The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-15

Which is the amount OF the State debt
as before stated.
During the last eighteen years thcre
haS been carried upon the accounts of
the Auditor General and State Trcasur-
er. and in their several ps4blic state
ments "depreciated funds yllavai!ahle"
to the amount of forty-ons thousand
and thirty-twO dollars. / recommend
the appointment of "A JOINT committee,
by the Legislature. whose duty it shall
be to examine the said deprecated and
unavailable funds and dispose OF them
t" the best advantage OF the Treasury;
or II found to be worthless, to cancel
and destroy them, so that the account
ing officer may be relieved from the le-
ccssity and responsibility of annually
accounting for them.
The large cash balance remaining in
the Treasury on the 3Oth OF November,
1867, has been used for the payment of
the twenty-three million loan, and flr
the liquidation of outstanding claims
against the State. The investment OF
the funds, in one of the modes recon-
mended in my last annual message, has,
therefore, in a great measure been rem
dered unnecessary for the present. But
in the event of large accumulatiOns of
therein given are respectfully referred
to and renewed. Whenever there may
be surplus funds iii the Treasury, they
can with safety and benefit TO the State
be employed in the purchase of It's out
standin. bonds, and in saving the in
terest on them which would accumulate
prior to their maturity.
regret To state that the hast lIegiSla-
ture, although fully forewsTned in re-
gard to the insecurity aud want OF pro-
per and sufficient guards for the safe
keeping OF the money OF the Common
wealth, failed to determine upon any
mode by which the Treasury may be
etlectually guarded againat the posi-
bility of losA The present Legislature
has in its power to secure Dr itself no
ordinary honor, by the enactment of
such a law, stroDg and efficient for the
purpose indicated, and the enjoyment
not only of the appreciation, but the
permanent gratitude Of every citizen.
Notwithstanding the satisfactory re-
duction of the public Indebtedness, as
shown in the foregoing statements, an
immense Slate debt is still upon us, re-
quiring nearly two million of dollars
10 be collected to pay the interest ac-
cruing upon it annually, Its eXtinguish-
ment at tho earliest practicable period,
not inconsistent with other public in
terests, is OF the highest importance to
every tax payer. l cannot, therefore,
too strongly urge the stalctest economy
in respect to every expenditure and the
utmost retrenchment In every depart
lnent.
Retrenchment Is emphaticaly dc,
manded 10y the people, In legislative
expenditures, rs well us in every other
branch OF the Government. Their eyes
are open % investigate every transac,
tion, and by their ballots<hey are ready
TO strike down those WHO will not tako
effective action in favor Of positive and
radical reform. The money paid into
the Treasury is the property of the peo-
pie, every one of whom has just right
to hold his representatives to IA strict
accountability for every dollar that
may be appropriated or expended.
here remW the remarks made last
year on tho subject of "annual apprcs
priations," to which YOU are respectful'
Is relcruCd, For four successive year,