New-York tribune., 1876-01-05
PENNSYLVANIA.
OF GOV. HARTRANFT.

| THE FINANCES OF The STATE-kATRAVAGAECE IN
THE GOVERNMENT OF CrTIRs-IuE PREVENTION
OF LAwLEssNRss IN THE MINING DISTRICTS.
HARRISBURG, Penn, Jan. 4.-Gov. Hartranfts an
nual message was submitted to the Legislature to-
day. The finances of the State, the debts of cities
and the burdens of municipal government, and the
riots during the Spring in the mining districts are
interesting topics which he discusses. Extracts
are gwen below:
TIE STATE FINANCES.
The appropriations made for the fiscal year ending
Nov 80 1879 exceeded the receipts Of the general rev
fund SOL 22 and with like appropriations and
receipts the deficit for this year would be doubled tits
estimated however that the Of this year will be
100000 less than that of last year. which would make
the deficiency the end OF the current fiscal about
81 800 900, unless the appropriations can be reduced
The appropriations already made for that part Of the
year embraced between Dec /, 1875, and June
1876 Moreover, the principal appropriations, such as
for schools and he ordinary expenses Of the
fxed by the Constitution by law except those for
public charities and these will demand unusually large
session by OF their failure to re-
ceive anything at the last 1t manifest therefore, thar
% % eoSe9 Dc or eher by
OF taxes the diversion into the general fund OF
To levy at a time when the business and in
dustria interests prostraed would be unwlse ana
domination Tie necessity therefore, Of the redstribu-
ton of the revenues is obviously duty that s urgent
and demands your immediate attention. BY virtue OF
constitutional amendmen the Sinking Fund was created
time when il exceeded $40 100000 An annual reduc
on OF S2j0OOO and the payment OF interest or the en-
faithfully fulfilled by the sinking Fund Commissioners
since the creation OF the fund in 1887.
With the present distribution OF the revenues there
will remain each year In the Sinking Fund after the pay
ments which the Constitution requires over II 100000,
and wban is remembered that the amount OF interest
10 be paid will annually decrease and receipts be
greater owing the natural accreton Of the taxes the
amount OF this balance Will be augmented from year to
year. n this surplus s annually applied to the extln-
gshment Of the debt, careful calculation VIII show
that IN ten years the entire indebtedness OF the state VIII
be redeemed However desirable this reduction may be
and gratifying certainly would be to the Executive,
under whose administration large portion OF H. WOa m
he made yet the dmlnuon OF the taxes OF 1873 to the
amount Of Sl,ooo.OOo, and the 100000 additional
expenses made necessary 10y the new fonsutu-
ton in behalf Of common schools. the Judiciary and
Legislature, and the claims OF deserving public charities
forbid this large reduction the revenues now dis
trbutcd By another calculation II appears tnat by tax
INK Ouchid OF the corporation tax which the Leglsla-
ture assigned 10 the sinking Fund and dedcatng TINS
OnCrd 10 the OF the general iund, the Whole III
dcbtcdncss can still Dee nqudatcd in II years without
additional taxation iund may thus be created mat WIN
the other of the general fund, WILL with prudent
agcmcnt possibly In sufficient To meet all the neeeS-
say and pIOper expenses OF the HoNeIhmeht' ana
recommend that this change be made.
s Ie tu uu IL i ri % Is, M 5 5g Tber can be no
further redemption public debt until August, 1877.
paid and in the mean time the Sinking Fund in addition
To the above amount will continue 10 accumulate large
fore recommend the enactment NJ law authorizing the
sinking Fund Commissioners to invest the surplus funds
deem most advantageous which, III accordance wh the
pro, Constitution, the only invest
mcn that can be made and that these investments DC
directed TO be made monthly
MUNICIPAL GovERNMEST.
