Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-01-24
GOV. PATTISON'S ADDRESS
Abolition of Needless Offices

Abolition of Needless Offices,
Strict Economy in Public Ex-
penditureS and the Enforce
ment of the Constitution with
Regard to Corporate Power
Demanded
HARRISBURG, Jan 16.-The inaugu-
raj address of Gov. Pattison was as
follows:
Cent? men of The Senate and House
of Representatives. and FellOU CHI
zens.-Caled by the people to perform,
for time, the functions of Chief Ex-
ecutive of the State, | follow an old
and respected custom, in briefly stat
ing some of the principles that will
guide me in the administration of the
ofiice. / would first call attention to
the bountilul manner in which kind
Providence has blessed our State and
endowed its people with benefits. We
should never cease to make grateful
acknowledgement of his over-shadow-
ing care At periods like this there is
peculiar fitness in public recogni-
tion of the goodness of that Supreme
Being who has been our safeguard
from calamity aud whose benefactions
have attended US with unceasing con-
stancv. In the execution of the trust
confded to me by the people, it shall
be my constant endeavor to ascertain
their will with accuracy and carry it
out with fidelity For this purpose l
solicit the freest communication be-
tween the people and the Executive,
and will diligently avail myself of
every facility which will tend to in
form me of their wishes. 1t will be
my solicitude to strengthen and con-
firm the public faith in Democratic in
institutions by demonstrating, in
the sphere to which ! have been ap-
pointed, their aptitude for recording
and effecting the wishes of the people.
Our Government was constituted to
give direct and prompt recognition to
expressions of the popular will. l
adopt, as of direct application to the
present time, sentence from Presi-
dent Jackson's first inaugural, in
which he says: The recent demon
strntion Of public sentiment inscribes
on TIE list Of executive duties, in char
actcrs too legible to be overlooked, the
task Of reforn.'' This task, clearly
set Lcfore him, the present Executive
will. zealously strive to fulfill. Happily
for him, there can lie no doubt of the
Particular subjects as to which the
puilic anxiety for improvement has
mdu Tested i.sel! These are well de-
face. The method of accomplishment
i, question for the legislative wis
dom ultimately to determine. So far
as the limits of an address Ike this
will permit, let me briefly state few
of the subjects of needed reform
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 f public mon
eys; a public performance of Official
trusts, aud the raising of lh3 efficiency
OF the civil service by making fitness
and integrity alone the tests for ap-
pointment. The people demand strict
economy in the expenditure of their
moneys; a simple and business-like
conduct of the affairs of the govern
ment; and repeal of all laws Gre
ating avenues for the needless spend
ing of public funds at the discretion of
officials. The people demand that the
burdens as well as the benefits of the
government shall be distributed
with fairness, business and impartiali-
! ty. They demand uniformity and
simplicity in taxation, and its distri-
/ button in such manner as that,
while all shall bear their just share of
the common burdens, those shall con-
tribute most who receive most, and
those suffer least who can bear least.
There is no more difficult problem in
government than that relating to taxa
ton Revenue must be raised by the
State for the efficient conduct of it's af-
fairs. Care should be taken, however,
in the imposition of taxes, that we do
not lose sight of those upon whom the
imposition 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 escape and none bear more
than their just proportion. Our pres.
ent system, in its State, county and
township ramifications is .-tricate, un-
equal and ill-digestcd. 1t is to be
hoped the present Legislature will
devise some method for simpler and
juster allotment of these burdens.
| NEEDED LEGISLATION.
shall urge upon the general AS
sembly the passage of legislation nee.
essary for carrying into effect the pro.
visions of the Constitution of the
State. The benefits of some of the
most salutary sections of that instru.
ment have not been secured by the
people, because Of the failure of the
Legislature to pass the laws needed for
it's complete enforcement The care
bestowed by the Convention in fran.
ing the Constitution, and the large
number of votes cast for it when be.
fore the people for adoption, should
have inspired their Representatives in
the Assembly to prompt action in
passing the measures needed to give il
full effect Particularly should this
have been done since the instrument
itself enjpins the Legislature SO to dc
and their Official oath pledges them to
its support, obedience and defense.
When the people adopted the Consti
tuition they sanctioned its wisdom
1t then became the supreme law of the
State and the highest exposition of the