Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-02-15
Gov. Pattison's First. Message

Gov. Pattisoa sent his first message
TO the legislature on the 9th inst. 1t
Is not as lengthy as such pspers usually
are, and yet the Governor is compre-
henstSe, covering about the entire
grgpnd Of The much-desired reform
legislation. The message starts out by
suggesting the 'imnediate repeal of TIE
odious Recorders Office, Deline uent
Tax Oflce, and that of Sealers of
Weights and Measures, in FEiiadel-
phia. These Gifices are Of recent crea-
tiou and entirely needless fa- the good
government of our great metropolis.
They were established ueIer our vicious
system OF class legislation for the sole
beneft of ring politicians. and jobbers
aud have been the fruitful sources of
corruption ad6 oppre ssion to the tax
ridden people of Philadelphia. On this
point the G0Herr or usrs these fitting
words;
'T'ha7e- -SSways entertained the opin-
ION that needless and extravagant Of
fices, such as those have referred to,
shoRid be entirely abolished. Some of
ttssacse places pay their incubents greater
compensation than is received by any
officer of the Common wealth and at
least one Of them more than the salary
of the President Of the United States.
The Legislature should not hesitate a
bout what to do in these and similar
cases. The public service should not
be made attractive because of its emo
luments. Extravagant salaries breed an
ofice-holding class, inspired, not by pa
triotism and public spirit, but by avar-
ice and greed OF gain. The youth of
the land should Ds taught TO look to Of
Geial preferment for it's honorable dis
tinction as an avenue for faithful pub
lie service, and not as means Of mon
ey-making and Of the escape from the
burdens of labor.
TherGovernor strongly urges the a
aoption Of the salary system, instead of
payment by fees, for all officers, muni-
cipal as we'll as state. lie calls atten-
tion to the fact that there are clerks of
courts receiving greater pay under the
present fee system than the judges
whose subordina;es they are.
He makes other very salntary sug-
gestions on public advertising, against
the dangers of special legislation, the
labor question, the public funds, re-
commends uniformit y in election laws
on the pending apportionment question
the dangerous corporate powers of the
state and other subjects.
He urges the Legislature to enforce by
proper laws article 18th of the consti
tntion, which provides that all individ
nails and associations shall have equa
rights upon railroads and canals, with
out discrimination in charges or facil-
ities as to persons or place.
Gov. Pattison closes with seasona
BILE hint to the legislature, reminding
them OF the work On hand and what
the people expect Of them. He says
No session for many years has pre-
sented 80 many impol tant subjects fol
legislative ACTION. The people look for
ward With high expectancy to the re
suits Of your deliberations and I enter
tain the belief that their hopes for wise
and wholesome legislation will be re
allied.
The message is highly spoken Of ir
all quarters. Its Recommendation.
and general tenor are just what til.
people of the state expected of thei
Governor, SO recently elected On re
form platform,