The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-01-20
The Inaugural Address.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
AND FELLOW CITIZENS

.REPREs EsENTATIvEs AND FELLOW CITIZENS
Called by the people to perform, for time,
the functions OF Chief Executive OF the
Slate, follow an old and respected custom
in Briefly stating some Of the principles
that will guide me in The administration OF
the office. t.,
.'-.l would first call attention to the bount,-
fol manner in which a kind Providence
has blessed our State and endowed the peo.
pile with benefits. We should never cease
to. make grateful acknowledgment Of II s
'overshadowing care. At periods like tins
there is peculiar fitness in a public recog
milton of the goodness of that Supreme Be
ing who has been our safeguard from calam-
ity and whose benefuctions have attended
us with unceasiug cUnstancY. In the exc
culion Ol the trust coniided to me by the
people il shall he my constant endeavor to
ascertain their will with accuracy and carry
ltout with fidelity. For this purpose solicit
the ireest communication between the
people and the EXecutive,and will diligent-
Iy avail myself OF every facility which will
tend to inform me of their wishes. 1t will
i6e my soicitude TO strengthen and confirm
the public faith in denocratlc institutions
by demonstrating, in the sphere to which
haye been appointed, their aptitude for re-
cording and eiiecting the wishes OF the
people. Our government was constituted
to give direct and prompt recognition to ex
pressions OF the popular will.
adopt, as Of direct application TO the
present time, a sentence from President
Jackson's first inaugural, in which he says:
FThe recent demonstration of public senti-
ment iuscribes on the list of executive du.
ties, in characters too legible to be over
looked, the task of re iOrm." This task,
clearly sci before him, the present. Execu-
tive will zealously strive to fulfil. Happily
for him there can be no doubt of the partic-
uiar subjects as to which the public anxiety
for improvement has manifested itself.
These are well defined. The method Of ac-
complishment is a question for The legisla
tive wisdom ultimately to determine. So
far as the limits OF an address like this will
permit, let me briefly state few Of the sub
ects of needed reform.
The people demand the abolition Of need
less offices the fixing of official compensa-
tion at sums commensurate with the services
rendered by salaries definitely ascsrtained, /,
rigid accountability in the expenditure Of
public moneys; proper performance OF
official trusts, and the raising OF the
efficiency of the civil service by making ft-
ness and Integrity alone the tests for ap-
pointment.
The people demand strict economy in the
expenditure of their moneys, simple aud
business, like conduct Of the affairs of gov
ernment and repeal Of all laws creating
avenues for the needless spending Of public
| funds at the direction OF officials.
The people demand that the burdens as
well as the benefits of government shall be
distributed with fairness, justice and i'm
partialitY. They demand uniformity and
simplicity in taxation and its distribution
| in such a manner as that, while all shall
bear their Just share ofthe common burdens,
those shall contribute most who shall re-
eeive most AMI those suffer least who can
bear least. There is no more difficult prob
| lem IN government than that relating TO
taxation. Revenue must be raised 10y the
| State for the efficient conduct Of its affairs.
| Care should be taken, however, in the i'm
position of taxes that we do not lose sight OF
those upon whom the imposition hualy
rests. The hand that pays the tax into The
treasury is not always the hs nd that earned
the contribution. The system is most equit-
able which, recognizes this truth, So dis
tributes the taxing weight that none shall
escape aud none bear more than their just
proportion. Our present system in its STATE,
| county aud township Tamifieatiuns is lnlri-
cate, unequal and i'll digested. 1t is to be
hoped the present Legislature will deyise
some method for simpler and jusier allot-
ment Of these burdens.
| shall urge upon the General Assembly
the passage Of legislation necessary Tor car
rying into effect the provisions OF the Con-
slitntion of the State. The benefits Of some
of the must salutary sections Gf that instru
menl have not been secured by the people
because Of the failure of the Legislature to
pass the laws needed for is complete en-
forcement. The care bestowed by the con-
vention in framing the Constitution, aud
the large majority Of votes cast for 1t when
before the people for adoption, should have
inspired their representatives in the Assem-
bly, to prompt action in passing the meas
ures needed to give it full effect. Partleu-
larly should this have been done since the
instrument itself enjoins the Legislature TO
do so, aud their official oaths pledge them
10 its support, obedience and defense. When
the people adopted the Constitution they
sanctioned its wisdom. II then became a
supreme law Of the State and the highest
exposition of the will Of the people, ascer-
taned ia the most sacred way known 10
democratic governments IL does not be-
come the Representatives vi the people "