The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1877-01-11

at the risk and expense of the people. The
department is a most important one, che
interests it serves and protects are vast,
and 1t should receive, at your hands, cor
dial support and proper attention.
CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The recent holocaust in Brooklyn is a
terrible reminder of a subject tbat has been
| frequentlyagitated but never sufficiently in
Vestigated. In the lurid glare of that sad
experience, the laws relating to the con-
struction of public buildings and places of
amusement of public buildings and places
of amusement ought to be examined. IF
found to be sufficient, measures should be
taken to have them vigorously enforced
1t found to be deficient, ample provision
should at once be made to prevent the re-
currence of such frightful calamities. The
law should be largely in favor of safety and
security even at the expense of private profit
and convenience. It generally happens
that great parade is made beforehand Of
the means of escape until some sacrifice re-
veals their utter ineficiency Such mat
ters cannot safely be left to the discretion
of individuals but must be controlled bv a
power having a supreme regard for the
public welfare. 1t is better to err on the
side of over -ohiciousness than that hun
dreds of our fellow creatures should expiate
our irresolution.
NAVIGATION OF OHIO RIVER.
On April 27, 1876, l had the honor to
call your attention, in special communica-
ton, to the necessity of legislation by the
State of Pennsylvania, to provide for the
cession of Jurisdiction over land within the
limits OF this State, required for the sites
of locks and dams on the Ohio river, in the
prosecution of improving the navigation of
said river by the National Government. In
accordance Herewith, House bill No 276
was introduced but no final action was
taken thereon. The act should be passed
promptly, not only out of respect to the
National Government which is voluntarily
doing work of great utility to the State,
but on account of the great important Of
the work itself
sTATUARY.
By the act of Congress of July 2, 1864,
the President of the United States was
authorized to invite each and all the States
to provide and furnish statues, in markabe
or bronze, not exceeding two in number,
for each State, of deceased persons who
have been citizens thereof and illustrious
for their historic renown, or from disting-
uished civil or military services, such as
each State shall determine to be worthy of
that national commemoration and when so
furnished, the same shall be placed in the
old hall of the House of Representatives,
in the Capitol of the United States, which
Is hereby set apart, or so much thereof as
a national statuary hall, for the purpose
herein indicated Several of the States
have availed themselves of the invitation
and caused to be erected, in the Capitol at
Washington, statues of their ilustrious
citizens | do not doubt that it will be
your pleasure to select from the long list of
the famous men of this Commonwealth,
two, whose lives and services commemorate
great events and great principles, and pro-
vide for placing their statues in the Ma
tional Capitol, to remind observers of the
part that Pennsylvania his contributed to
the greatness and glory Of the nation.
MUNICIPAL COMMISSION.
The Municipal Commission to devise
plan or plans for the better government of
the cities of the Commonwealth, created
by the act of May, 5, 1876, has been ap-
pointed and commenced its labors. The
great quantity of material to be digested
and the necessity Of an exhaustive discus
sion Of the subject will probably delay its
report until late in the session. a deep
interest has been manifested by the people
in the work, and it is hoped that the wis
dom and experience of the Commission and
of the distinguished citizens whose views
will be laid before it, may devise plan to
relieve the cities of the State from their
heavy burdens, and suggest a municipal
policy which will make impossible the ex-
travagance and mismanagement that have
characterized the last decade
Among the many miscellaneous subjects
which will claim your attention during the
session, several seem to me of more than
ordinary importance. The destruction Of
the forests Of the State, proceeding with an
alarming rapidity, and producing many i'll
consequences, should be neutralized byI
some legislation for renewing this great
source of prosperity and health. The poll
tax throughout the State ought to be
equalized. The exemption law was passed
for the protection of the wife and family ofI
the poor man, against his misfortune or
folly. IF he can waive it, it is simple
nullity, and law that is only a mockery
to those it pretends to protect had better
be removed from the statute book or amend
ed. | suggest that a waiver of the law be !
made impossible. The conviction is steadily
growing among intelligent men, and es-
pecially physicians, that State Board of
Health is necessary to the health and hap
piness of our people. Many epidcmics can
be prevented and contagious diseases sensi-
bly, confined or mitigated, by the observ-
ance of a few sanitary precautions which
are now ignorantly or wifully neglected
1t is our duty as legislators to secure the
livaS and baaIth and hanninasS of our nao