Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-01-14
8eofao enquirer.
BEDFORD Pa. FRIDAY, JAN. a 1879.
rnE GOVERNORS mEssAGE.

On our first page will be found the mes
sage in full. 1t is an able document and
one that viii meet the approval of oil our
.eople. The gratifying statement that in
the three years Of Geary's administration
$4.ssg, ,862 50 II the State debt has been
paid of and that 10 consequences S244, ,4SS,
"A Of interest are as aconsequenee annually
saved, will be welcome news TO the taxpayers.
The Governor reiterates tLereeommendation
of last years message in regard to the man
arement Of the finances, and shows that the
neglect of the Legislature to act upon his sug-
gestions has resulted IN loss Of $4,000
already TO the State Upon the next sub
iect, the Treasurer's salary and the disposi-
ton Of the public funds, be says:
81 beg, once more, to remind the Legis
lature that the salary of the State Treasurer
should at least be equal to that OF the Gov
ernor. 1t is only seventeen hundred dollars,
a sum entirely insufficient to command the
services of any responsible man, who is re-
ouired to furnish a bond with good and ap-
proyed sureties, for eighty thousand dollars,
and run the risk Of handling at least i've
or six million of dollars per annum, without
the unlawful use of the State funds, and
subsidies from sources that dare not be re-
vealed to the public, because they are posi-
lively prohibited by law, under penalties Of
no ordinary magnitude Yet there are but
few men who have held this Office, however
poor they may have been when they took
charge of it, who have not become rich.
There Is certainly some advantage TO be
gained by the holding of the position OF
State Treasurer, unknown to the public, but
which readily accounts for the dIsgraceiui
scramble, and for the political and moral de
baucheTy which the people OF this State
seem to be doomed annually to witness IN
the election of that officer; and because of
the disgrace 1t brings upon their Tepreseu-
tative, the people hang their heads in lndlg-
nation and shame Then, in the name Of
the good people of Pennsylvania, l call up
on the members of the Legislature, without
distinction Of party, to rise above the murk-
yness Of the polluted atmosphere OF the
past, to the true dignity Of manhood aud ex-
alted patriotism, and purify the election Of
Treasurer as well as that of every other Off
Ger within this Commonwealth, and punish
every one who tampers with the purity of
elections, whatever may be his position or
pretensions And then every one who shall
have performed his whole duty to sustain
the true interests Of the State and to main
tain the high dignity of her character, may
return unpolluted and with a clear con
science to his constituents.
This coupled with the recommendation to
pass law making it the duty Of the Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund to invest all
surplus funds as rapidly as they accrue in
the purchase of the bonds Of the Common
wealth next falling due, we hope will receive
the prompt attention Of the Legislature
Among the recommendations Of the Cover
nor none will meet more sympathy and pub
lie approval than that to provide Home
for Disabled Soldiers The soldiers or
phans are liberally provided for and our dis
abled veterans should not lie forgotten or
neglected. The establishment of an Insur-
ance Department is also very properly rec
commended as proper and necessary pro-
lection to our own insurance companies and
an indueement to capital to locate within
the State. A large number of other impor
tant matters are discussed and various judi
cious recommendations made in regard to
them, that cannot fail to meet the public ap-
proval. A judicious and firm stand is taken
in reference to the protective policy, which
wei hope to see the Legislature second by ap-
propriate action A good word is spoken
fsr at~~ssliH6 CuJu, e.Isl seyud aud seuslu;e
views are expressed on the currency ques-
ton. Altogether the message is one that
will meet with public favor and approval.
We hope to see its many valuable sugees-
tons followed up by appropriate legislation.
The party can in no way better recommend
itself to public favor and support in future.
for the message but reflects the true senf-
ments of the Republican party and Of the
great mass of the people Of the State