The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-07-04

the manner and in accordance with
which they were enacted.
"Ballot reform is, and will remain
the watchword of our party in every
State, and we especially congratulate
our political brethren in New York
upon the fact that, although their
Democratic Governor could deform, he
could not wholly defeat their efforts to
secure free ballot for every Amer
can voter throughout their State.
"We charge the members of the
next General Assembly with the duty
to pass such laws, and if necessity
should arise, to provide for such
changes in the Constitution of our
State as will insure to every voter per-
feet secrecy and freedom In exercising
his right of sufferage.
"For almost thirty years the finau.
ces of this State have been under the
control of our party. During that
time we devised a system of taxing
corporations, which serves as pattern
for and has been taken as guide by
many sister States, in their efforts to
collect revenue for public purposes.
"We have paid off the debt which
the Democratic party of this State Gre
ated during time Of peace; we have
almost extinguished the debt which
the Democratic party of the Southern
States inflicted upon US during the
civil war, and years ago we lifted from
the lands and homes of all our fellow
citizens the burdens of State taxation.
TAXATION TO BE LIGHTENEp.
"But the depression under which our
agricultural interests now suffer has
made the present system of taxation
bear too heavily on them, aud we
therefore pledge ourselves to tighten
that burden, and as far as possible to
equalize taxation. To that end we
recommend that the surplus revenue
derived from State taxation be used to
lessen the taxation now laid upon real
estate for local purposes by applying
it, so far as it will in Legislative wis
dom avail. to the increase of the ap-
preparation for the support of the COM
mon schools, and to making approprla-
tion for the care of the INDECENT insane,
for the expenses of the jury system,
and of holding the general elections.
"If thereby there should be neces-
sity for enlarging our surplus revenue,
we favor just and equitable increase
in the taxation of property of corpora
tions.
"We recommend that the local sys-
tenn of taxation be 80 reformed as to
permit the taxation of money capital
for local purposes to such an extent
as to enable the local authorities to
reduce the rate of taxation upon real
estate to an equitable basis.
"We require the General Assembly
vigilance 10 making appropriation of
public money and our charitable insti-
tutions receiving State aid in the
strictest economy in the expenditures.
"The phenomenal, increase of our
population and Of our commerce, for
eign and domestic, with the deere ase
in the circulation of our national
banks, renders it imperatively essen
tial to the general good in our judg-
ment that there shall be speedy and
substantial increase in the currency of
the country. Unoompromisingly hos
tile to mono.m o.metalism, whether of
gold or silver, and earnestly favoring
the use of both as coin metals, the Re
publican party of Pennsylvania de-
mands the enactment, by the Congress
now in session, of such legislation as
will, while securing the fullest use of
silver as money, most certainly secure
and maintain parity between the two
metals.