USA > Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania, colonial and federal : a history, 1608-1903, Volume Two > Part 31
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to enjoy very long his favorite pursuit of agriculture, being called to the chief magistracy of the State in the October election of 1866. Governor Geary expressed his personal feelings of respon- sibility, at his inauguration in January, 1867, as follows: "Pro- foundly sensible of everything that is implied by this manifestation of the people's confidence, and more deeply impressed with the vast importance and responsibility of the office than elevated by its attendant honors, let it be our first grateful duty to return fer- vent thanksgivings to Almighty God for His constant providence and innumerable blessings to us as a people; and especially mine to implore His aid and counsel in the discharge of civil trusts. who has been my shield and buckler amidst scenes of peril and death. That in the administration of government I may err is only what should be expected from the infirmities of the human mind; but as I enter upon the discharge of my responsible duties with a firm resolution to act with honesty and impartiality, I trust my errors will be regarded with charity, and treated with the gentleness of magnanimous forgiveness. I earnestly hope that my intercourse with my fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives will be so frank and cordial that our duties to a common constituency will be pleasantly as well as faithfully dis- charged. Different branches of the government as we are, with distinctive duties, we are, nevertheless, parts of one organized and well-regulated system, and, as we co-operate or disagree, the interests of the State will probably be promoted or retarded. Elected by the people, and desirous to promote the welfare of every citizen, mere party differences should not be allowed to interfere with the maintenance of a generous, just, and compre- hensive public policy."
Pennsylvania shared the general prosperity of the nation after the war; therefore, Geary's administration is marked by a great reduction in the State debt, and by vast industrial development. The Commonwealth showed a generous spirit toward those citi- zens who had suffered property losses during the war. The south-
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ern border counties had been ravaged by the several rebel inva- sions, and by the movement of Union troops through that region. In order to compensate those "whose. property was destroyed,
Homestead of General David Mead
General Mead early fitted up a block house for the safety of his neigbors and in the winter of 1798-99 had opened in it the first Crawford County school; the tablet in front of the Mead house reads: "This house was erected May, 1797, by General David Mead; founder of Meadville; ensign in the war of the American Revolution; major-general of the 14th and 15th divisions Pennsylvania militia; rendered signal service in the war of 1812; and an associate judge at time of his death. Placed by the Col. Crawford Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, May, 1902." From a negative made especially for this work.
damaged, or appropriated for the public service, and in the com- mon defence in the war to suppress the rebellion," the legislature passed an act on April 9, 1868, providing for the appointment of commissioners for the adjudication of all claims. Allowance was
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made for damages in many cases; while the national government also made appropriations for some of the losses sustained.
On April 22, 1858, an act of the legislature was approved "to contract for and superintend the erection of a monument to the memory of citizens of Pennsylvania who were slain or lost their lives in the late war with Mexico." Commissioners were appointed to superintend the erection of this monument on the grounds of the Capitol at Harrisburg. The sum of $6,000 had been appro- priated for this purpose; it appears, however, that this sum was not adequate, for Governor Geary, in his message of 1868, asked for $2,200 additional in order to complete the shaft.
During Governor Geary's administration of six years, the State debt was reduced over ten million dollars, notwithstanding the fact that legislative appropriations were of the most liberal character, those to schools and charitable institutions alone ex- ceeding seventeen million dollars. At the same time, the whole current of legislation was in favor of reduced taxation. Besides a number of local laws exempting churches, cemeteries, schools, hospitals, and other institutions from taxation, the following gen- eral laws of the same character were passed :
"( I) By the act to amend the revenue laws, approved February 23, 1866, all real estate in the Commonwealth was thereafter made exempt from taxation for State purposes.
(2) By the act approved March 30. 1866, all persons who served nine months or upwards in the military service, or who were honorably discharged therefrom by reason of wounds or physical disability contracted therein, and their property, were exonerated from all bounties, and per capita tax, and military fines.
"(3) The act of April 29, 1867, repealed all laws requiring payment of taxes to the State on sales of loans and stocks by auc- tioneers.
