securities. But the fact that mortgages have, to some extent, escaped taxation, has been a cause of complaint on the part of holders of other property for many years. Methods to secure the assessment of this class of property have from time to time been suggested and urged upon the attention of the legislature. These efforts culminated in the passage of the act which this bill proposes to repeal. Whether all of its provisions are the wisest that could be adopted, is not now the real question under consideration. But the passage of this act will be construed as a notice to holders of mortgage securities that the effort to secure their assessment is to be at least partially abandoned.

Either the law taxing mortgages ought to be repealed or every opportunity afforded for insuring their assessment that is given assessing officers to find and tax other property.

It is claimed that those who hold the securities in question impose unusual hardships by way of increased interest upon their customers by reason of the enactment of the law of 1887. If this be true, it seems to me that the law should be strengthened and the rights of borrowers protected, rather than to repeal this act. But as I understand it, the demand for its repeal is based upon the demand of the money-lender for a higher rate of interest because provisions are made for enforcing the law as it is. And this is so repugnant to my ideas of right and justice, that I cannot force my judgment to an approval of this act. Nor is it believed that the great body of money-lenders place themselves in the attitude of asking others to construct court houses and to provide fire and burglar proof vaults in which to safely keep a record of their securities; or that other people shall pay the expenses of courts that are maintained in part for the protection of their interests and the enforcement of their rights.

Bankers loan money in competition with those who take mortgage securities, and the law providing for their taxation is very similar in its provisions, only more searching and arbitrary than the one that provides for the taxation of mortgages.

The cashier of every bank is required by law to make out and file in the office of the county clerk, a list of the stockholders, and the county clerk furnishes the list with the amount of stock held by each stockholder to the supervisor or assessing officer in a manner similar to that required of the registers of deeds under the law which this act proposes to repeal. If we are induced to repeal the act of 1887 this year because of hardships imposed upon the borrowers in consequence of the enforcement of a law as old as the State, may not the bankers be encouraged to impose additional hardships upon their customers and the next session of the Legislature be importuned to repeal the law which provides for the taxation of bank stock? If this bill becomes a law, we virtually say that we

are in favor of a law taxing mortgages, but are opposed to its enforcement. If we are about to change the settled policy of the State in regard to taxation, as this bill would seem to indicate, I am clearly of the opinion that it should not be done by less than a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature. For these reasons the bill is returned without my signature to the House wherein it originated.

C. G. LUCE.

May 15, 1889

From Journal of the House of Representatives, pp. 1625-1626

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Gentlemen-Bills are pending in both houses providing increased facilities for the care of the insane, and the importance of the questions involved induce me to communicate by special message some views entertained in regard to this subject.

Previous to 1879 counties paid all the expenses of indigent insane patients who were kept in our State asylums. For some reason the law was amended providing that patients that had been supported by their respective counties for two years should become a State charge. The expense to the State has rapidly increased under that provision, and for the years 1887 and 1888 $600,000 was estimated and appropriated in the general purpose bill for payment of expenses for indigent insane by the State.

In the message that I had the honor to submit at the opening of your session, I called attention to the rapid increase of insane patients in our State institutions, and also to the fact that this increase is more apparent than real. Patients are kept in the several asylums who cannot properly be classed as insane. They are harmless, quiet and passive. It is believed that the provision requiring the State to pay expenses has greatly increased our asylum population by reason of such payment. Some of the counties are provided with facilities for caring for insane patients, and nearly all of them can more economically provide for some who are found in the asylums. They are sent there by proper authorities. The asylums cannot refuse to receive them. The people of the county are not interested in their discharge. All this creates a demand for increased facilities. The expense to the State is rapidly increasing. It will be, in the common course of events, but a few years until each Legislature will be asked to appropriate a million dollars or more to pay these expenses. There is another objection to

this. Some counties pay much more than their fair and just proportion, and so this they seriously object. A bill is now pending requiring the State to pay to one county, at least, for the care of its own indigent insane. If this is done, others will insist upon like privileges and benefits.

I believe this policy is wrong in the extreme, and very earnestly urge upon the attention of the Legislature the propriety of amending the law so that each county shall pay the expenses incurred for the care and treatment of the insane sent to State institutions from such county. This will remove the objection raised by the counties which pay more than their fair proportion. It will give them opportunity to care for patients that do not particularly require medical treatment, and it will reduce the demand for increase in accommodations in State asylums. It is hoped that this subject will receive your careful consideration. C. G. LUCE.

