The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-04
Greuiug telegraph
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1871.
TIE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

TIE GOVERNORS MESSAGE
OK our first page we publish the annual mes
sage of Governor Geary as transmitted to the
Legislature to-day. The Governor gives q
general review of the affairs of the State,
and touches upon number of important
topics connected with the public welfare, and
we commend the message to the thoughtful
attention of our readers. In regard to the
finances of the State the Governor makes
satisfactory report. He says that every de-
mand upon the Treasury for ordinary and
other expenses has been promptly paid, and
the public debt materially reduced, so that a
public confidence in the securities of the
Commonwealth has been inspired which en-
ables them to command the highest pre-
MUM in the market. On the 18th of Janu-
ary, 1867, the total Indebtedness OF the
State was $37, 7O4 ,4O9'77. Since then and
up to November 80, 1870, the sum of
Sc, 592, 747'67 has been paid. The reduction
during the year ending November 80, 1870,
is 81, 702, S79'O5. The general desire for
Constitutional Convention is strongly endorsed
by the Governor, who sets forth the inconve-
nience Of the present patchwork condition of
iu6 COHStlluJlOu, CHuSeu ny Jue uuueEOuS
important amendments that have been made
since the last Constitutional Convention in
1883 The labors of the commissioners
appointed to revise the statutes of the Com
monwealth are referred to with satisfaction,
and, in the opinion of the Governor, the
work has been we'll performed. The entire
laws of the Commonwealth, including those
of British origin, except such as relate to
crime, have been revised, collated, and
arranged ia volu ume of less than three hun
dred pages. The prosperous condition of
our common school system is alluded to in
the message, and a number of suggestions
for its improvement are offered. satisfsc-
tory exhibit of the affairs of the schools for
soldiers orphans is also made. The Cover
nor makes a brief statement in regard to our
militia SYSTEM but offers no suggestions for
placing it upon better footing than it is at
present. There is no doubt whatever that
our militia force is not what it ought to be,
and some measures for increasing its eff
cheney should engage the attention of the
Governor and the Legislature. The import
ance of a geological survey of the State is
urged with great force by the Governor, and
III poilion Vi VIC iuoSSd5C 10 DeLtSt worthy Vi
the careful consideration of the Legislature
than this Until such survey is made We
cannot even approximate to a knowledge of
our vast mineral wealth. and we sincerely
hope that the matter will receive
the attention it deserves. In regard
to the question of protection for home
industry the views of the Governor are sound,
and he advances some unanswerable argu-
ments against the free-trade heresy that we
commend to the notice of the so-called reve-
nue. reformers. The "heathen Chinee" does
not meet with the approval of the Governor,
especially when he comes in the shape of a
Coolie under contract for term of years, and
restrictive laws that will stay the further i'm
portation of this kind of labor are recon-
mended. The presence of United States
troops at elections without the consent
of the local and State Governments
is regarded by Governor Geary as
an interference with the sovereign rights
of States, and he consequently condemns in
strong terms the action of Marshal Gregory
in summoning a squad of marines to preserve
order in the Fifth ward of this city at the last
October election. We commend this portion
of the Governors message to the thoughtful
consideration of President Grant and Con-
gress, as we do also the Governors views in
regard to the propriety of holding the CEN
tennial anniversary of the signing of the De-
claration of Independence in Philadelphia.