The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-06
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1869.
The Governors Message.


noints of interest to the welfare OF the Com
monwealth. 1t is written in that frapK, SOL
dierly style which we would expect from the
pen OF the Governor, and will give general
satisfaction among the people. Let us look
at the principal subjects of which he treats.
Probably the most interesting department OF
State administration is that most intimately
connected with the revenue. The condition
OF the finances of Pennsylvania is treated
with perspicuity and fulluess, aud the pic
ture which is shown is the best enco-
MUM on the administration which
has conducted them. There is
balance in the Treasury Of 81, Oh. 4l5. The
Sinking Fund Commission for the reduction
of the funded debt of the State report, "for
the year ending September 3, 1867, the loans
redeemed amount to 81, ,794 $50, and by their
report from September 3, 1867. to November
80, 1868, the loans redeemed amounted to
$2,414,816 making total reduction OF the
State debt in two years and three months OF
$4 2O9, ,386'14." Thus modestly, without COIN
ment, the Executive states a fact OF which he
has good reason to boast as the pride of his or
suggestion in regard to the ten million dol
lars worth of bonds ofthe Pennsylvania Cen
trail and Erie Railroad which are held by the
State. They are non-interest bearing, and
will not mature for many years. He esuggests
their sale to the highest bidder, aud that the
proceeds be applied to the reduction of the dabt.
This would be at once changing dead capital
;,,ko o,d tn hp hnr rda Of fha
taxed. The total State debt is $33, 2S6, ,946
The Governor concludes that portion
OF the message which Co. to
the finances by strkinSua note
which will find an echo inn popular
thought 80 Retrenchment is emphstically
demanded by the people in legislative expendi
lures, as we'll as in every other branch of the
Government" The order of the day is "re-
trenchment and REFORM" and the voters will
hold to strict accountability any and all those
who waste the public funds. The Common
School system of the State presents a most
hourishing appearance. There are SO0,5l5
pupils in the schools, aud the average cost of
educating each pupil for the year is seven dol
lars seventy-tonr and half cents. The average
salary paid to teachers is but $l95'173, aud
the Governor, with great justice, says that
this sum sis too small to secure the services
of competent Teachers" and that an increase
ISIS but just. and it will have an elevatiny
tendency not only upon the teachers but the
manner in which their duties are performed"
The Soldiers Orphans Schools" have 343l
children in them, and the average cost of
board and tuition is 50 65a per week for each
pupil. The whole system of educating and
providing for the orphans OF soldiers is COM
msnded by the Governor as both proper aud
patriotic. The fourishing condition OF tue
Agricultural College is also fsvorably com
mented upon.
Next In importance to the points on which
we have already spoken Is that OF the Registry
law. We must hesitate, on second thought,
to make it second to any consideration. On it
the Governor speaks with great fraukness.
He truly states that in the late elections
''frauds were perpetrated SURPRISING in magn-
tude, perhaps, any that have been heretofore
consummated in the history of this Common
wealth." AID forcibly adds:-"These frauds
have demonstrated the necessity of the passage
desired effect without being subject to the ex-
ceptionabs features pointed out by the
learned gentlemen who pronounced the OPT
nion of the Supreme Bench" In this the
people join, and demand of the Legislature
tho adoption of some law so stringent
AZ TO render such frauds impossible
In the future. The Governor directs attention
to the double crime, and says Not only
should false voting be severely punished, but
false swearing to obtain a vote be visited with
the pains and penalties of perjury and with
perpetual Acknowledgement" The great and
Belfevident frauds perpetrated through the
naturalization OF foreigners, and which THE
EvREMG TELEGRAPH was the first to expose.
also merit and receive notice at the hands Of
the Executive. "Every proper facility"
says Governor Geary, "for the naturalization
OF citizens OF foreign birth should be afforded;
but the Legislature, in its combined wisdom,
can surely enact some mode to prevent the
possibility of a single vote being cast upon
spurious naturalization apers, and thus fully
secure the purity of the elective franchise"
Suoh a law is within the range Of possibility,
and will, we feel sure be passed.
The establishment OF an Insurance Bureau,
similar to that OF New York, is also recon-
mended for oft-repeated times. It should bs
tormed In order to save the companies of Penn
avIvania from the overwhelming cOmpatition