileges andoppOI tuuities
for competition. twill open new avenues
to distant markets; improve the value of
property; give new impulse to immigration;
put additional lands under cultivation;
stimulate trade, agriculture, manufactures
and mechanic arts to increased energy;
furnish greater inducements and facilities
for travel, and add TO our general prosperity.
Other States have tried the experiment with
satisfactory results and there is no reason
why Pennsylvania should be laggard in
the grand march Of progress and improve
ment.
Next to the importance of creating
additional railroads on the free principle.
is the reduction of charges for passage and
freight to minimum rates This is a matter
that concerns every individual Transpor-
tatlon will increase in quantity in proportion
to the reduction of its cost and as the
facilities increase and the costs decrease, the
more vigorous will be the development of
our industrial resources. Railroads will
derive more benefit from low than from
exorbitant charges. The increase of travel
and freight will be vastly greater than the
increase OF expense. The transportation of
a loaded car costs but little more than that
OF one that IS empty. In the matter of
passengers alone, tbs reasonable to suppose,
that the lower the rates Of fare, the greater
viii be the number of persons to avail them
selves Of the privilege of railroad transpor-
tatIon. The same is true in regard to
freight; for the engine that draws a half
dozen cars, can with nearly equal facility
propel larger number Moreover, the
road that is worked to its utmost capacity
must necessarily, at very reduced rates.
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