Year: 1868




be found willing to assume, or even
to admit any knowledge Of their pas
sage. 1t is expected that every legis-
lator should be acquainted with all
that is transpiring in the legislative
halls. He is not simply chosen to
give his support to certain bills which
have been called to his individual at
tention, but to be constantly on the
alert to frustratc every act that may
have Il tendency to ieopardize the pub
lie interests. To plead ignorance after
real or imaginary wrong has been
done, is to acknowledge a want of at
tention to the trust reposed by his con-
stituents. One bill, the authorship
and knowledge of which has been gen
orally disclaimod passed both branches
of the Assembly, and was sent in due
form, with the signatures of both Off
GERS, for the Executive approval, and
in several instances bills were passed
and sent for approval in duplicate.
All such hasty legislation should be
avoided and the members of the sess-
ion now about to commence be enabl-
ed at its close to give an account of
their participation in every act, how
ever unimportant. The Legislature,
coming as it does, fresh from the
ranks of the people, should set an ex-
ample in economy, retrcnchmcnt and
reform. 1t is the custodian of the
public interests, and any unnecessary
extravaganza or prodigality in the ex-
penditure of public money is repre-
hensible. 1t was Il matter ofcommon
notoriety at the last session that
number Of subordinate officers, in both
branches of the Assembly, were ap-
pointed, to whom liberal salaries were
paid, and who were never seen at
their designated posts and rendered no
service to the State. This practice has
been emphatically condemned by the
press and the people, and will not be
continued by any Legislature which
means to acquire a reputation for a
faithful performance of duty. Your
attention is respectfully invited to the
law on this subject as contained in sec
ton fifteen to eighteen of the act ap-
proved the 7th day of May 1865.


Your attention is directed to the
practice Withholding the annual ap-
preparation bill until the latest mo-
ments of the session. In the public
estimation great Importance is attach
ed to this bill, and no action of the
Legislature undcrgoes Il closer or
more careful scrutiny. Its provisions
concern the entire community, and in
their enactment too much caution can
not be observed. Last year the ap-
preparation bill was not passed until
the last night Of the session, when it
was hurried through both branches of
the legislature, and on the following
morning presented for approval, with
ont ailording time for the necessary in
vcstigation, and subjccting the Execu-
tive to the alternative Designing it with
all its imperfactions, or suspending for
the ensuing year the indispensable
means for the operations of the State
Government. Its, therefore earnestly
desired that the appropriation bill be
taken up, discussed and passed at a
sufficiently early period during the
session to enable it to receive that
thorough examination which its I'M
portance demands.


The subject of general railroad
law has long been agitatcd and al
though it has found opponents, but
few objections have been urged against
it, while arguments accumulate in its
favor. 1t seems impossible that any
person can receive injury from its
adoption, whilst its benefits may be
felt by all classes of citizens. Even
the chartered companies have unreas-
enable grounds for opposition. The
intention of the proposed law is not to
deprive them of any vested rights or
franchises but to secure to others the
same privileges and opportunities for
competition. 1t will open new ave
nucs to distant markets improve the
value Of property; give new impulse
to immigration 4; put additional lands
under cultivation stiaHthatG. trade,
agriculture, manufactures and me-
chanic arts to increased energy fur
nish greater inducement and facilities
for travel, and to our general pros
perity. Other States have tried the
experiment with satisfactory results,
and there is no reason why Penusyl-
vania should be a laggard in the
grand march of progress and improve
ment.


Next to the Importance of creating
additional railroads on the free prin-
ciple, is the reduction of charges for
passage and freight to minimum rates.
This is matter that concerns every
individual. Transportation will in
crease in quantity in proportion to the
reduction fits cost and as the facili-
ties increase and the costs decrease, the
more vigorous will be the develop
ment of our industrial resources. Rail-
roads will derive more benefit from
low than from exorbitant charges.
A report is herewith submitted of
the pardons, remissions Of fines, for
feited recognizance and death warrants,
issued by me during the past year,
with tabular statement of those issu-
ed from 1871 to the present time.
This report is made In accordance with
a sense of duty to the Legislature and
the public who have a right to be in