Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-01-14
Ic3aGnc.
Extracts TToin Ihc annual Message
OgJolnn ". SseRrY.

oGJOlln W. GeRry.
REDUCTION oT THE PUBLIC DEBT.
On the fifteenth day of January, 1867,
the total Indebtedness Of the State was
thirty million seven hundred and
four thousand four hundred and nine dol
lars and scvCnty-scvCn cents. Since then,
and up to November 30. 1870, the sum of
six million five hundred and ninety-two
thousand seven hundred and forty yseven
dollars and eightv-sevcn cents has been
paid. The reduction during the year end
ing November 80, 1870. is one million seven
hundred and two thousand eight hundred
and seventy dollars and 1--WE cents.
The average reduction per annum for the
last four years is one million six hundred
and forty-eight thousand one hundred and
cightY-srVcn dollars.
In view of the fact that prior to the first
Of July, 1872 nearly eight million dollars
of the public debt wiz he Aue. and in order
that the Commonwealth may continue to
meet all its obligations promptly Il maturi-
Is, recommend that such provision be
made by the Legislature as will authorize
, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to
. sell all the assets that may be in their
possession, and apply the proceeds to the
/ eXtiuguishment of the debt or, at the
I option of the holders, to exchange them for
/ the outstanding bonds of the Common
wealth.
The indebtedness of the State might be
. paid in the following manner As already
shows it was ON November 30, 1870, about
/ thirty-one million dollars. from which
amount, if the said assets, S9,5OO,000 be
deducted, there would remain unpaid S2l,
500, 900. After which, estimating the
revenues and expenditures to continue as
Il, al,
could be liquidated in about eight years
If this mode of paying the State debt
should be regarded as unnecessarily rapid
and oppressive. then a movement to revise
and modify taxation may meet with much
iu0rc general favor Our debt is now held
. firmly by those To whom il is a great benc-
lit tn have So secure an investment. y GER
tain reduction of one million dollars per
anuum on il would, perhaps, be more salts
factory to them ana to the people, than to
strive To pay il oil so hastily. In an en-
dcaVur ia force things nndvr the present
mode of taNalion, there is great danger of
dgiv,u-; aiHtu away from our manuiactur-
iuy centres. The iandho!dcr has been cX-
rmptcd from taxes on his land iur state
purposes, and the burden shifted upon the
active, energetic, and cntcrprisinG portions
of the community. who have always had
case, and runs no risk, whilst the business
man, N, reliant, ana manufacturer are the
motive power of the community, upon
which the farmer himself must, in II great
measure, depend for Il realization of his in
dustry. \ more liberal policy towards
those engaged in mercantile, manuiactur-
ing, railroad, and mining pursuits should
be adopted. Unless interests are losttrrd
and kept in full operation, All classes Of th,
people viii suffer. They are the very life
blood of the State, and should not in any
way be- chilled or impedrd by oycr-burdcn
ing them with taxation for the immediate
payment of the entire State liabilities.
The foregoing recommendations, in my
opinion, embrace the true policy OF ia,
Commonwealth, aud ifadoptcd, will doubt
less receive hearty rrspnnsc aud endorse
mout from the people. The taxpayers de
mand that all their social, industrial, com
mrrcial. aud financial operations shall b,
relieved from the burdens ut any more iaN
alton than may hv necessary for the -,udu,,
payiuvut of the debt, ~ l. last above md'
r Gated, aud Ia dclrty lhr frugal expenses "a
% the government. Economy and ryiuu
should no longer bc adyovllcda, glitteriu
gtucEtlitiys, on mere distractions. Wllhuu
r meaning or intent, but a. vital, living r,uA
- ties,
: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
+ Four years' experience as AN eNcutiy
- officer has given me abundant opporlunlt
4 tor rarriul observation upon the working
y ofour fundamental law and the LEGISLATION
OF the State, This experience has slruusl
y impressed mc that thcrr should he "A thor
10 uu-h revision ui thv Slutr Constitution
r With such amendment, as the wisdom ut
% convention assembled TOR that purpus
Wuuld undoubtedly suggest uud an al
y lghtrued publir aeulngut d,nand,
Tho last convention ilr this puTpusr Wa
A held la ls.is, During thr thiuy y.tN" Nsar
u which have siury elapsed suudH amrud
m,uls have bren made hy ilint RESOLUTION
0lihe t,eneral Assembly, anl la rnlnl 'lane
with thr tfnih aTtitlr M ihn Cnnstiiui. Ii
Hvre approved aud niinrd by a nalpfltY ,
tks qualified yotsfs a the state Tia mal