Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-01-05
Governor Hartranft's Message.


reserved at time too near pubiica-
ton hour to admit of an extended
review in this issue.
The Finances of the Common
wealth Is the first subject considered
by His ENcellency. During the
past eleven years the annual reduc-
ton of the State debt averaged near
" a million and a half dollars. BY
the present distribution of the reve-
nues, over million and quarter
dollars remain in the Treasury each
wear. in the Sinking Fund The nat
m'al increase of the tax or revenues
with the lessening of the State in
,lebtedness will yearly increase this
balance. By applying this surplus
To the extinguishment of the State
debt, the Commonwealth can be
cleared of debt in about ten years.
The new Constitution. however. has
increased. the State expenses in the
annual requirement Of five hundred
THOUSAND dollars for Common School
purposes, and necessary require
ments. in Judiciary. Legislature and
claims of deserving public charities.
and .forbids this larger reduction, as
the revenues are now distributed
BY another calculation it appears
that by taking one-third of the cor
poration tax. which the Legislature
assigned to the Sinking Fund, and
dedicating this one-third to the uses
of the general fund, the whole in
debtedness can still be hquidated In
fifteen years. Without additional
taxation, fund may thus be created.
that. with the other revenues of the
general fund. will, with prudent man
agement. possibly be sufficient to
meet all the necessary and proper
expenses of the government, and /
recommend that this change be made.
Education.-The prosperous con
,lition of the public schools afford
abundant occasion for Just pride.
Ten years ago the Commonwealth
had,,one thousand seven hundred and
forty three graded schools within her
limits; today there are five thou
sand six hundred and twenty-five.
During the last decade the value of
her school property has appreciated
from five hundred and sixty-fo,r
thousand lightweight dollars and
eight cents to two millions one hun
dred and fifty-nine thousand four
hundred and fifteen dollars and eigh-
ty-three cents. In 1865 the State
expended upon her public schools
three millions sly hundred and tlir-
teen thousand two hundred and
thirty eight dollars and fifty five cents
In 1875 the outlay for the same pur-
pose was nine millions three hundred
and sixty-three thousand nine hun
dred and twenty-seven dollars and
seventeen cents. Thirteen thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three teach
ers attended, during the last year,
the Teachers Institutes held through
out. the Commonwealth
The Governors opinions upon the
subjects of compulsory and indus
trial education have undergone no
change
The Normal Schools, and Soldiers
Orphans Schools are next considered,
and thence the Governor passes to
the subject of Municipal Govern
ment, which is lengthily considered,
or reviewed with such ability and
thoroughness that it will receive wide
spread attention. The subject of
the Centennial, The Insane. Lawless-
aess. The National Guard. Insusance,
Geological Surrey, Fish, The Board
of Public Charities, Vagrancy, PRS
ons, Colonial Records, Salaries for
County Officers. Poll Tax. Boundary
Lines Banks, all are passed iD re
view, and followed by most appro-
propriate notices of the death of
George Woodward, ex-Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl-
v;lnia. the death of Horace Binney.
and the death of Samuel +. Dim
mick, late Attorney General of the
Commonwealth, after which notices
his Excellency closes his long and
able message
There is an addenda following the
Governors message. of the debts of
the cities of Allegheny, Albany. Bal
timore. Boston. Chicago. Cleveland,
Detroit, Louisville, Milwaukee, New
Rrk. New Orleans. New York. Phila-
delphia, Portland. Providence. Rich
mGnd. st. Louis, Rochester, Pitts
burgh.
THE New Constitution has many wise
provisions, aud many unwise aud ex-
pen.iye provisions. The provision Of