The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-02
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 2, 1895.

public servants to raise it. l earnestly
recommend your honorable bodies i'm
tutional amendment abolshing the tax on
the franchise; indeed, / am convinced
that the proposition made in another state
some years ago, to Impose a tax upon
those who neglect one Of the first duties
of citizenship, viz, to vote at all cleo
tions, would not be a more reasonable and
effective regulation of the elective fran
chise than to- impose what, at most, Is an
Irritating tax upon the right to perform
ones duties.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the
act of 1874, providing for the trial of con-
tested elections in the courts of the COM
monwealth, and the contemplation of that
act, that the real Issue Of law and fact in
contested elections shall be tried in the
courts, 1t has been the rule to make these
trials mere matters of form, to suppress
and prevent actual judicial investigation,
and to appeal and transfer the cases to
the different branches OF the legislature
In the house OF representatives particular
" the whole investigation Is reopened
The election committee travels over the
state. going through the form of exaiAin-
ing witnesses, without much regard to
legal principles or judicial forms. Ques-
tions of law and fact are decided mainly
on partisan or personal grounds, and the
so-called Investigation" Is not only a
judicial farce, but a most costly and un-
satisfactory proceeding. Enormous bills
of cost are saddled upon the common
wealth, or are so scandalous that, when
they are inconsiderately passed by the
general assembly, they must necessarily
encounter the executive veto: 1t is not
fair to contesting parties that such pro-
ceedings should characterize an inquiry
into the rights of claimants to a place Of
honor or profit and of responsibility. The
provide that the real trial of the questions
Of law and fact in election contest for a
member Of the legislature should be de-
termined in the COURTS that the judg-
ment OF the court upon the issues actually
involved should be conclusive.
There has been complaint in some quar-
ters that the rigid opposition of the courts
to all Investigations and recount Of the
contests of the ballot box, except under
certain difficult conditions, tends to pro-
tect fraud. l recommend, therefore, such
amendments to the election law as will
authorize and require the courts, upon
petition Of q certain number of voters,
alleging a miscount of the vote, to order
the ballot boxes and their contents into
the custody of the courts, to be opened,
examined and recounted whenever any
proper necessity for such course has been
legally made to appear Such bill passed
second reading in the senate last session,
but failed in final passage by postpone
ment.
Foreign Building and Loan Associations.
The report of the chief Of the bureau Of
statistics will bring to your notice many
valuable and interesting statistics con-
cerning the building and loan associations
which have been nourished in our COM
monwealth by favorable legislation. They
are almost universally on a sound basis,
conservative and economically managed
They are useful in effecting savings on
the part of workingmen and persons of
moderate means, to the amount of many
millions Of dollars; and thousands have
secured homes through their membership
in these institutions. OF late, however
our state has been overrun by foreign as
sociations of this character, which hold
out glittering inducements to the credul-
Gus and impose upon the unwary. Many
of them have already demonstrated their
worthlessness, and others which have TAX
en- hundreds of thousands of dollars out
Of our commonwealth for foreign deposit
or investment, will sooner or later realize
bitter disappointment for their stockhold-
ers. There should be legislation forbid
ding any so-called building and loan, saw
ing fund or Investment society, not chart
cred by the laws of this commonwealth
or having It's main office and property
within its jurisdiction, from soliciting or
doing business in this commonwealth.
Common Schools of the State.
Measured by the magnitude of the ap-
preparation of public moneys and by the
number OF individuals directly affected,
the public schools are the most important
interest OF the state government. The
abundant revenues of the state have long
since permitted the foresight and LIBERAL
ity of the Legislature to far outrun the re-
quired constitutional appropriation to
their support Five and half millions of
dollars is the amount Of the present an
nual state appropriation and there seems
to be no demand nor occasion for the
diminution thereof.
When 1t. is remembered that the total
number of pupils of these schools in the
state for the last school year was 1OiO,619
and the average attendance 759, $50; the
cost of school houses, purchasing build
ings, renting, etc, 1886, SIS. .13; the cost OF
school text books and supplies nearly two
millions of dollars, and teachers wages
$8,99S. .3i3.GG; and from other statistics on
the same grand scale, some idea of the
extent and Importance Of this department
may be obtained.
I commend to your consideration in Its
entirety the report of the present highly
competent, scholarly and faithful superin.
| tendent Of this department.
The National Guard.
| According to the report of the adjutant
| general the number of men enrolled in the
state subject to military duty is S00,3A
| The National guard itself aggregates 1884
q gain during the year of 322. The spring
| inspections showed no deterioration Of the
| conditions OF former years, and IL the
averages were not as favorable 1t was
because the standard of excellence ha(
been advanced. The leading event of the
year In the history of the guard was The
| division encampment on the historical
field Of Gettysburg. 1t was a complete
success from every point of view, ant
/
| GERS in immediate command, but by man,
visitors Of high military distinction from
the war department at Washington. Cap
| tain Alexander Rodgers, u distinguishes
of war to inspect the National guard hai
submitted an elaborate report, which con
cludes with this most complimentary ex
preston upon the condition of the stat,
soldery of Pennsylvania:
.'The National Guard of Pennsylvania
which was In such high state of eff
cheney last year, has made very eviden
progress within the last year. The fac
| citizens of the state understand this use
fulness and the necessity for keeping NJ
its present efficiency gives to all the mem
bers of the guard encouragement and al
incentive to put forth their best efforts
AS 1t stands today 1t is a guaranty O
peace and order In the state"
The generous appropriation of the las
legislature has enabled the troops to b
better uniformed than ever before, tn
new equiument contemplated having bee
supplemented with rubber blankets, hav
ersacks and other useful articles. Tn
equipment Of the cavalry and artillery 1
also nearly complete, the adjutant gen
eral recommending only the addition o
two modern breechloading rifed guns 70
each company Of artillery. OF the appro
manned to the credit Of the adjutant gen
eral, on Dec. /, 107,751.25.
The gratifying announcement by tn
general inspector Of rifle practice tina
substantially the entire guard no,
the efficiency OF their practic
and the high average skill of tn
rank and file. In 1891 there were 45i
S,475, of whom 1916 are sharpshooters
1t Is gratifying to our state pride that 4
the International rifle competition at Sc
Girt, N. j.. In September, the Pennsy
yania team won the Hilton trophy for tn
fourth time.
Board Of Charities.
I transmit for your thoughtful consid
GRAFTON the report Of the philanthropl
gentlemen who compose the board q
state charities, whose function is to el
anime carefully into the workings of tn
ceiving state aid. l recommend to you
honorable bodies careful inquiry into n