There is political problem that, at the present time,
occasions much just ALARM and obtaining more seri-
ous and anxious thought than the government OF cities,
whose administration m many sections Of the country IL
fraught with pers not only the material prosperity
Of pee pie but TO the welfare and permanence OF the
Republic is not, therefore, incumbent upon those who
are CHARGED with the conduct OF public affairs, a. well a
those who are concerned FOR the good and honor Of the
country. carefully and diligently inquire into the
causes " these mischets that attend upon the rule OF our
oi,io aud see II they spring from the actual de-
yelopmcut any inherent defect the existing systems
~ government, the outcome OF merely transient
tendency to eXyagance that by it, abuse will work It's
enectual glance at the enormous dep's ana
snpendou- schemes Zoe public improvements undertaken
and IN progress. "A contemplation by the numerous
,c, ~ The country sufficient nduccnont To this in
speedy and radical remedy must be found 10 arrest these
crtrayagn expenditures or the credit of our cities vi"
De- ,royed aud reputation tO which resort some have
already driven, Will De the only recourse from rum
II " W not do To mock ~ the voice Of warning and en-.
our cities and the consequent accumulation of wealth
and appreciation of property therein will quldate all
experience and history aAe teach that eHtiayasanes
.r1w. with indulgence. and the only safe, wise and
honest cour~c individuals and communities to pursue
5 To Ave within their means aud pay a. the! 20.
Until a period he mun ipalitics OF the country
enjoyed aud deserved the confidence aud favor OF our
popc They simple IN their constitutions tcOhom
lea an their expenditures. IN the main admirably gov
erued with OF intelligence, ehpcrience, character
their councils VINO deemed II an hohOf,
without compensation To assist In their Administrations
and ,s the plb.c IMPROVEMENTS limited and only
what cre s-ary the temptations 10 aVarlce and cor
ruptiou were few. nnd pecuiaon and fraud unknown;
rl,v il i, uatiu. To observe the cities Of the nitod
states Xpose intchgenc" and civilization Ia reproach
aud compared with the y yersati9n ana @
of some of them, the maladministrati0u OF The
Englsh cities IN $3.50 sens re'pect"Pe ] Ia tIe ina nan
ascucut of 4 ie" OF Them Ju'l,e mas SiihP8 % p'n
mocked. taxation meant conhscation. ana debts were
accumulated With such rapidly tat tne 'hhhl lhersss
thereon l. now greater than the whole tax levy FOR
AN corporate purposes l5 years ago Inc aggregate ul
the dents o the cities oi the United otat"s ao,oiuhs %
competent authority, reaches luy i Suo az H.t To- r
S7G9 100000 ana this amount 1, believed to oe rather
under thih dpp' tn, 1'.ua , ~, in, q f, 'iifs
that the annual tax levy! instead Oh pcii,s lew @
now averages our most important cities two ana
half per ,rutm upon the assessed value o property II
with reasonable appNhtnsloh' lheitlot' jn1 ,tr
people are earnestly addressing themselves 10 the study
of The causes THIS evil and the conviction becoming
widespread that some remedy mus 9e Pro'luc" ' VIII
gO 10 lis very core and work radical cure. III, ID,
4 tendency ~ extravaganza began 10 manifest iHeH
in his country IN 1867. and exhibited most con
spcuuusly the innumcrabe propositions loI pupc lu
pfovemcnt or every conceivable kihd. Mignlnceht
pork. extensive water works, splendid cty buildings,
wide streets. with and improved paNenents are
some Of the projects upon which laNlsh ehpeaItut,
were made, n the frequent and immense Outlays ot
moneys thus authorized numerous avenues Ior IauH
and rccu,ton opened, and officers connected Win
m, .,ur,tutu OF these great amounts suddenly grew
rich having by reason OF their control OF tues
Xrnd lures. of adhcrontS, they soon became tue
rbiters OF the taxation OF these cities Irresponsible
Themselves they aimed to secure the election Q,
might have the forms OF law, and tnDoldened
by mpunlty and the spinenesS OF rtSeG1ans IL a
municipalities did corrupt the channels oi Justice ana
shaued il. decrecs TO suit their nefarious ends
tnr cities formerly had but few wants their charters
were simple their provisions. easily understood ana
.rrr all the pOwers necessary for local government
Whi e M - few wears however every department OF
local government from the great city to me snal sehooi
district has been constantly applying to the state Legis
ton aud apropratnS private propelS 10, pav Sod
delegate except in cases OF absolute public need