The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-01-14
GOV. PA4rISON'S MESSAGE.
He Goes For All the Corporations
Dut,es of the Legislature Pointed oul
With UncompI'mentary References.
THE LIQUOR AND DIVORCE EVILS.

THE LIQUOR AND DIVORCE EVILS
Tie following is comprehensive
abstract of Governor Pattison's mes
sage to the Legislature.
The gross receipts of the Treasury
we're SAIL 500 60; amount trans.
ferred to the sinking fund, 1916,
315 73; balance s3,135, ,279 81
The total of payments at the State
Treasury from the lst day of Decem
Der, 1882, to the 18th of November
1884, both days inclusive, was s4,
377,515 6s.
The fiscal year just closed began
with cash balance in the Treasury
December /. 1888, of 3.534. .53S 03
The tables show that during the yeal
there was received for tie general
fund s3,735, ,279 81 and for the sink
ing fund s2,49l.679 81, making 9
total receipt of s6,226, ,959 SO. For
the same period the payments were
for the general fund, 81, 4,371,515 6S,
and for the sinking fund s., ,226.-
396 60. making the total payments
s7,643.912 80. While the receipts
were thus less than the expenditures,
yet with the cash balance on hand
December /. 1883. from former
years, the Treasurer was enabled to
meet all the current expenses Alr-
ing the year, and az the same time
invest for the sinking fund s2,150,-
476 81, and close the year with .
balance in the Treasury of s2.117,-
5S5 II. The apparent excess of pay
ments over receipts for the year IS
s1,416,952 81 OF this excess, how
ever, s774,717 II is invested in the
sinking fund to secure the payment
of the debt of the State, that being
the amount as shown By the tables
paid to the sinking fund in excess OF
the receipts for the same. This
leaves, therefore, as the real excess
of the expenses, over receipts, S642,
235 81, the difference between the
general fund payment aud receipts.
This difference may be accounted
for by a net decrease il the receipts
over the previous fiscal year of
s374, ,465 66. OF the gross decrease,
s547, ,75S 81 occurred in the receipts
from the FIVE items on tax on capi-
tai stock of corporations, of gross re
ceipts, Of collateral inheritance tax,
of retailers licenses and of tavern IL
censes.
The excess of payments over the
previous fiscal year is due mainly to
the extra session of the Legislature
called for the purpose of having
neglected constitutional duty per
formed. This fruitless session cost
over s500,000, which was taken from
the treasury in opposition to vote,
and for which the people have re-
ceived no return, as their constitu
tional command, 10 enforce which.
the session was called, Is still IN
obeyed. The increased payments to
charitable and reformatory institu-
tions, to public printing, to normal
and common schools, to penitentia-
ries, and to costs in suits against de-
linquent dealers-six items-amount-
ed to s25S, ,S02 81.
THE TREASURY STATEMENT.
For the fiscal year ending Novem-
Der 80, 1885, the Treasurer has made
the following estimates of receipts
and payments;
RECEIPTS.
For the general fund $3.50 co.
For the sinking fund .....-......... $40 500 90
Total ceip,s....................s5 -, l4d 000 90
PAYMENTS.
To the general 81 SPA 090 90
To the sinking fund .....-.-..-...... l0ss,622 30
Total payments-..-.-.-- ..-.-.-s5 .5l2662 %
1t thus appears from the estimates
OF the Treasurer that the expendi
lures of the general fund viii exceed
the receipts for that fund about $3.50,
COO While the balance with which
the Treasurer begins the year, will, OF
course, prevent default occurring,
vet the Legislature should, in max
ing their appropriations, scrutinize
them with this probable excess of
over receipts in view.
STATE TAXATION.
As far as aseertained it appears
for State, borough, township, coun-
tv, municipal and all other pur
poses, there is yearly raised by taxa
ton about s3S,000O00. OF this sum
real estate pays about S30,000,000,
and personal property about sS,000,-
coo. One would suppose from these
figures. that the difference in value
OF the two species OF property would
be in some proportion to the differ
ence in the amount each contributes
to the public revenues. The facts,
do not support such a sup
position. The value of the paid IL.
capital of corporotions (largely be-
low the authorized capital is about
81 200, 100000 The value of money
at interest, horses. carriages, watches,
&c. amounts to about s300.000000, |
making as the total value of these
forms OF personality s1.500,000,000 |
There should be an equalization or
an approach to it of the burdens i'm
posed on each form of property As
an effort in this direction, | suggest |
that the revenue laws of the State be |
so changed that the tax upon corpo- |
rations shall pay all the expenses of
the Commonwealth, and that the in
come from all other sources of taxa
tion upon personal property be paid |
back TO the respective counties |
whence it comes, to relieve real es-
tate in those counties to that extent |
from local taxation. This would re-
verl to the counties the various lie
censes collected, the tax on watches, |
horses and carriages, money at inter-
est, &c.--in short, all the revenue
now derived except that directly |
from corporations. This would be a |
material relief to real estate, and |
would not be serious additional |
imposition on corporations. Corpo- |
rate wealth Is so rurely a creation of |