June 5,
1889

From Journal of the Senate, p. 1040

TO THE HONORABLE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

I avail myself of this the first opportunity when both houses are in session to call your attention, and through you the attention of the people of this generous State, to the unparalleled calamity which has befallen the people of Johnstown, Pa.

The afflicted ones cry aloud, not alone for human sympathy, but for material aid to relieve the wants and distresses of those who have in a moment been robbed of their all.

The public journals have so eloquently and pathetically described the existing conditions, that I need not recite them here. But I urge upon you the adoption of wise and judicious methods to aid in contributing to the relief of that stricken people, either by a direct appropriation or by a general appeal to the generosity of the humane citizens of this Commonwealth.

Your early consideration of this subject is earnestly invoked.

CYRUS G. LUCE.

1891

January 8, 1891

From Journal of the Senate, pp. 24-41

GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Although no longer discharging the duties or assuming the responsibilities of the Executive Office, I am, by the provisions of the Constitution, required to give to you information by message of the condition of the State, and to recommend such measures as are deemed expedient; and in discharging this duty I shall confine myself more particularly to giving to you such information as four years of close and intimate relations with the affairs of State and its institutions have enabled me to obtain, leaving the recommendations largely to my successor who is for the next constitutional term to share with you the responsibilities of the laws enacted, and to discharge Executive duties.

As a

You assemble under pleasant and favorable auspices. A kind Providence has smiled upon the efforts of all, during the last year. rule our people have enjoyed that choicest of earthly blessings-good, robust health. The fields have yielded bounteously to the touch of the husbandman. Gold, copper and iron mines have given forth bountifully of their buried treasures, and there is a constant increase in the product of the salt wells.

For all of these, and many other blessings, we are devoutly thankful to an all-wise, ever kind, overruling Providence.

INDEBTEDNESS.

For some years ample provision has been made for liquidating the bonded debt, but as all of the bonds had not matured, they were not paid up until within the last year. And now for the first time in our history, we can with pride declare that the last dollar of this class of indebtedness has been paid; the last bond issued by authority of the Legislature has been cancelled. It is true that the State is indebted to the trust funds, consisting of primary school, Normal school, University and Agricultural college. This has been accumulating since the year 1845. Previous to that time the Superintendent of Public Instruction was authorized to loan the money upon real estate security, but through these loans losses were incurred and the Legislature at that early period provided that the money should remain in the treasury and the State

become a debtor to these various funds. That policy has been continued from that time until this, and every year through sales of lands and payments for lands previously sold, the fund has increased until now it is over $5,000,000, most of which is drawing interest to the fund at the rate of 7 per cent.

Sufficient amount received from specific taxes was early set apart for the purpose of paying the interest on these funds, and it has always been sacredly devoted to that purpose. The balance of the receipts from specific taxes was devoted to the payment of interest and principal upon the bonded debt, and when the bonds were paid the remainder of the specific taxes, after paying the interest upon the trust funds, is distributed to the several school districts of the State, towards defraying the expenses of the common schools. There is now paid into the treasuries of these school districts about $900,000, per annum, derived from specific taxes.

Of course the money derived from the sale of lands will not increase as rapidly in the future as in the past, because the greater portion of the lands have already been sold.

The present system having been the established policy, for so many years, it is not now thought best to change it, although as an original proposition it might be wise to do so.

ELECTIONS.

All patriotic citizens desire to protect the absolute purity of elections. They desire every opportunity given for each voter to cast his ballot without fear, favor, or other improper means being used to influence him in the discharge of this important duty. Every safeguard should be thrown around the voter to enable him to cast his vote in accordance with his conscience and judgment. To aid in accomplishing this purpose the Legislature of 1889 passed an act prescribing the manner of conducting elections in this State. It is believed that this law has been of value to the voter. The Supreme Court has passed upon and confirmed its constitutionality. It is believed that the main features of the law meet with the approval of the people. It has certainly rendered the use of money at the polls more difficult and hazardous. Some slight amendments should be made to the act. The voter should be required to remain in the booth at least one minute. Some provisions should be made for more rapidly canvassing the ballots. In some states provisions are made for counting as fast as the votes are placed in the box by changing boxes once an hour, so that when the polls are closed the ballots are all counted. It is believed that this would prevent a

plan some times adopted, of holding back election returns in some localities until the results in other places are known.