"(4) By the act of April 10, 1867, all trustees, or owners of property to the value of thirty-five thousand dollars, used for sol-
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diers' orphans' schools, were exempted from all county, road, city, borough, poor and school taxes.
"(5) By the act of April 4, 1868, and the supplements thereto, all mortgages, judgments, recognizances, and moneys owing upon articles of agreement for the sale of real estate, were made ex- empt from all taxation, except for State purposes.
"(6) By the act approved January 3, 1868, all laws therein re- cited were repealed, which imposed taxes upon the shares of stock held by any stockholder in any institution or company, incorpo- rated under the laws of this State, which in its corporate capacity is liable to, and pays into the State treasury the tax on capital stock imposed by the acts therein recited.
"(7) The act of June 2, 1871, repealed so much of the law of April 29, 1844, as imposed a tax of two per cent. on salaries, trades, offices, occupations and professions.
"(8) By the act of April 3, 1872, the sixth section of the law of April 21, 1854, was repealed, which imposed a tax of one-half of one per cent. on the capital stock of all corporations created under laws to enable joint tenants, tenants in common, and ad- joining owners of mineral lands, to manage and develop the same."1
While these measures relieved thousands of people from the burdens of taxation, Governor Geary believed that the work of reduction should extend much further. In his last annual mes- sage to the Assembly, Jan. 8, 1873, he referred to this subject as follows: "Nothing but very strong necessity could justify such a variety of taxes upon the same thing. And if any justification ever existed, I believe it to exist no longer. The time has come when, with proper diligence in collection, and economy in ex- penditures, the State can well afford a reduction of taxation; and legislation in that direction should be such as to relieve the undue burdens of taxation from every form of productive industry. I
1 "Pennsylvania Archives," Fourth Series,
vol. 9, p. 142.
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would, therefore, recommend that the enrolment tax upon private acts chartering industrial companies, and the bonus upon stock of such companies when organized under general laws, be considered a full equivalent to the Commonwealth for the privileges of a charter ; and that all State taxes upon capital stock, net earnings and dividends of manufacturing, mining and improvement com- panies, and all co-operative associations, be repealed. This re- duction will amount to $549,554.23-the sum collected last year. I also recommend the repeal of that source of revenue known in the Auditor-General's report as taxes on loans, which amounts to $492,407.28. It is confidently believed that with these proposed - reductions, which amount to $1,041.961.51, the State can still pay all her current expenses, the interest on the public debt, and make an annual reduction of at least one million, five hundred thousand dollars upon the principal."1
During the six years of Geary's administration, the school system of the State flourished and grew in popular favor. The total expenditures for public education in this period exceeded forty-two million dollars. The legislative appropriations amounted to about six hundred thousand dollars annually, the remainder being raised by local taxation. At this time, James P. Wicker- sham was Superintendent of Common Schools, receiving his ap- pointment in the spring of 1866, and serving until April 1, 1881, a period of fourteen years and five months. Mr. Wickersham was a man of rare executive abilities, and the school system of the State as it exists to-day owes much to his untiring efforts in be- half of popular education. In referring to his appointment, Mr. Wickersham said: "The war was over. The armies had been disbanded. The industries of peace had begun to flourish anew. The nation seemed about to take a fresh start in life. Business interests of all kinds betokened a stir, and a strength unknown before. It was the forces generated in the recent struggle turned
1 "Pennsylvania Archives," Fourth Series,
vol. 9, p. 145.
