Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-01-08
GOV. STONES
MESSAGE

IIiN Dl'illllil H'NNlDll VI lllt 1 tullNN l.
vania Legislature which organized at
Harrisburg Tuesday at noon promises
to be the shortest i'll the states his
tory. "Brevitv and business" will be
the slogan of the Legi-l ttors. This
has been determined upon by the lead
erS
1t is many year since the state law
makers assembled under such promis-
ing conditions, for every circumstance
attending their assembling is propit-
ious and every development of intent
and purpose strengthens faith that the
lawmakers will labor zealously for the
welfare of their constituents and pa
triotically for the best interests of the
whole state.
The following is Governor Stone 5
message whicii was sent i'll Immediate
ly after committees had notified him
that the Legislature was ready for
business:
Once of the Governor,
Harrisburg, Jan. 8, 1903.
To tho Senate o.I House Of Represen-
tatvcs OF the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania:
Gcntlemcn-In compliance with law,
have the honor to submit at the be
ginning of your labors, Information of
the state Of the commonwealth.
Two years ago, we seemed to have
reached standard OF prosperity
which could not again be equalled,
but the last two years have made rec
ords far in excess of the most san
guine hopes. Ali branches of indus
try have prospeTcd, and the state has
prOfited in proportion. Our revenues
have been increased from unexpected
sources, and while we have had un-
looked for expenses, the balance in
the treasury has constantly increased.
The reports of the various depart
ments which will be laid before you
are entitled to your thoughtful consid-
Grafton. They show a careful and
economical management of the bust
ness of the state and, without a single
exception, unusual increase in the
volume of work done
At the beginning of the present ad-
ministration. there was a large de-
ficit in the state treasury. At the be
ginning of the last session of the legis-
lature, there was a surplus of a mil
lion and a half OF dollars. After de-
Quoting all outstanding debts and the
unusual and unexpected expenditure
of over a million dollars for the sup
preston of industrial disturbances,
the beginning of the present fiscal
year shows a balance of over seven
millions of dollars. This is a magni-
fccrt showing, and reflects great
credit upon the accounting officers
of the commonwealth. 1t is true that
$79l, ,459.35 of this sum was received
from the general government in pay
ment of Civil War and Spanish-Amer-
lean War claims, but quite a per-
centage of the surplus is due to the
great increase in the business of the
state. The report of the state treas
urer will show you that the receipts
of the general fund for the fiscal year
ending November 80 1902, were $19,-
374,O93.53. or over $2,3O0,O0O in excess
of the receipts for 1901, which We're
the largest in the history of the COM
monwealth.
The net debt of the state on Novem-
Der 80, 1902, was only $3.50, ,20S.66, and
of this sum $134,149O2 is represented
by lost or destroyed securities, which
will in all probability never be claim
ed. The interest on the sinking fund
alone will be sufficient to met the net
debt of the state long before its ma
turity.
1t must be remembered, however
that nearly four millions of dollars
are yet to be paid on the contract for
the erection of a new capitol build
ing; there is always the possibility of
industrial disturbances necesGitating
the maintaining of the National Guard
in the field at great expense; floods
and fire destroy many bridges which,
under the act of 1895, the state must
rebuild. These and other contingen-
cies which may call for the eXpendi-
ture OF many millions OF dollars make
it advisable that great care be taken
in the matter OF appropriations.
Probably no branch OF the state gov
ernment better illustrates the growth
Of business and unusual amount of
work done than the state department.
Originally ii was intended only as
depository Of the records OF the gov
ernor's OEice, the fees imposed seldom
meeting the expenses. In the last
four years the fees alone have
netted the state over $233,O0O, after
deducting all expenses of the depart
ment. This is more than twice as
much as was realized in the entire
eight years previous The bonus en-
capital stock paid through the secre-
tary of the commonwealth was dou-
hle that OF a similar period four years
agO, and four times that Of eight years
ago. These increases in the revenue
of the state justify the wisdom of re
cent legislation which enables cor
pOratio1s desiring to do business in
this state 20 take out charters here
rather than in other states, thus turn
ing the bonus and fees into our own
state treasury.
The prosecution OF the claims OF the
state by the attorney generals de
parGmcrt rs be-. ~1"r2"tic an3 ef-
fectiyc, ara the lagsa 1alsuca in the
state treasury is n q -?oat measure