Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-26
C0VEREDWITH GLORY
Chairman Andrews Scores a Victory
After a Debate in Which
HE is AS SILENT AS USUAL.
The Public School Appropriation Increased
half Million.
THAT NEW YORK TRIP WILL BE TAKEN
The Grade Crossing Bill Killed in the Senate by
Vote of % III.
rRouA STAFF CORRESPONDENT

n IL
HARRISBURG, April 25.-State Chair.
man Andrews covered himself with glory
to-day by having the appropriation for the
public schools increased from the amount
fixed in the general appropriation bill,
81, SOC, 900, to 100000 per year. The
House was practically unanimous for the
increase, notwithstanding which there was
a spirited debate, listened to attentively by
the State Chairman, who didn't participate.
The principal opposition to the increase
came from Chairman Dearden, of the Ap-
preparations Committee, who, while per-
sonally in favor of the increase, endeavored
to show that the condition of the States
finances wouldn't justify it. Captain Bill
ingsley opposed it because he did not think
anyone wanted it. He was quickly cor
rected, but not convinced on that point by
Captain Skinner, of Fulton, on the Demo
cratic side, and Captain Evans, of Bedford,
on the Republican side.
Mr.. Wherry, who is heartily in favor of
the increase, took advantage of Chairman
Dearden's statement of the States finances to
show how the idle money in the sinking fund
might be put to some good use. Mr.. Hall re-
fined themselves strictly to the merits of the
question.
THE FINANCES OF THE STATE.
Chairman Dearden said the States financial
officers estimated that the revenues under the
new revenue bill would be between Sl1, ,000, 600
and 100000. that in making appropriations it
would not be safe to count on more than the
minimum. The general appropriation bill
called for 100000. and the House otherwise
appropriated $4,000 The appropriations
were therefore $500, ,O0O in excess of the amount
the executive departments considered safe.
The committee, however, had worked with a
view to the fact that the Senate would amend
the general revenue bill to divert from a quar-
ter TO half million of dollars yearly from the
sinking fund to the general fund.
Chairman Dearden told the House that the
Appropriations Committee had cut the aggre-
gate of the demands upon it 81 6000 900, some
thing he declared unparalleled, and he warned
the House that If it increased the school ap-
preparation the Governor who could not under
the law cut this item, would have to cut else
where to the amount of at least S5O0,000
Mr.. Kratz called Mr.. Dearden's attention to
the fact that last year the estimates were
S20gOOOO out of the way, and that the Governor
paid 81. .OOO, 600 more tnan the law required into
The sinking fund. Mr.. Dearden replied that
his information then, as now, came from the
executive departments, and was official. He
was compelled to guide himself by it
Mr.. Wherry told the House he favored an
increase of the school appropriation, but he
wanted the House to understand that the Ap-
preparations Committee had pared the appro-
priations for the public and charitable institu-
tIons down to the quick, down to where it hurt
ana the House had made itself responsible by
approving the work He called attention to
his resolution for the disposal of the sinking
fund as the sword to cut the gordian knot of
financial difficulty.
There are" he said, s, ,6S6 BIZ lying idle in
the sinking fund This sum will be largely in
creased in the years to come unless the law is
materially modified. This large sum
BENEFITS ONLY THE FEW,
and the corporations having the use of it. and
the benefit amounts to from $50, 900 to $3.50 900
annually. Had my proposition been taken up
to make use of these idle funds it would not
be necessary to pare down the money for chari-
ties to where it hurts. or deny money to the
schools"
After Mr.. Hall had made statement of the
conditions and requirements of the sinking
fund, Mr.. Wherry obtained leave to print a re-
ply in the form of a tabular statement to the
effect that an annual income of S35O.000 to the
sinking fund, which includes the S250,OO0 re-
Quired by the constitution, will pay all accru-
ing interest and all the State loan as it falls
due, and thus wipe out the entire debt when
matured, beside leaving a large surplus in the
Treasury. In conversation, Mr.. Wherry said
the new revenue bill, as amended in the Senate
would produce more than 500, 900 a year for
the sinking fund.
One interesting feature of the succeeding de-
bate was the manner in which Mr.. Capp cor
nered DR.. Walk, of Philadelphia who, in the
interest of economy, didn't want the appropri-
ations increased, but who didn't even think of
economy wnen advocating what Mr.. Capp, a
lawyer, called the judicial salary grab. Colonel
Bean, in making an eloquent plea for the ap-
preparation, brought blush to Chairman An
drews' cheeks by contrasting him with Mr.
Dearden.
1.-The gentleman from Philadelphia" said
Colonel Bean, represents the executive de-
partments in resisting this Just measure; the
gentleman from Crawford represents the peo-
pie in demanding it." The round of hearty
applause that followed deepened the color in
Mr.. Andrews cheeks. The previous question
was moved while Captain Billingsley was try
ing to make second speech in opposition to
the bill, and it was carried with only six op-
posing votes in spite of his earnest protest.
Then the amendment which Chairman An
drews had proposed was carried with a rush
The appropriation for schools will therefore be
made s., 100000 year. for the Senate has al
ready given a measure of Endorsement to Sen
ator Martins proposition to the same effect