The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-01-26
Extracts from Pattison's Inaugural
Address,
THE DEMANDS OF THE HOUR.


The people demand the abolition OF
needless offices the fixing of official
compensation at sums commensurate
with the services rendered by salaries
definitely ascertained rigid accounta-
bility in the expenditure OF public
moneys; public performance of Off
cial trusts, and the raising of the efii-
cency of the civil service by making
fitness and integrity alone the tests for
appointment. The people demand
strict economy in the expenditure of
their moneys; a simple and business
like conduct of the affairs of govern
ment and repeal of all laws creating
avenues for the needless spending of
public funds at the discretion of Off
cials. The people demand that the
burdens as well as the benefits OF gov
ernment shall be distributed with fair
ness, justness and impartiality. They
demand uniformity and simplicity in
taxation, and its distribution in such
a manner as that, while all shall bear
their Just share of the common bur
dens, those shall contribute most who
receive most, and those suffer least
who can bear least There is no more
difficult problem in government than
that relating to taxation. Revenue
must be raised by the State for the
efficient conduct OF its affairs. Care
should be taken, however, in the impo-
sition of taxes that we do not lose
sight of those upon whom the imposi-
tion finally rests The hand that pays
the tax into the Treasury is not always
the hand that earned the contribution
The system Is most equitable which,
recognizing this truth, SO distributes
the taxing weight that none shall es'
cape and none bear more than Their
just proportion. Our present system
in its State, county and township rami
fications is intricate, unequal and i'll
digested. 1t is to be hoped that the
present Legislature will devise some
method for simpler and juster allot
ment Of these burdens.
PARDoNs AND THE PARDON BOARD
The exercise of the pardoning power
by the Executive has been the subject
of much public criticism. Nor is thi'
recent only. So great had become tn,
popular complaint, that the Convention
which framed the Constitution attempt
ed to correct what was admitted to b.
an abuse, by creating board for th'
hearing of applications for pardon
be submitted to the Executive for hi
assistance in determining the merits o
such applications. Such plan ough
to result in fuller and more careful
consideration, and decisions more il
accordance with the dictates of justic
and humanity. / do not believe, how
ever, that the Pardon Board was in
tended to be caurt of last resort fo
reviewing the legality of the judg
ments of the Courts below and thei
decisions upon points of law and tn
weight of evidence. Our system Q
iudicature, with its Justices, jurie'
Judges, and Supreme Court, provide
tribunals for the trial of causes, an
has the confidence of the communit,
Their judgments should not be light
treated, or disturbed without owe
whelming reason. The Pardon Boar
is not a court for the trial of question
of law or fact. 1t has become trl
ism, that it is not the severity, so muc
as the certainty, of punishment whic
prevents wrong-doing, This certainl
: cannot be secured if it is understoo
r by criminals that after their cases ha,
, been fairly heard ond passed upon !
every court known to the law, the
: may still experiment with the symp'
) thy and various judgments of a mike
board of lawyers and laymen. sha
make it rule to grant no pardon e
cept for cause appearing since tt
trial, and in cases of manifest I'M
tice.