Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-07
Beavers MESSAGE.
The Governor Has Some Final
Words With the State
Legislators.
SOME OF HIS SUGGESTIONS.
The Loan for the JOhnstOwn Sufferers
Should Be Repaid at Once.
REVENUE AND TAXATION LAWS.
Ballot Reform Is a Subject That Needs Much
Consideration.
SOME OF HIS SUGGESTIONS.
REVENUE AND TAXATION LAWS.
TIE ERIE SHIP CANAL A GREAT W0RE

sent his message 10 the Legislature to-udy'
1t is a lengthy document, and goes very
fully into the affairs of the State, containing
many suggestions as to legislation that
should be considered. He also reviews the
events that have occurred since the last
meeting of the Legislature. The more
salient points of the message are given
below.
The Governor gives at length history Of
the Johnstown flood, and the measures
taken TOR the relief of the sufferers. He
SAYS that it was first proposed to take the
needed money from the State Treasury,
getting the bonds of citizens for its repay
ment, but as the constitutionality of such
action seemed to be doubtful in the minds
of some, the plan was abandoned. The
money was then secured from the Peoples
Bank, of Philadelphia, upon an obliga-
tion drawn bv the Attorney-General,
specifying the object for which the money
was to be used, and pledging the faith of
the Commonwealth for its return.
Personal Obligation.
This constituted personal legal obligation
of the maker as well as pledge of the credit
of the Commonwealth, but under ordinary
circumstances it would probably not have
been regarded as marketable commercial
paper. By the aid of Mr.. William II.
Kemble. OF Philadelphia, however, he was
enabled to carry the plan into execution by the
Hedging of his individual securities as collat-
dral for the obligation. In this way the sum of
S3OOOJO, then deemed to be sufficient for the
purpose was secured and at later date an ad-
ditional sum OF Sl00, ,000-making S40UOO0 in all
advanced by the bank and secured by the
pledge of Mr.. Kemble's personal securities.
The Governor recommends that an appropria-
tion be Immediately made:to reimburse the
bank. In the conference with the Pittsburg
Relief Committee, demand was made for the
return of the money expended by it in work
which was considered as legilmately belonging
- the State. Having no authority. under the
provisions of an act of 1885. to renay money al
ready expended. no such return could be made;
put IT was promised that the matter should be
falled to the attention of the Legislature and
accommodation made for an appropriation TO
fepay much of the money as had been ex-
Rended in work which should have been done
lby the State; The amount then alleged to have
been expended by the committee in the general
work al Johnstown, was Sl2o,0O0.
The State Board of Health.
Regarding the State Board of Health Cover
nor Beaver says:
The necessity for, and the work done by the
state Board OF HEALTH throughout lazge por-
lou OF the Commonwealth for many months
succeeding the floods of 1889 demonstrates the
necessity for the existence of the board and the
wisdom of enlarging its power. The water
ways OF the Commonwealth are becoming more
and more the source of water supply to all our
ci;ies and larger towns. The purity of the
water therein becomes, therefore. question of
vital importance. The Investigations OF the
Board Of Health prove conelusively that in
many classes Of epidemic diseases. prevention
Is easy if the water supply can be controlled
and purified. The time has come when the
Legislature should take decided grounds and
prompt action upon this subject"
1T may become necessary to revoluticnize
our entire system of sewage for cities, towns
and pubic institutions. Instead of emptying
1hls mass OF corruption into our streams, carry
ing disease ana death to those who depend upon
them for their water supply, it will be neces-
sarv TO devise and carry into execution some
efficient system OF dispOsing of the sewage of
dense communities. l recommend thai the
authority of the State Board of Health over
such subjects be increased with such safe
guards as may be necessary, and that appropria-
ton for their general expenses be SO increased
as TO enable them to make careful! and thorourh
investigation and experiment to the best
means OF avoiding the dangers herein recited,
ard at the same time affording an efficient and
IealUhful system Of sewage.
Question of Revenue and Taxation,
The question of the manner in which our
revenues are to be raised continues to be one
OF absorbing interest 10 the people of the Com
mouTealth. A commission appointed under
JOINT resolution approved the 18th day of Nav
ISSa has given careful consideration to this
subject and prepared a report embracing the
views of all its members, showing a wide
divergence of opinion as to the prlnc;ples unon
which and the methods by which taxes are To
be levied and collected The majority of the
commission agreed upon bill which provides
Tor The leyvinC of county and muuiciDal taxeS
upon the several kinds of properly tberein
specified the principal object of which is to
bring corporate and personal property within
the taxing power OF the municipality. with
View TO relieving real estate from alleged ex-
Cessive burdens. The minority of the commits
sion dissent from the views of the majority as
expressed in this bill and state their views al
length in three several minority statements
contained in the report. The whole subject of
taxation is very ably discussed in this report
and is commended TO your careful considera-
non.
1T is to be regretted that this commission has
not been able to gather data upon which an in
telligent conclusion can be based as to the in
equality of the burdens of taxation borne by
real and personal property respectively Until
this difference is definitely ascertained 1t is i'm
possible TO apply a remedy. even if it be con-
ceded that a remedy is needed. The report of
the majority leaves the entire question of the
collection OF State revenues to be governed by
the laws which now exist This is we'll mas
much as our present revenue laws are better
understood and are being more satisfactorily
enforced than ever before. The revenues raised
under them are constantly increasing and it is
believed that the provisions of the act of lst of
June. 1889, VIII yet more largely increase the
revenues which will be collected under il
~ recommend that of the State tax upop per-
sonal property collected under the sixteenth
section of the general revenue act, the one-balf
part thereof be returned to the several counties
of the Commonwealth in which the same ia coll
lected, instead of the one-third part as pro-
vided by the said section. l recommend, also
mat the laws relating to licenses for the sale At
retail of liquors be so amended as to authorize
the entire amount raised IRON the granting of
said licenses to be paid into the rePsury of the
municipality within which the privileges con-
Ierred by the same are to be exercised.
'ln order to replace the amounts thus recon-
lnended 10 be applied in relief OF taxation,
respectfully recommend that the amount of the
TAX on corporation stock to be paid into the
sinking fund under the twenty-eighth section
ol jAe general revenue act of June J. 1889 be
reduced from one-haIf to one-fourth part there
oil. This amount. it is believed, will be amply
snihcient to provide for the interest of our
small remaining debt and tie assets in the
SINKING fund are amply sufficient to provide for
tAe payment Of any OF the loans of the Com
inOhWealth winch can, under the provisions
thereof, be paid for several years TO come"
Inc Governor says that the operations of the
SINKING lund have been, especially during the
past year. very satisfactory. More than two
years ago the Commissioners of the sinking
iund adopted the policy of purchasing the loans
oI tne commonwealth. and especially the per
cent loan, which is reImbursable February j.
lS32 IN preference to investing these fund.- in
bonds of the United States. which have be-
'.''"e, under the manipulation of large
purchase of its own bonds by the General Gov
crnment, speculative seeurity having ranged
during the past year in price from IcS to l2l
The statement Of the public debt shows a re-