The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-07-12

$500, 900 to the State Normal Schools,
Governor Hastings and his Cabinet
and the hard worked clerks in the
Executive Department were last Satur-
day relieved of all further care over
the bills left when the Legislature adj
iourned There were 468 bills left in
the Governors hands, among them
the electric light and water bills, the
religious garb and Quay County
measures, and others of equal import
ance. Many days were passed in
hearing argument and many nights in
consultation.
Chief Clerk Gearhart, who has aver.
aged four hours sleep per night since
June s, has made out the following
table of comparisons -
Bills approved 1895, ass; bills ap.
proved 1898, 81 excess, I1S. The
highest number before this year since
the Constitution of 1874 was in 1895.
Bills vetoed before adjournment, "a
bills vetoed after adjournment, 90 ;
partial vetoes, s; total, I25; vetoed
in 1898 before adjournment, IS; after
adjournment, 4S total, 73; resolu
tions signed 1905, 6S; resolutions
signed 1898, 43 excess, IS. One
resolution was vetoed this year.
The announcement that the Cover.
nor proposed to veto the special ap-
preparation Of 100000 to the State
Normal Schools had quite lively
effect on the managers of these institu.
tions, and the Governor was soon in
receipt of communications by tele-
phone and telegraph, telling him that
to refuse this special appropriation at
this time would mean disaster to the
schools. The situation was grave,
but the Governor met it with a pro-
position which he submitted by tele.
graph to the several State Normal
Schools. 1t is as follows
"The depleted revenues of the
State have compelled me to reduce
the appropriations over a million and
half dollars. This is the sole reason
for vetoing appropriation to the
normal schools. If your normal school
will agree not to draw more than fifty
per cent. Of the appropriation until
the end Of the fiscal year, June I, 1897,
and the remainder afterwards, | per-
haps could give my approval to the
measure, with the understanding that
if the revenues increase so that the
total can be paid before that time it
shall be done. Please see your nor
NAL school authorities and wire me
answer promptly. must have ans
wer at once.
(Signed) "DANIEL H. HASTINGS"
Subsequently the Governor made
the following statement: 81 have
had muck difficulty in determining
upon what appropriations the differ
ent institutions could stand in order to
pass through the coming two years
without State assistance. The ap-
propriations made by the Legislature
have been vastly more than the reve-
nues of the State will warrant accord
ing to the best judgment Of the fiscal
authorities of the State after the most
earnest and painstaking consideration.
have approved the one measure
which has already appropriated the
sum Of 100000 for the education Of
the teachers of tie normal schools.
This bill aPpropriates a similar sum Of
S26o,ooo and the thirteen normal
schools are without any limitation
whatever upon the use of money so
appropriated.
Our public school system is the
pride Of all our citizens and the ap-
propriations made for its support are
extremely liberal, amounting to $II,-
900, ,ooo. The last Legislature ap-
propriated more than one half of the
estimated revenues of the State during
the same two years. Taking into con.
sideration, therefore, the large appro-
+, pna.ions 20 the common schools and
the appropriation already referred to-
| $26o, 900 for the education of teachers
in the normal schools, it seemed tc
me that under the existing fnancia
conditions to withhold my approva
from the latter measure appropriatinG
| 100000 would be just.
The falling off of the public reve
nues and the estimate of the fsca
officers of the State have made i
obligatory upon the Executive to re
duce by veto the appropriations to I
very large extent. 1t has been ex
tremely difficult and embarrassing tt
determine just what bills shoul'
receive Executive sanction and wha
should meet with disapproval. True
, financial policy demands that the ex
penditures of the State should be kep
within the amount of its receipts.
"a large number of charitable
/ institutions are dependent entirel
, upon the State for their existence ant
, others have for years been maintaine'
in part by the State. In passing upoI
Y the various appropriation bills of tn
= session of 1895 / have deemed it wis
r as far as possible to approve all bill