The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-01-11
EDITOR
UOyEnNOn,s vfnspsAt.E,

Wednesday the last annual message Of
Governor lTartranft was sent to the Lcgisla-
tire, The fret subject to which tho message
invites attention grows out of the fact thut
hrrsallrr, under the Constitution, the Lcgislu-
turv is 10 meet but once In two years,and that
tho routine regulations which now call for
annual reports, estimates and certain counts
.uf election returns, and the custom of MAX
iAg Unnuul appropriations, will have to Re
rrr1ihcd IN suit the biennial terms. Incl
dental to this is the welcome circumstance
that the half n,illion ordollursor thereabout
which il costs to hold session Of the Icgis-
-lanlrc can be saved once in every two years,
n favor which Is by no means a small one,
and will be thankfully received Next
come the finances These look somewhat
pinched but II is more in appearance than
in fact, If the present excessive appropria-
tion Of the income Of the State to the Com
niissi"ners Of the Sinking Fund shall be
Nniinucdj there must be deficit in the
General Fund by December lst, 1879, which
is estimated at S2,l73,OOO. This may come
about, nat because the State will not have
Sufficient income, but because too large q
proportion Of that income s switched out o
the Treasury into the Sinking Fund to pay
on the rapidly disappearing State Debt. The
Constitution requires S2SO,QoO 10 Le devoted
Ia this purpose annually, but the acts of As
scnbly, passed in pursuance ofthc Constitu.
,ion, provide millions instead. The plain
way to square the fnences up is pointed ou
in the message, viz, to divert less money
Int" the Sinking Fund, and thus avoid any
necessity FOR increasing the taxes.
In the matter Of savings banks and tru.t
o'mpanics the Governor again reminds the
Legislature Of the necessity for drawing {
strict line of demarcation between the say
ings banks and all other institutions O
similar character, such as will protect til,
e0vcd earnings Of the dcpositors in saving
banks and trust companies from being usct
in discounting notes and other commercial
paper. Whilst this is the legitimate pro
vince OF banks of discount, who use the
swn capital in this way, and whose function
it is to accommodate the business communi
ty, the risks Of personal notes are sometime
80 great for the depostors in savings banks
The Governor calls attention to the impres
sive, but scandalous, fact that eighteen o
the so-called savings banks (some of whiol
were mere Shaving shops for private nc
commodation) have failed, and that out o
S6,6S0,O0o Of their "investments" no les
than 81 500, 900 were imperiled, and grea
deal hoPelcssly lost by using the money il
such discounts. If the Legislature does no
heed this third or fourth, appeal by Gov
ornor Hartranft for protection to saving
banks depositors, it will be censurably dcre
let in in its duty.
+" This part Of the message is followed by
most forcible presentation of the nccessit.
for action upon the report of the municipa
Commission. The work Of that Commits
sion, he reminds the Legislature, was wei
and conscientiously performed. The foun
hation principles of the plan of government
they sketched for the cities of the State hav
been endorsed by citizens of all classes AM
parties; the evils the municipal bill is in
tended 10 correct cannot continue muc
longer without dcplorable conscqLe.cs s {,
the million and quarter Of the inhabitant
nf the large cities of the State; and the Gov
ernor hopes that the bill will be broug
forward at an early date for discussion an
PASS substantially as il is
Here follows three most important topic
that are closely related, compulsory educa
E,rf oh L.,
cal education with the view of giving
higher standard, more value and wide
markets 10 the productions of our worRmc
and manufacturers, and the subject of sal
hitration" for the settlement of disputes b,
tween employers and employees, with a vie
to the prevention OF strikes, loss of wage
ina Of trade, angry and ruinOus contention
violence, public expense and all the othC
lamentable consequences tnat follow
their train.
The remainder of the Message is devote
to topics Of routine: the Penal Rcformator
and Eleemosynary Institutions of the Sta
in connection with the Board of Charities
the Geological and proposed Geodetic Su
Vey; the rVmarking Of the boundary lines
the State, North and Southwest; the pu
lication Of the State Archives Freight Di
elimination; the proposed State Board
Health; inadequate bonds Of Recorders
Deeds; State Library needs and the work
the Fish Commissions There are thr
brief but beautiful tributes to the memol
Of Henry Armitt brown, Bayard Taylc
and Morton MciMchaell and then closil
paragraph in which the Governors tr
Pennsylvania heart delivers itself in than
to the people of the State for their confiden
and support, and an earnest desire for Il
welfare Of the Commonwealth.