The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-01-14
Total funded and unfund.

Which is the amount Of the State debt
as before stated.
During the last eighteen years there has
been carried upon the accounts of the Aud
itor General and State Treasurer, and in
their several public statements, "deprecia-
ted funds unavailable" to the amount of
forty-one thousand and thirty-two dollars.
l recommend the appointment of joint
committee, by the Legislature, whose duty
it shall be to examine the said deprecated
and unavailable funds and dispose of them
to the best advantage of the Treasury or,
if found to be worthless, to cancel and de-
stroy them, so that the accounting efieers
may be relieved from the necessity and re-
sponsibility of annually accounting for
them.
The large cash balance remaining in the
| Treasury on the 30th of November, 1867,
has been used for the payment of the twen-
ty-three million loan and for the liquida-
tion of outstanding claims against the
State The investment Of the funds, in
one of the modes recommended in my last
annual message, has, therefore, In great
measure been rendered unnecessary for the
present. But in the event of large accu-
mutations of money hereafter, the recon-
mendations therein given are respectfully
referred to, and renewed. Whenever there
may be surplus funds in the Treasury, they
be employed in the purchase of its out
standing bonds, and in saving the interest
on them which would accumulate prior to
their maturity.
regret to state that the last Legisla-
ture, although fully forewarned as to the
insecurity and want of proper and sufficient
guards for the safe keeping of the money
of the Commonwealth, failed to determine
upon any mode by which the Treasury
may be effectually guarded against the
possibility of loss. The present Lcgisla-
ture has it in its power to secure for itself
no ordinary honor, by the enactment of
such law, strong and efficient for the pur-
pose indicated, and the enjoyment not on
ly of the appreciation, but the permanent
gratitude of every citizen.
Notwithstanding the satisfactory reduc-
ton of the public indebtedness, as shown
in the foregoing statements, an immense
State debt is still upon US, requiring near
ly two millions of dollars to be collected to
pay the interest accruing upon it annually
Its extinguishment at the earliest practi-
cable period, not inconsistent with other
public interests, is of the highest impor-
tance to every taxpayer. [ cannot, there
for, too strongly urge the strictest econo
my in respect to every expenditure, and
| the utmost retrenchment In every depart
ment.
Retrenchment is emphatically deman
ded by the people, in legislative expendi
lures, as well as in every other branch ot
the government. Their eyes are open tc
investigate every transaction, and by theil
ballots they are ready to strike down those
who will not take effective action in favor o.
positive and radical reform. The money
paid into the Treasury is the property o.
the people, every one of whom has JUS
right to hold his representatives to a stric
accountability for every dollar that may bf
appropriated or expended.
I here renew the remarks made las
year on the subject of "annual appropria
tions," to which you are respectfully re
ferred For four successive years the gen
eral appropriation bills have been signed OF
the eleventh day of April, being about the
time of adjournment. The Governor ha'
been forced either to sign the bills withou
proper investigation, Notwithstanding any
] objections he may have suspend the means