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into new channels. With this material development, there came such a quickening of intellectual activity, and such a breaking up of the old conservative crust that had long obstructed all educa- tional progress, as to give a promising outlook to the future of school affairs. A well-directed forward movement seemed cer- tain to succeed. The iron was hot, and only waited for the timely stroke."1 Mr. Wickersham was undoubtedly the man of the hour, and under his leadership the whole school system began to feel the impulses of a new life. His high ideals have not yet been fully realized. It was his desire to enlarge the scope and powers of the Department of Common Schools, so as to give it ample authority over all the educational institutions of the State, thus unifying the various school interests and making an harmonious system from the lower schools through the colleges and univer- sities. The plan was not adopted; but we look back in regret to-day, and realize what a grand opportunity was lost by the State to create a vigorous Department of Education, and at the same time form a comprehensive system of public instruction. Mr. Wickersham deplored this condition of affairs, and, in one of his reports, said : "We must have union and harmony among those who are striving to reach the same goal. We must move upon the strongholds of ignorance in solid column, not in broken de- tachments. The cause of education suffers from clashing inter- ests and divided efforts in its behalf. Our common schools do not enlist as fully as they deserve the sympathy of educated men. Our youth, by hundreds, are going out of the State for an edu- cation which they ought to receive at home, and our colleges and academies are attracting comparatively few students from abroad. Our charitable institutions, which have in many respects common aims and common interests, have not, as at present managed, any system of communication or bond of union. There must be a new awakening. Pennsylvania has a giant's power ; it must be evoked."
1 Wickersham's "History of Education in
Pennsylvania," p. 551.
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Thomas Mifflin
Delegate to Continental Congress, 1774; first aide-de camp of Washington in Revolutionary war, with rank of colonel; quartermaster-gen- eral Revolutionary army, 1775; commissioned brigadier-general, 1776, and major-general, 1777; congressman, 1783; speaker State Legis- lature, 1785; delegate to Federal Constitutional Convention, 1787; president State Supreme Ex- ecutive Council, 1788-1790; presided over State Constitutional Convention, 1790; first State governor, 1790-1799
Geary's Administration
The department of public instruction was thus in able hands during Geary's administration, and the Governor, in his messages, frequently referred to the satisfactory progress of the schools. The soldiers' orphan schools, founded in 1865, also received generous support from the legislature, in seven years over three million dollars having been expended on these institutions. The Governor, a soldier himself, took a pardonable pride in these schools, and in his message of January 8, 1873, he referred to them as follows: "Among the other States of the American Union, Pennsylvania stands pre-eminent in her care for the soldier who has borne the battle, and for his widow and orphan children. The noble scheme for clothing, educating, maintaining and adopting the orphan children of her soldiers who gave their lives in defence of the National Union-in this the generosity of her people has been imitated, but not equalled by those of any other State. To her will forever be accorded the leadership in this work of patriotic benevolence. It will form the brightest page of her history. It will seal the devotion of her people to the common country ; and our legislators, in view of its benign influence, will continue to accord a cheerful and liberal support to a system so fruitful in blessing to the orphan children of our martyred heroes."
With the growth of various State institutions it became nec- essary in Geary's administration to organize several bureaus and boards, the first of which was the board of Public Charities estab- lished by an act of the legislature in 1869. The Governor ap- pointed General Thomas L. Kane, F. B. Penniman, Esq., Hon. G. Dawson Coleman, and George L. Harrison, Esq., as members of this board, upon whom was placed the responsibility of managing public charities. These gentlemen were also vested with the au- thority to inspect all the establishments receiving appropriations from the State, thus giving an assurance to the legislature and the people that their benefactions were worthily bestowed. The Board of Charities also made a careful investigation of prison dis- cipline, and of the condition and treatment of the insane, embody-
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ing the whole in an elaborate report, containing a large amount of statistical information.
By an act of the legislature, approved April 12, 1872, the bureau of Labor Statistics and of Agriculture was established, and the Governor was authorized to appoint a commissioner of that department. Governor Geary appointed Thomas C. Mac- Dowell, of Dauphin county, to this office, and he immediately began the work of collecting statistics, which in due time were laid before the legislature. The rapid development of the State in industrial wealth fully justified the creation of this bureau. . In 1872, Pennsylvania ranked second in population; second in man- ufactures ; sixth as a wheat producing State, and first in mineral wealth and resources, among the States of the Union. The pro- duction of anthracite coal in 1870 exceeded nineteen million tons ; while the bituminous output the same year was more than four- teen million tons. The production of oil in the northwestern counties in 1868 was 327,692,524 gallons. The statistics in other lines of industry also showed a marvelous increase in wealth. Thus, the new bureau found an inviting field for gathering sta- tistics, which would not only furnish information for the legis- lature, but also invite the attention of capitalists by reliable state- ments of facts.
