The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1874-01-22
Governors Message.

So 20 by reference 10 the recent panic,
aud says he will cooperate. IN any
measure in which the Legislature
may attempt TO alleviate the troubles
of the working men. He reports
the public State debt to be S25, 79S..
621.94 on the first Of November. and
the receipts for 1873 were $S,559,-
1881.
"ln referring TO future receipts
and expenditures, the Governor
says:
"ln 1874 the receipts from all
sources will I've Sl,50O,O0O less than
the receipts Of 1873, while the expen
diturcs will not be diminished. This
loss of revenue is largely due to the
repeal Of taxes bearing heavily upon
the industrial interests of the Com.
monwealth, and partly to the pros.
tration of business. The receipts of
1875 may be about the same us those
of 1874, but the expenditures will be
greater, owing TO the additional out.
lay necessary for schools, Legislature
and Judiciary, under the new Consti
tuition, which will then be in full
force. Notwithstanding this enor-
nous decrease in the receipts, and
incresc in expenditures, il is hoped
ard believed, that by the most rigid
economy in every branch of the gov
ernment and moderate appropria
tions, the revenues in the future will
be sufficient 10 meet all the demands
OF the Treasury, and leave balance
to reduce the indebtedness of the
State, as required by the Constitu.
ton. / am i'll accord with those who
believe as the debt decreases there
should be corresponding relief af
forded to those interests that bear
the burden 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
uniform upon the saino class Of
subjects, and very unfair in their
operation, and I think, therefore, .
revision of our tax law is now desira
BILE il not necessary"
Tho Governor also calls attention
to the "Centennial' and wants the
people in the State to make renewed
exertionsto make it a success.
As each days experience reveals
the methods of administration. the
conviction grows stronger in my
mind that good government depends
not so much on written laws MS upon
the disposition Of the people to com
ply with the demands Of the laws.
and the determination of those dele
gated to execute them, to see that
their mandates are enforced. Re.
form, it will be conceded, cannot be
obtained by mere constitutional en-
actment, nor by surrounding officers
and trusts with additional restraints.
Upon the present Legislature dc
wolves duty involving great care
and labor, and which if discharged,
as believe it will be, with a proper
regard for the public interest, will
rebound to it's credit and honor. To
you is committed the important trust
OF moulding existing regulations into
conformity with the change about to
be inaugurated in the fundamental
law Of the State. Bring to the per.
formance of this high AMI response
BILE duty all the wisdom you possess,
divest yourself Of all selfish consider
ations, devote time and thought to
the work, and with the New Consti-
tuition rs your constant guide, build
mp n good and symmetrical system Of
laws, and let us SO far rs il 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 tho school laws the
Governor says:
"Promincnt among the defects is
the lack Of proper training and other
qualifications Of the teachers Of the
schools "Of the 15,003 teachers re
ceiving certificates to teach during
the year, only 374 were found to have
a MoroUgh knowledge of reading,
writing, arithmetic, geography and
grammar, and that practical prepar
alton for their profession which in
sures success is the startling de-
clarations made by the Superintend-
ent of Common Schools. There must
certainly be radical change in this
regard, if we would have our chill.
dren attain even the rudiments of an
ordinary education. The necessity
ofestablishing Normal schools where
in students are especially qualified
and trained for teaching is conspicu,
ously shown in these statistics, and
itisa qualification to know that twelve
of these valuable institutions have
been erected or are in process OF
erection in various parts of the State.
and when all are furnished with an
able corps of instructors, we can
confidently hope the graduates there
from will largely contribute to supI
ply this pressing need of good and
competent teachers.
Dissatisfaction exists also and com
plaint is made about tho frequent
changes of school books, entailing
expenses upon parents, and subject,
ing pupils to novel and perplexing
methods of acquiring lessons that
mystify more thas they instruct.