The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-09
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1869.
state Revenues and Expenditures.

AN analysis OF the expenditures OF Pennsyl-
vania, as given in the Auditor General s
report, shows that the Commonwealth has
ceased TO render any very important or essen
tial pecuniary assistance to the general inte-
of the State. It's sphere of action has
radually been contracted to very narrow
mits. 1t incurs no obligations for new works
public Improvement. 1t contributed ln
1868 to the common schools only the insis-
ni6oant sum of $343, 5000. 1t gave no'nlng
to the support of paupers, nothing LOT ponce
nrrnoses. and nothing for the maintenance OF
,r;souers. except the sum of $127,395 appro-
nrated to the penitentiaries and the houses of
refuge. Its payments are mainly of the fol-
lowing charsoter:-l. Expenses OF the gov
ernment, which absorbed SS45, ,539'89. This
included not only the salaries of the State
officers and legislative expenses, but also the
salaries of the Judiciary. 2. A series OF mill
tary expenses arising out of exigencies OF the
late war. 8. Pensions and gratuitles. 4.
Charitable institutions, amounting in the
aggregate to $772 066'20, more than $5OO,OOo
of which was for the support OF the schools
for soldiers orphans. 5. Common schools
6. Payments on account of the principal and
interest Of the State debt, which amounted in
1868 to Sc, 309, 954'55. 7. Appropriations to
houses of refuge and penitentiaries. s. APP
propriations for a variety of miscellaneous
purposes Of no general interest or Importance,
amounting in the aggregate to little more
than $500, 900.
The general policy which has prevailed in
the State during the last ten or fifteen years,
so far as it may be said to have had policy,
has been to cast upon the respective county,
city, borough, and school districts every pos
sible burden of the actual necessities of gov
eminent that could be thus transferred, and
at the same time to greedily absorb every
source Of revenue, exclusive Of tax on real
estate. 1t is therefore not at all surprising
that the State finances have been improved,
while many of the local governments have
been loaded down with a heavy burden Of in
debtedness. If by any fortunate accident a
set of legislators should ever be chosen who
would seriously consider the interests of the
whole people of the Commonwealth, useful
reform might be effected in the direction indi-
Gated, and the present burdens of local taxa
ton would be greatly diminished.
In 1868 the Commonwealth received from
a variety of sources as current revenue, more
than SIS, 600, 900. The useful current expen-
ditures paid out of this sum exclusive of the
amount devoted to the maintenance of soldiers
orphans schools and TO the liquidation of
claims originating in the war; did not exceed
$3,500,000 Of which nearly 100000 was
consumed by interest on loans.
The financial system of the State should be
reconstructed in one of two ways. The Com.
monwealth should either make larger appro-
priations to objects of general utility, or sur
render to the respective counties some of the
sources of revenue now enjoyed exclusively
by the State. If the first theory is adopted,
the State aid to common schools might ap-
propriately be increased, and a corresponding
reduction in local taxation for educational
purposes could be made. Various other obli
cations might properly be assumed, but per-
haps the measure suggested above would
prove most generally useful and acceptable
II the State authorities are determined to per-
sist in their present policy of shifting the real
burdens Of local government on local authori-
revenue increased. The amounts realized from
taxation on personal property, for instance,
by State and county authorities, are notori-
ously Insignificant. The Commonwealth de-
rived from this source in 1868 only
$277, ,337'66. If the laws appertaining to this
subject were revised and properly en-
forced, and If all taxes derived from
personal property were paid exclusively into
county or municipal treasures, the present
onerous burdens on real estate could be greatly
reduced, and the financial condition OF Phila
delphia, especially, might be much improved
by such reform. 1t is difficult, also, to sex
the Justice of the present system of enrichint
the State Treasury with all the money received
for tavern licenses. While the Commonwealth
pays nothing for the support of almshouses o
county prisons, she renders no equivalent 70
her revenues from this source. Other anoma
lies, equally pertinent, could be enumerated
But it is unnecessary to particularize. Tn
State should do one of two things: either as
sume new duties or surrender some of he
present sources of revenue to the local autho
rites. General legislation is either total.
neglected at Harrisburg or conducted on radi
oally erroneous principles. The law providin
that the proposed increase in the salaries Q
the Judges Of Philadelphia shall be paid by tn
City Councils is striking illustration OF tn
general tendency to transfer legitimate Stat
burdens to the respective cities and counties
u LgzIk - II.