Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-09
Governor Beavers Message.


Governor Beaver sent an able mes
sage to the Legislature, relative to
the Affairs Of this Commonwealth,
which he computes has n population
OF 5,OOO,OOO people, and 100000
voters less 100. He recounts mater
laI blessings, but does not seek to
ereatesthe impression that there are
10 evils To remedy.
The Legislature he considers as
responsible for the laws to be enact
ed.
The several proposed amendments
TO the state constitution. he favors
submitting to tie people for their
approval III the month of May or
June.
He believes one mill of the person
al property tax should he given to
the respective towns and townships
where collected.
On the question of the burden
some taxes on real estate he says
The real estate of the Commonwealth
Is taxed in the various cities and
counties thereof at rates varying
from sixty mills, which is probably
the highest, to twelve mills, which Is
probably tbs lowest. Admitting that
the assessment Is made at little more
THAN half the value Of the real estate
assessed in many localities, it is new
ertheless true that we are allowing,
under our present laws, the taxation
of those least able to bear such a
burden at the rate of from six to
thirty mills upon every dollar worth
of value, whilst we are allowing mil
lions Of corporate property to escape
taxation altogether, and imposing
upon personal property, which yields
| greater returns than real estate, on
| ly from one half to one tenth Of the
burden of taxation borne by the lat
ter. Is is not therefore true that our
farming population and the owners
Of modest homesteads have a right
to complain ? 1t Is not also true in
our efforts to prevent money from
seeking investment outside of the
Commonwealth, We are driving men
from home
The State Indebtedness unprovid-
cd for Is Il. SIC, 1895.
The Governor devotes consider
able space Of his message to the
drawing Of the attention of the Leg
islature to the subject of industrial
education.
He speaks Of the close of the Sol
diers' Orphan School in 1890, and
favors n continuance 10 1925, after
which time the Orphans remaining
can be provided for IN homes estab-
lished and conducted by churches
and charitable institutions.
In considering the Agriculture of
this Commonwealth, he mentions the
laws to prevent the spread of pleuro-
pneumonia among cattle. In view
Of the fact that people Of this state
consume about 3O6,OOO,OOO pounds
Of sugar every year, he deems IL
proper that a state bounty of SO much
per pound be paid ON every pound
of sugar raised In the state
He recommends the appointment
of a Commission 10 revise and codify
the road, poor and fence laws.
He directs the attention of the
Legislature to Tree Planting to the
the passage of an act to exempt from
levy and sale the home of the family
TO the value Of 5000
Railroads and Commerce are con-
sidered
He directs at considerable length
the attention of the Legislature to
Penal and Reformotory Institutions
to the care of the idiotic and in
sane-to the Soldiers and Sailors
Home-to Gettysburg Memorials
to the National Guard-to Tele
graphic CousohdatiOn-to the De
partment Of Internal Affairs Law
and Practice-to Marriage and Di-
vJrce Laws-to Insurance-to the
Washington Inaugural Centennial to
be held in New York City next April
to the appointments of an Honor
arv Commission to the Paris Worlds
Fair this year. In appropriate terms
the Governor speaks Of the death of
Auditor General A. Wilson Norris,
and Hon. John Turnkey of the State
Supreme Court, and closes by en-
Joining it upon the Legislature to
meet the issues Of the day bravely.