The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-01-13

VI Oho SOFoihmohJ anu mOuelhte appr0prl-
ations, the revenues in the future will be
sufficient to meet all the demands of the
| Treasury and leave balance to reduce
the indebtedness Of the State, as required
by the Constitution. l am in accord with
those who believe as the debt decreases
there should be a corresponding relief af-
forded to those interests that bear the bur
den of taxation but at this juncture l
would regard any further reduction of the
revenues as unwise. In our list of taxes,
however, may be found some that are not
strictly 6" uniform upon the same class of
| subjects" - and very unfair in their opera
tion, and I think, therefore, revision of
our tax law is now desirable If not neces-
sary."
The Governor also calls attention to the
Centennial and wants the people in the
State to make renewed exertions to make
| it success.
In referring to the New Constitution the
Governor will issue his proclamation de-
claring it a law as soon as the Legislature
counts the votes, and says:
"The New Constitution having been APP
proved by very decided majority of the
people, It is expected that all citizens will
yield cheerful obedience to its behests, and
unite to strictly and faithfully enforce its
provisions.
AS each days experience reveals the
methods of administration, the conviction
grows stronger in my mind that good gov
ernment depends rot so much on written
laws as upon the disposition Of the people
to comply with the demands of the Flaws,
and the determination of those delegated to
to execute them to see that their mandates
are enforced. Reform, it will be conceded,
cannot be obtained by mere constitutional
enactment nor by surrounding officers and
trusts with additional restraints. y
Upon the present Legislature devolves
duty involving great care and labor, and
which if discharged, as believe it will be,
with proper regard for the public interest,
will rebound to its credit and honor. To
you is committed the important trust of
moulding existing regulations into con-
formity with the change about to be inau-
gurated in the fundamental law of the
State Bring to the performance of this
high and responsible duty all the wisdom
you possess, divest yourself of all selfish
considerations, devote time and thought
to the work, and with the New Constitu-
tion as your constant guide, build up
good and symmetrical system of laws, and
let us so far as it lies in our ability, start
the State forward upon her future career,
clothed with ample powers to extend her
enterprise, and fulfill her great destiny"
In regard to the school laws the Cover
nor says:
prominent among the defects is the
lack of proper training and other qualii-
cations of the teachers of the schools. 'Of
the 1908 teachers receiving certificates to
teach during the year, only S74 were found
to have thorough knowledge Of reading,
writing, arithmetic, geography and gram
mar, and that practical preparation for
their profession which insures success, is
the startling declarations made by the Su-
perintendent of Common Schools There
must certainly be radical change in this
regard, if we would have our children at
tain even the rudiments of an ordinary ed
ucation. The necessity of establishing
Normal schools wherein students are es-
pecially qualified and trained for teaching
is conspicuously shown in these statistics,
and it is a qualification to know that twelve
Of these valuable institutions have been
erected or are in process Of erection in va
rious parts of the State, and when-all are
furnished with an able corps of instructors,
we can confidently hope the graduates
therefrom will largely contribute to supply
this pressing need of good and competent
teachers
Dissatisfaction exists also and complaint
is made about the frequent changes of
school books, entailing expenses upon pa
rents, and subjectiDg pupils TO novel and
perplexing methods of acquiring lessons
that mystify more than they instruct.
There seems to be an urgent demand for
more training of a technical kind, that will |
fit children for mechanical pursuits and
the practical duties of life. suggest,
therefore, that school boards DO authorized
to make provision for giving instruction in
industrial and mechanical drawing, both in
day and evening schools also that schools
be established wherein trades may be
taught, or arrangements made for such in
struction in connection with schools already
established, so that skilled mechanics can
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