The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-01-09
WHOLE NO. 1856.
GOVERNOR BEAVERS MES
SAGE.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE To THE LEGIsLA-
TUEE At rs OPENING SEsSloS TCEs-
DAY

RECOMMENDATIONS NApE To THE LEGIsLA-
TUEE At rs OPENING sEssioS rrEs-
DAY
In opening his message. the Governor
informs the gentlemen Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives that they have
come together under favorable auspices
The Commonwealth ProsPers. Her pom
lation increases. Her vote st the last
general election aggregated within seven
teen hundred Of one million, being about
one hundred thousand in excess Of the
vote at any time previously cast. This
vote, measured by the standard II 1850,
wouId indicate population spproximat-
ing. if not quite equal to. five millions.
The great natnrai resources Of the
State are next referred to. the healthy
and vigorous growth OF her manufactures.
and the Development Of her smaller cities
all indicating general thril ami COM
mendable enterprise
Industrial thrift has been but slightly
retarded by strikes aud lockouts. de-
siructive alike 70 ali the interests affected
thereby aud an increasing disposition
between the wage Garner and the wage
payer to conse't before differences arise.
and To srbitrate after they have arisen.
gives promise of more satisfactory results
in this direction in the future
CONSTITUTIONAL AWENDuENrs.
Coming at once % governmental con-
Germs the Governor says
Your immediate predecessors, By two
several joint resolutions, took the first
step in submitting to vote Of the peo-
pie amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth the iirst ofsaid resp
lations, approved the 10th day Of Feb.
1857, proposing TO prohibit by consuiu-
tioual enactment the manufacture. sale.
or keeping for sale, Of any Intoxicating
liquor TO be used a. a beverage and the
second providing for the amendment of
the first section of the eighth article Of
the Constitution relating to suffrage,
abolishing the payment Of a tax as a
qualification for voting, reducing the
minimum residences in the district where
the elector offers 20 vote from two months
TO thirty days. and extending the suff-
rage TO citizens actually engaged in mill
tary service and 10 the intimates Of any
home for disabled soldiers and sailors in
the district where said houe is -loclted
In regard to the first Of these resolu-
tions, it may be confidently said that
very many people OF the Commonwealth
desire to vote directly upon it. They
should have an opportunity 50 to Do and
in order that such an opportunity may
be afforded at a time when no other con-
sideration than the direc. question in
volved can bias the mind, il is recom-
mended that the resolution he passed by
the present Legislature as eaFly as pos
sible. and that time be fixed for a spec
ial election-say in the month Of May or
June-at which the people may reeord
their verdict thereupon
The amendment proposed in the see
ond Of said resolutions seems 70 meet
with general approval, and might be
submitted at the same time. Neithsr OF
these subjects has any partisan political
significance, and they should, therefore,
be considered and determined solely upon
their merits. This. it Is believed, can be
best done wher no other subject is before
the people, and in advance Of the nomi-
mating conventions which shall name
candidates to be voted for At the general
ele ction in November.
APPROPRIATIONS ANp RrvENUE.
Taking up the consideration Of legisla-
ton relating to appropriations and rsve-
nue., the Governor says
At the close Of the legislature OF 1ss7
there remained in the office Of the Secre-
tary Of the Commonwealth for Executive
action nearly three hundred bills and
resolutions. These included the major
part Of the appropriation bills Of the ses-
sion. a careful aggregation Of all appro-
priations made, together with the fixed
charges and expenses provided by law,
the departmental expenses arising under
tie schedules. and the estimated amount
of the Sinking Fund as fixed by the Con
stitution and laws, amounted to nearly
sl7O0OO0
The estimated revenues from al
sources, according to the experience and
judgement Of those best qualified to make
an estimate, were less than sI5,000G00.
This condition Of things imposed upon
the Executive the necessity Of bringing
the income and oEtgo Of the treasury for
the two years. from the lst Of June, 1857.
to the lst Of June, Ess0, as nearly az pos
sible together. The remedy. and the
only remedy. therefore. was to be found
in decreasing the expenditures. or rather
the necessity f0r expenditure
by Executive interference. This was
found to be a difiicult thing 10 DO. The
great majority Of the appropriations were
well considered and necessary, and ap-
pealed 70 the Judgment and. in many
eases. to the sympathy Of the Executive
The bin 10 revise. amend.
and consolidate the several revenue laws
Of this Commonwealth, which imposed
taxes upon personal property and upon
b INKS, corporations. limited partnerships, I
bInksrs and brokers known a. House {
bill No. 30, which came 10 the Office Of
the secretary Of the Commonwealth a
few days before the adjournment Of the
last Legislature. received very careful .
consideration al the hands Of the Exc
eutive. In some oi its provisions j; was
not believed 10 be all thai was desired
in others It Was regirled ~ positively
faulty, in some respects its tendency was
10 diminish the revenues. Theirs was 8
popular demand for some nex revenue +
system. It was believed by the people
At Earge that this bill met the requirements +
Of this dem and
With many Inisgivings, but recogniz- 4
ing the feeling upon the subject. the
Executive was about to sign the bill.
when it vas discovered that it had not
received the signature Of the presiding
1fEcer Of the senate, as required by the
Constitution. 4 quiet investigation
was set on foot before any publicity was