The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-01-09
The GOyermOr,s MESSAGE

Governor HaTtranft's annual mes
age is sensible, raightforward, and,
in many respects, statesmanlke docu-
ment, showing an intimate knowledge
of State affairs and a clear conception
of legislative and executive policies Its
style is concise and condensed, and il
has the merit, not always assessed by
similar State papers, of being strictly
confined to its domain, which Is the
limits of the Commonwealth. The
Governor has not sought to catch the
ear of the nation, and he will therefore
have the hearing of the people of Penn,
sylvania. The message is singularly
free from sensationaIism, but the affairs
of this conservative Commonwealth pro.
ceed SO smoothly, and its domestic life
is so well regulated, that this is not a
subject of wOuder.
The mes sage opens with a brief
statement of the condition of the finan
ces. The debt of the Commonwealth
is now $24, 568, ,G3537, and less the
amount iii the sinking fund Sl4, ,56S, ,G3a,
81. The receipts during the last fiscal
year Were 1851 ,9GS.27, which the
balance remaining in the treasury at
the close of the last fiscal year brought
up to $7,607, 110 81. The disburse.
ments during the year, including ST.
23O, 1856 q expended for the redemp>
ton of the public debt, were Sc, GAP SGT
S6, leaving a balance in the treasury
of 81 ,054, ,55i 60. This statement is
as favorable as that of the proceeding
year, the receipts having deminshed
more than million of dollars, and the
disbursement having increased several
hundreds of thousands of dollars. The
diminution of $l,204, 754 90 was oc.
easioned by the rel cal, 1873, of the
gross taxes on receipts of railroads, net
earnings Cn industrial and other cOrpo-
ration, and the tax on cattle and farm
ing implements, But the relief in
the repeal of these taxes was felt by
corporations and classes, which, during
the unfortunate year, just closed, were
the main props of whatever prosperity
there existed, In connection with thi,
reduction Of the revenue and the fact
that, ny the provisions of the new con-
sttution, an annual additional outlay
s5OO,OOO will be needed for the Legis-
latve and Judicial Departments and the
public schools, the Governor insists up
on the practice Of the most rigid eco.
nOmy in the passage of the apprOpria-
ton bills and the expenditure of the
amounts appropriated.
The most interesting feature of the
message to the general reader, perhaps,
will he that portion relating to educa-
ton, which the Governor discusses Ella
torately and eXhaustively, and concern
ing which he makes the most impor
tant accommodations. lie urges with
much force the establishment of in
dustrai schools for the training OF the
youth of the Commonwealth in the
mechanics and arts, and cOmmends
compulsory education to the Leglsla-
ture as social and political neces-
sIty, Both of these ideas are fast tax
ing hold of the popular mind. and
prolhlse to crystal lize into facts at nC
distant day, The instruction of artisans
by the state is fast becoming nee
essity IN Pennsylvania, which is already
the great workshop OF the nation, bu
constantly suffers from lack OF skilled
aud Intelligent labor.
Inc condition aud prospects of thu
Centennial enterprise are reviewed, it
scope stated, and its patriotic character
and useful purposes commended to TN
people OF the nation. Il high compile
ment Is paid the Insurance Bureau
which demonstrated its usefulness am
necessity last year by its exposure 0
so many fraudulent concerns, and it /
recommended that its powers of in
spection aud supervision be increased
A fitting reference is made to the neN
constitution, ana the loyalty to tn
principles of republican government ou
of which it sprung is highly praised
Important recommendations are mad
in reference 70 the enactment OG laws I
pro ect depOsit0rs in the banks chartere
Uy the state. These Institutions hav
been granted great powers withOu
proper restrictions, ana conduct the
business, according to the Governor
statement, on the loosest principles
There are now III OF them, with n
aggregaJe capital OF $3.50, l6S 10.