Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-01-20
Z % SYNOPSIS g "-p "
OF
GOV. GRARY'S MESSAGE.

find in the Harrisburg Patriot ai
After gratefully expressing thanks tc
Divine Providence for the prosperity Of the
Commonwealth, and the progress of oul
free institutions, the Governor enters into
statement of the condition of the finances.
The balance in the treasury ON the 30th OF
November, 1868, was 81, Ala, 1851 The
amount of the public debt on the first day
of December, 1868, was S33, 286, GAG, IA
The Governor recommends that whenever
there may be surplus funds in the treasury
they may be employed in purchasing the
outstanding bonds Of the State. He cen
sures the last legislature for not providing
sufficient guards for the protection of the
public money, and again urges the subject
on the attention Of the Legislature Re-
trenchment and economy are advocated in
the same old stereotyped phrases, and will
be as much needed as ever before. The
Governor again insists that the appropria-
ton bill be passed in time that it may re-
ceive thorough examination before the ex-
ecutive signature is attached.
! The cause of education next claims the
attention of the message. The expenses of
the Common Schools for the past year
amounted to Sc, 200, 537, &C. The average
| cost for the tuition OF each scholar is 81
TAI and the average amount paid each
teacher 1896 1714. The Governor then
&ho% hn 81 oha,
be increased, but as the legislature has
nothing to do with that question, his rec
ommendation amounts to little. He also
calls attention to the fact that there are
not less than seventy-five thousand per-
sons in the State between the ages of six
and twenty-one who do not go to school
When it is considered that six is regarded
by many sensible people as too early an
age to send children to school, and that be-
fore they have reached the age of twenty
one, very many more have thrown away
their school books, the statement of the
Governor will not appear SO astounding
The expenditures for the support of the
Soldiers Orphans Schools from Dec. 1st,
1897, to May 81, 1868, amounted to $780,
$40 &C. The total number of pupils, g.
431, and the average cost of each pupil for
six months S69.06k. The Governor as
serts that the schools are all in good condi-
ton and prospering. The Agricultural
College is discussed. and this branch of the
subject is wound up with the average COM
mon-place eopy-book phrases about the
blessings of education.
The military department is briefly con-
sidered. There are seventy-seven volun-
teer companies in the State, aud number
of others organizing. A reduction of the
number of men now required, to an aggre-
gate of fifty officers and men to each COM
pany, the Governor thinks, would cause
military companies to increase by the hun
dred.
In recommending new registry law, the
message says that lit is alleged that frauds
were perpetrated, SURPRISING in magnitude,
perhaps, any that have been consummated
heretofore in the history of the Common
wealth" Without proof, on mere allega-
ton, ''these frauds" are presented as the
ground for any other registry law, which
the Governor hopes will not be subject to
the Objectionable features pointed out by
the Supreme Court in last years bill
Since the new registry law will be worth
nothing without ''exceptionable features, "
it is matter of little consequence with the
radicals whether they make q new bill or
not. .... ..r
A department to protect the interests Of
insurers is recommended, and also desk
for the collection of statistics The deaths
of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens and Hon. OAR
win A. Finney are appropriately referred
to. .
The whole number Of applications for
pardons during the year has been sixteen
hundred and twenty three. The number
Of pardons granted has been one hundred
and six. In the Philadelphia county pris-
on the following persons are confined un-
der sentence Of death Edward Ford, SEN
fenced May II, 1851 Jerry Dixon, May
80, 1868; Patrick Finnegan, February 9,
1868; Newton Champion. Dec. l, 1866
Alfred Alexander and Hester Vaughn, July
8, 1868. The Governor thinks it would be
mereiful if authority were given him to
commute the sentence to imprisonment at
labor in the penitentiary.
The message concludes with q very poor
stump speech to the radicals. 1t congrat-
ulates them on the election of Grant. II
attributes to the downfall of the rebellion,
the recent political reforms in England
the expulsion of the Bourdons i'll Spain !;
the troubles in Cuba; the liberal move
ment in Germany and the waning infu-
ence of Louis Napoleon in France. Until
we read this wonderful message, we never
knew that the war for the rebellion had ac-
comphshed so much. It will be news to
most people The Governor carefully
avoids any allusion to the suffrage question
or to the measures now before Congress to
make suffrage question universal by an
amendment of the Constitution, which are
the most important of any before the coun-
try. The silence of the Governor is signif-
icant, affording ground to hope that the rad
icals will not venture to put any of their
darling schemes against the power of the
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