On September 18, 1872, a convention of delegates from the States of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee met in Cincinnati for the purpose of considering the improvement of navigation on the Ohio river. The convention remained in session two days, and appointed com- mittees on statistics, legislation, water supply and available reser- voirs, and an executive committee with power to act in the inter- vals of the regular sessions. Mr. Thurston, one of the delegates from Pennsylvania, prepared and submitted an exhaustive memo- rial covering every phase of the subject, urging the States con- cerned to contribute funds for making necessary improvements on the river, and also inviting the attention of Congress to the
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enterprise. Governor Geary was enthusiastic over the matter, and he spoke of it in his message of January 8. 1873, as follows : "The claims of this subject to your prompt and favorable con- sideration and that of Congress will hardly be questioned when it is remembered that it is presented by gentlemen who represent one-half of the population of the country; that the people who
Old Mifflin Mansion Residence of Pennsylvania's first governor
would be directly or indirectly benefited by the contemplated im- provement possess one-half of its cultivated lands, raise sixty per cent. of its agricultural products, breed sixty per cent. of its live stock, over fifty per cent. of its capital invested in farming imple- ments and machinery, and have, heretofore, paid thirty-five per cent. of its internal taxation, and contributed a corresponding share toward the payment of the national debt."
There was but little disorder within the borders of the State during Geary's administration. In 1868, there was a strike of
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the anthracite coal miners for an eight-hour day; but it was not successful. It resulted, however, in a strong organization of the miners, which exists to our own day, having only recently demon- strated its power in the greatest coal strike of all history. In 1871, there was a strike in Luzerne county against a reduction of wages. The riotous condition of affairs in that region made it necessary to call out the National Guard. The presence of the soldiers at Scranton gave ample protection to that city ; otherwise it might have been reduced to ashes, and many lives might have been lost. The expenses necessary for the suppression of these disturbances were considerable, amounting to nearly thirty-eight thousand dollars, which sum was appropriated in full by the legis- lature. The troubles which led to this strike were finally settled by arbitration, one of the first instances, it is said, where this method was used for the settlement of disputes with the laboring classes.
Governor Geary exercised a free use of the veto power, thus preventing much vicious special legislation, and, at the same time, saving the State many million dollars. His most noted veto was that on April 7, 1870, of Senate bill No. 1070, which provided that nine and one-half million dollars should be drawn from the sinking fund of the State in aid of certain railroads. In vetoing this measure, the Governor said: "Every one familiar with the history of our State constitution knows the objects for which these clauses were inserted and adopted. Our State has been cursed with omnibus legislation, enacted by what, in common leg- islative parlance, was known as the system of log-rolling. Meas- ures which alone could not stand upon their merits, and which often had no merits on which to stand, were fastened together in one bill, and by ingenious combinations of local interests, the most incongruous, and sometimes iniquitous provisions, were forced through in the same act. Essentially diverse, conflicting, and even rival and hostile interests and parties, who could agree upon nothing else, were thus induced to unite in a common raid upon
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the treasury of the State. This evil became in time so intolerable that the people were at last compelled to protect themselves against it; and they did so by these plain constitutional prohibitions. The people in their sovereign capacity, declared and wrote it in their constitution that 'no bill should be passed by the legislature containing more than one subject ;' and that 'no law hereafter en- acted shall create, renew or extend the charter of more than one corporation.'" This veto message stands as one of Governor Geary's most important state papers. It pointed out in no un- certain language the evils of special and omnibus legislation so prevalent at the time, but which were at last removed in the new constitution of 1873.
