The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-01-14
OF their merits or the reasons vbv tbev

should not be granted These hearings b.v
at some sessions extended over period q
four days, the sittings of the Board at time
reaching far into night. The zeal, fidelity
and industry, with which these geutieme,
nave sought for the truth, entitle them {,
the gratitude of the public and should So
cure them its confidence.
As the proceedings before the Board ar
without precedent, it is not singular tha
erroneous impressions prevail as to its DOW
ers and the form the application and dicus
sl. SION should take in behalf of prisoner
The common mistake is to conceive tha
the Board has the functions of a court O
review, where the errors of the severn
courts OF the Commonwealth may be re
Vlsed and corrected. This was manifest,
never the intention Of those who framed
the Constitution and the composition of tn,
Board, only one of whom must necessarily
be learned in the law, forbids any such con
struction.
1t is misapprehension also, to suppose
that 1t Is incumbent upon the board to lis
ten to exhaustive and elaborate arguments
tor and against an application, when all the
test tlmony marshallcd on the trial is again
reviewed. If this practice should obtain
rs the applications increase, the greater
part OF the time of the gentlemen composing
the board, will be consumed in hearing ap
pllcants for pardon, to the serious detri
ment of the public service in their other Of
fcial relations.
10 facilitate investigation and enable ex
act justice to be done, the public and es.
Peclally those connected with the admins
tration Of the law, should esteem it duty
to convey to the board all the information
within their knowledge, that would en-.
tighten and help them to rightful con-
clusion. Would it not be wise to require
every officer of the law, particularly the
Judge and district attorney, to furnish their
opinion as to the propricty of the pardon
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS AND TAXA
TON.
The creation and increase of indebted
ness by the municipalities of this Common
wealth the past few years, have justly ex-
cited the apprehension of tax payers, and
greatly augmented their burthens So
enormous has this evil become, that pro-
vision was inserted IN the new Constitu-
ton to check it, and at the last session, /
approved an act for that purpose While
the letter of the Constitution may be open
to technical criticism its spirit and inten-
ton Is in my judgment clear, that no city
whose Indebtedness atthe adoption Of
the Constitution, exceeded seven per
cent, shall be permitted to increase
the same, in the aggregate, to exceed
three per cent of the assessed value OF
the property therein. If additional legisla-
ton is necessary, compliance with the spirit
of the Constitution and protection to over
burthened tax payers, demand We should
permit no evasion Of its wise and benefcent
provisions
POLL TAX.
The payment Of State and county tax
is one of the qualifications of voters under
our Constitution. Formerly the State i'm
posed tax upon trades, occupations and
professions which was repealed, and the
right to levy a similar tax for county and
municipal purposes exists. It's imposition
in some counties and municipalities is
nominal, in others it is levied at the full
cash value Of the occupation, and is a seri-
Gus burden upon mechanics and working
men, whose only property is the receipts of
their labor, and tends to prevent their exer-
cising their rights Of suffrage. 1t is not in
harmony with our institutions that citizens
should be deprived of exercising their fran
chise by excessive taxation, or that the tax
imposed therefore be unequal. This quail
fcation tax of voters should be uniform,
and | therefore suggest the repeal of all
laws authorizing the levying of taxes upon
trades, occupations and professions, and
that county poll-tax be substituted there
for at rate SO reasonable as to be within
the ability of all to pay.
NATIONAL GUARD.
Assurances were given in my last an
nual message that the National Guard, dur
ing the ensuing year, would display un-
usual interest in the service and be more
obscrvant of its discipline, because Of the
recognition accorded them by the Legisla-
turc in making some provision for their
and the decided improvement in
the condition OF the troops at the fall IN
spections justified this prediction. The re-
por Of the Adjutant General contains many
details of the efforts made by
the guard TO increase their efficiency and
merit the confidence of our citizens. The
of the service are vigorously
exacted of every command, and the inspec-
tons were conducted with great care and
with view to have every company attain
to the high standard fixed by the State;
The number Of divisions have been reduced
from twcnty-one to ten, the troops of each
division occupy contiguous territory and be
easily and expeditiously mustered. Thel
officers in command are soldiers of expert
ence in field and camp, and the rank and
Gle are we'll instructed in the duties of the
service and familiar with and regardful of
is discipline. The conduct Of the several
on occasions of public parade,
,ayo haon ir roooraI unexcaptinnahly pood |