The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-01-16
THE EMPTY STATE TREASURY.

The PENNSYLVANIA State Treasury ap- {
pears to be rather worse of now than is
was a wear ago. and its condition at that
time was such as to cause the greatest
anxiety. There is deficiency IN the
general fund amounting TO some two
millions of dollars, and 1t IS lmpOSSiole
for the deserving institutions OF the
State to get the money appropriated TO
them. and which is necessary, IN many
cases, to their existence. The school
appropriations have not been paid IN tull
for several years, a condition OF things
not only embarrassing to the schools
which have. in some instances, been
compelEed to shorten their terms, but
disgracefIl to the State and a serious III
jny 10 its reputation abroad II IS
situation which should never have been
possible in a great State like Pennsyi-
vania, rich and full Of resources as 1t IS,
and L shows the grossest Ignorance, in
competency or neglect on the part OF
those whose duty it has been to provide
for the necessary revenue.
The suggestion that the Legislature
bc called together in special session TO
do something in the way of relief IS not
a sound one. In the first place, even If
the people could possibly be persuaded
to endure an extra session OF the LegIS-
laturc. there would be very little hope
that anything in the way of relief could
be expected from it. The present Legis-
lature has been tried through one long
and dreary session and found lamenta-
bly, wanting. At the beginning of the
session 4 year ago it was sufficiently
warned about the condition of the State
finances, and it was made very clear to
everybody in the State, except legiSla-
hot - l.
cheney of a million and three-quarters
was then staring the Legislature in the
face and it proved itself utterly incapa-
ble of doing its duty, or, worse still,
was crimiually regardless of it. There
was plenty Of talk about ways and
means of increasing this revenue. but
every suggestion TO that end which had
anything at all in il was promptly de-
feated 10y combinations of interest which
sought TO escape taxation absolutely es-
suntial to save the State from humilia-
tion. Not only did the treasury get nc
relief from the Legislature, but the
. average Of the statesmen who composed
that body employed their peculiar talents
in the work of further embarrassing the
finance department by prolonging the
. session for the purpose of getting sever
al hundred dollars extra pay each. Tn
Of intelligence and craftsmanship among
the members within the past few
months, it would be ridiculous to cal
that Legislature together again witt
the expectation thereby Of getting mon
ey into the treasury. It could easily
succeed in making matters worse, bu
nobody would be likely to expect it t
bring about much relief
In ali probability the treasury vii
have to get along the best way it caI
until the State is fortunate enough t
secure a Legislative body having som,
sense of duty. In the midst Of polite
during this year the people ought to re
member when they come to select can
didates fot the Legislature that Their
are things more important TO be looked
after than the United States Senator
ship. Il does not require much abilit,
Oh the part of members to see Il machm,
candidate for Senator safely through
but there are other matters which cal
for at least some craftsmanship, and tn
people who elect the members viii hay
to hold themselves responsible. Tn
condition of the state Treasury will b
4 question OF quite jlymuch importanc
IN the eiectionsJf JfGf[t fall rs the Senator
snip, a'g z must be met.-PkjlG. Times