The year 1872 is interesting both in national and in State pol- itics. In that year was held the election for President of the United States and also for Governor of Pennsylvania. General Grant was re-nominated for President by the Republican party ; but a formidable opposition had been growing, which united under the name of the Liberal Republican party and nominated Horace Greeley. Then followed one of the most remarkable presidential campaigns in all our history. It naturally affected the local elec- tions in every northern State. That year the Republicans of Pennylvania nominated General John F. Hartranft for Governor ; while the Democratic standard bearer was Charles R. Buckalew. Both candidates were well and favorably known-Hartranft as a gallant general in the Civil war, and Buckalew as United States Senator from Pennsylvania between 1863 and 1869. The na- tional contest had marked effects upon the State campaign, many prominent Republicans, including Curtin, joining the Liberal movement. But Hartranft was elected, and, like Geary, he served a second term, his administration ending in 1879. On retiring from office Governor Geary paid the following gracious compli- ment to his successor: "Major-General John F. Hartranft sig- nally has illustrated his courage and patriotism on many fiercely contested fields of battle; and qualities that have made his repu-
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tation as a soldier, have been no less conspicuous in the pursuits of civil life. He will bring to the discharge of his duties a large and valuable experience in the management of public affairs; and all that is known of his antecedents may be regarded as a guar- anty for that confidence of the people who have elevated him to the gubernatorial chair by so large a majority. I bespeak for him your hearty co-operation in guarding and advancing the public interests."
Governor Geary was not permitted to long enjoy the retire- ment of private life, death suddenly calling him on February 8, 1873.
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CHAPTER XIX.
HARTRANFT'S ADMINISTRATION-1873-1879
J I OHN FREDERICK HARTRANFT, the new Governor, who was inaugurated on January 21, 1873, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, in 1830. He was educated at Union College, and intended to follow the profession of civil engineering. He abandoned this plan, however, and in 1854, was appointed deputy sheriff of Mont- gomery county, a position which he held for two terms. In the meantime he began the study of law, and in 1859 was admitted to the bar of his native county. Mr. Hartranft was by nature a soldier, and early in life became prominent in militia affairs. At the outbreak of hostilities in 1861, he became Colonel of the first regiment of Montgomery county militia, which was at once mustered into active service. Colonel Hartranft acted for a while on the staff of General Franklin. Then he organized the 5Ist Pennsylvania Infantry, and participated with Burnside's command in the North Carolina expedition of 1862. At the battle of Antietam, he led the famous charge at the stone bridge. after which he was promoted to the command of a brigade, and then of a division. He took a prominent part in the battle of Spottsylvania, and was soon commissioned as a Brigadier-Gen- eral. For gallantry in recapturing Fort Steadman in 1865, he was brevetted Major-General. Prof. W. J. Wells, of Norris- town, who served in the war with General Hartranft, has elo-
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quently described his superb qualities as a soldier in the following beantiful language :
"The first time I saw Colonel Hartranft, for he was then a Colonel, was when, down on the coast of North Carolina upon Hatteras Island, the regiment to which I belonged was separated from the entire army upon that bleak and barren shore. When the flotilla came down under General Burnside for the purpose of establishing the Union army upon the coast of North Caro- lina, the General, or the Colonel at that time, rode into our camp. and from that moment, when I saw him sitting superbly upon his noble steed (and all know how grandly he sat on that steed) I have loved him. I was eager at that time to inquire who he was. How many a time after that did I see him at the head of that gal- lant regiment in front of his colors, sweeping down upon the enemy of his country and gallantly performing the duties as- signed him! He was no braggart; he was no boasting soldier ; he was quiet and unassuming. I saw him at the battle of Bull Run, the second, ride at the head of that brigade, covering the retreat from that disastrous field. I heard his ringing voice to his men, 'Steady, steady; we are not yet retreating; we are merely changing position.' I saw him again at Chantilly but a few days afterward, when those two gallant soldiers, the brave Phil. Kearney, the one-armed hero of the Potomac army, and the brave Stevens fell. There, too, our gallant soldier and towns- man rescued the army from impending doom. I saw him again at Antietam after two brigades had failed to take the bridge; I saw him file out of the woods on to the bridge with his command, and at its head (for it was a narrow bridge), and as he was pressing forward and it was being swept with shot, shell and bullet, he bowed his head to the storm and shouted, 'Follow me. boys!' I see him sweep away on the hillside. I see his gallant front face the enemy upon the ridge, and when out of ammuni- tion, the 48th advanced to relieve him. There it was that the gallant Hartranft said to Colonel Siegfried, 'Never mind, Col-
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