Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-01-07
Che canfaster 1ntcllieenfcr.
LANCASTER, JANUARY !, isss.
What the Message SAYS.

preventing many newspapers from printing
and many people from reading it; and yet
it is a very excellent document which CON
tains very much TO be commended and very
little that the most narrow minded parti-
san can find fault with or gainsay. Indeed,
it is in no respect partisan deliverancc,
nor does it suggest any fundamental
changes in the methods of our common
wealths government. On the contrary, as
the governor says, "the basis of our gov
ernment is now definitely fixed, its system
established, and its policy fairly settled
What is now particularly needed is the
perfection of its parts, by the looping off
of extravagances, the supplying of guards
and checks, the reduction of burdens, the
abolition of unnecessary offices, and by the
various reforms the necessity of which is
demonstrated from time to time by trial
and experience"
To point out all of these evils and the
proper way to remedy them, is indeed
comprehensive task, and would have re-
quired a much more extended message than
that delivered to the general assembly yes
terday. But, as the chief Of them, the
governor directs well aimed and well con-
sidered blows 1t is the shame of our po-
litical system that in all probability the
legislature will waste its session, as most
of its predecessors have done, over topics
Of far less real Importance than those to
which the governor calls attention. He
will not be responsible for the shortcomings
of the legislative branch.
To exhibition of the condition of the
sapilc debt is gratifying, in that it shows
balance of indebtedness amounting to
sl9,0s4 ,2s3.2S, against which there are
means in the sinking fund to pay it, aggre-
eating sS,65S,714.6S leaving a net debt
upon the commonwealth of little more
than ten million dollars. The fact that the
states expenses Of last year exceeded the
receipts need excite no serious apprehen-
sions for the future, since it is shown that
this deficit was largely due to a fruitless
session of the legislature, which accom-
plished nothing but to secure its own pay
and to effectually prevent a repetition of
that performance in another generation.
The governors exposition of the undue
weight of taxation laid upon real estate. in
comparison with the burden borne by per-
injustice seems to be grounded in the
nature of things, and rs long as personal
wealth is easily hidden, transferred and
changeable in its qualities, it is bound to
eyade taxation. If the corporate capital of
the state can be made TO pay all the state
expenses, as ii no doubt can and as it does
in some states, the changes in the law nee
essary to secure this result should be made
promptly This must be accompanied with
legislation to divert the receipts from
licenses into the county treasury; and to
that extent real estate will be relieved, as
the county and municipal taxes are now
the most onerous levied upon it.
The governor structures upon tavoriti SIN |
in the use of the states moneys: his COM |
mendation of the pardon board the atten- |
lion given to the laws for the supervision |
the insane, of charities, of the public |
lealth and mining operations, relate to trite |
subjects but all Of continuing public inter. |
est. He agrees with the state superinten- |
dent in recommending that the school fund |
be distributed on the basis of the number |
of pupils attending the schools, instead of |
taxabes, which is in accordance with the |
spirit of the school laws The abolition of |
mercantile appraisers, of the Senate libra. |
rian and resident cler;, as recommended. |
would be an entirely proper thing to do: |
there is very little hope of it from a legisla- |
tive body which starts off to fill every pos
sible office known to the law and some that |
never had legal origin or existence.
The fixing of salaries for the attorney
general and secretary of state, whose fees
and emoluments now exceed the salary of
governor, should have been done long ago
OF course, no legislation now secured will
afiect the compensation Of the present in
cumbents. Higher liquor licenses, so as to
weed out the superiluous taverns and
drinking places, and more stringent di-
yorce laws, are regulations that the pub
lie welfare imperatiyely demands The
highest constitutional obligation rests upon
the Legislature TO enforce the too long in
operative fundamental law regulating rail
road corporations and the governor in
dulges what must be the hope every good
citizen that the assembly will give the peo-
pie an honest, just and true apportionment.
The most original and one of the hest
|
mendation that the poll tax qualification of
suffrage be abolished by constitutional
amendment, the only way in which il can
be done, as it is a constitutional aualihca-
tion. As pointed out by the governor. the
law u essentially dead letter and only
leads 10 debauchery it always win be
'>fyaded and tortured out of its true intent
tits not a democratic provision anyhow.
and we are glad TO see that Senator Ken
nedy was prompt to introduce the necessary
bill for such an amendment. Practical
politicians and theoretical refoTmers have
reason TO work together TO secure the abo
lition of all tax and property qualifications
OF the PENNSYLVANIA voter. Such reform
ought to be accompanied with enaetments
to provide some way of judieially deter
mining every mans right TO vote in adj
vance of election day this would prevent
fraud, repeating and partisan decisions by
tlection ooards,and would facilitate honest !