Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
Harrisbssrr Letter.

duced, ana ~ these corporations wero
opposed TO the bill, and were anxious
to discuss its merits before tho finance
com mittee Of the Senate, n hearing
was fixed for them on tho evening oI
tho 18th instant. The Pennsylvania
Railroad Company was represented by
W. j. Howard, their solicitor, who
said tho bill destroyed uniformity In
the taxation Of corporations ard bore
with especial severity on companies q
portion of whose road only travcrsed
this State. Such q tax as is proposed
in tho bill would take from railroad
companies about one million dollars
more than they now paid into
the State treasury. The result would
be to interfere detrimentally with the
business of corporations, and nccos-
sarily to increase the burdens of the
pulic at large. He considered the
bill unjust, and read from tho Gov.
ernors message and tho State Treas
urcr's report to show that it was un.
necessary-that the ordinary expenses
OF tho Commonwealth could be met
without increased taxation.
+. b. Gowen, President Of the
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad,
maintained that tho revenues were
sufficient to meet the current expen.
ditures of the government with n
handsome balance to spare. In his
opinion the State Treasurer had great.
ly undercstimated the revenues which
will be derived from corporations dur,
1874 under existing laws-to the
amount OF about 500 900. Besides
tho State Treasurer had overstatcd
the sum that would have to be ap-
piled TO the liquidation Of the State
debt by 100000. According to his
Mr. Gowens) estimate, tho amount
in tho treasury at the end oil the
year will bc 81, 100000 or S1,200000
making allowances for the $4,000 To
be devoted to tho payment of the
State debt. A tax should DO imposed
on corporations that is equitable
making no discrimination against
railroad companies. Tho proper
method would be to tax gross receipts
and drop all other taxes. He said
that the adoption of the bill pending
would increase tho tax Of his compa.
ny from 100000 to s1,000,000. He
then stated that his company last
year employed nearly 10000 men and
paid them over $4,000, 600. Such q
company he thought should bo protect
cd from all unjust legislation. IIc re
ferred to the fact that his company
had agreed to give s150,000, and the
Pennsylvania company s250,000 to
ward the centennial exposition. II
these companies were burdcned with
an additional tax they would be 10th tc
contribute the amount. He said i
the bill passed, the people living
along the line of the road would have
the burden to put on them. An at
tempt had been made, he said, TO ere
ate a feeling against railroad compa
mics, and in favor of the centennial
that unless the bill passed the opposi
tion would fail. lie said Mackey, the
State Treasurer, had reports circula-
ted through the press that such would
be the case If increased taxes were
not imposed. Gowen is smart, anc
made an eloquent and lengthy speech
which was listened to by an appre-
ciative audience with rapt attention
He was followed by the Presidents
of the Lehigh 4 Susquehanna, and
the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroads. Senators Wal
lace, Rutan and Mcclure, OF tho com,
mite, propoundcd a number of ques
tions to the speakers which were
promptly answered. a
The following bills on third reading
passed the House this week /: House
bill, No. l07, requiring railroad OF
canal corporations, organized or doing
business in this State, TO maintain ar
Office therein for tho transaction o.
business. No. "a, joint resolution fol
an appropriation for painting a por
trait of the Governor. An act author
izing tho purchase of ground for 0
New State Arsenal, aud the abandon
mcnt OF tho old one on the Capilo
grounds, Senate Bill, No. 2. to provide
for the payment of the expenses o
advertising the new Constitution came
up on Sd reading and passed finally
On Sd reading, bills were taken up AZ
follows: An act TO provide for the ex
penscs OF the Board of Charities. BY
an amendment the salary of chiel
clerk OF the above board was made
$1,000. instead of s2,OO0,as heretofore
The bill then passed. A number o.
bills passed I'd reading, each making
some appropriation for the relief o
hospitals and other places of charity
provided by voluntary contributions
In the Senate bills were introduced ai
follows Providing for final adjourn
ment on April 10th. BY Mr. Rutan
to create commission for the pur
pose of examining and procuring uni
iormity of school books in the scvera
school districts Of this commonwealth
Mr.. Cooper offered a resolution provid
ing for adjournment OF the Legislature
from 9th OF March TO April l4th