The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-27

In addition to the tax assignment
orders, issued In February, March and
April, S76, SS3. 70 were received from similar
orders issued in the month OF May previ-
Gus to the oath INST. The total sum re-
ceived from these orders during the
present year, on account OF the taxes due
June 18th next, has been $Si6. 323. 95. The
taxes from every city and town in the
State except one, the town of North
Kingstown, amounting to 80, 58S. .73, have
in this manner been anticipated.
The expenditure for the first four
months OF 1896. as given above. has been
increased by an expenditure during the
first 23 days of May of Sl15, ,32S.hA, as
nearly as can be ascerJained.
Notwithstanding the anticipation of
the June taxes, on May 23d the State was
not able to meet its obligations, and its
bank account was overdrawn to the ex-
tent OF $2277. No considerable income
will now De received before the 10th of
June. After the 18th OF June ii will be
possible to anticipate the taxes due
December 18th by issuing tax assignment
orders. The demands upon the treasury
during the next two or three weeks will
be considerable. In the circumstances, /
recommend that the General Assembly at
the present session authorize the general
treasurer to borrow on behalf OF the State
$50, 600 for such time as may be convent
ent, not exceeding one year. To provide
for the expenditure required to meet the
appropriations already made, and those 1t
Is necessary to mako to protect the inter-
ests Of the State, IT is advisable to obtain
from the people the right 70 issue bonds,
as provided in Article 4, Section 13, of the
State Constitution. In the message pre-
sented at the opening Of the January ses-
sion, A. ID. 1896, page and 10, the plan
OF issuing Normal School bonds, in which
a provision shall be Incorporated to repey
into the general treasury the s197, ,000. that
the State had already expended for the
Normal School, was not recommended.
That amount was not deemed sufficient
to enable the State to meet its obligations
during the first i've months of 1896. To
May %, 1896, the State received from tax
assignment oiders over $316, 600 and on
to borrow S2277 to meet due payments.
The State has now appropriated $3.50, 900
for the State Normal School. Before the
authority to issue bonds can be obtained
and proceeds from the same realized, IL
the building Of the Normal School is con-
tinued, a large additional amount will
have to be advanced by the State.
ESTIMATED COST OF THE STATE NORMAL
SCHOOL.
Paid for land, eIc. .S134, ,C35 66
Estimate of the total cost OF
buildings and surroundings. BAG, ,662 %
Total. l..................-......S4s0,e97 ,e97 66
This building will:last the State, for all
purposes connected with Normal School,
for many years. 1t Is obviously as un-
necessary to pay for 1t from the general
income OF the State as 1t would be to pay
for the new State House. In the present
condition of the State finances Ii Is I'M
possible. To complete the Normal School
money must be secured from some other
source than the general income of the
large amount required for this enterprise
should be provided by the method already
adopted to pay for the State House In
the circumstances, therefore, l recon-
mend to your consideration the propriety
of obtaining from the people the neces-
sary authority to issue Normal School
bonds, to the extent of $500. 600 with the
right to repay into the general treasury OF
the state the money that may have been
advanced for his.enterprise at the time
the proceeds of the bonds are received.
BY this means the construction of the
Normal School can be pushed without
delay, and the building. now mp to its
second story, can be rooted in before the
coming winter. The State will also re-
ceive an addition to Its general income,
approximating $500, 000 which will enable
1t to meet such othe- obligations as NAV
mature during the balance Of 1896.
The constitution OF the State has proved
for generations the bulwark Of our liber-
ties. 1t wisely limits the power of the
General Assembly to incur State debts to
large amounts without the consent of the
people. To proceed, In dealing with the
finances of the State, In accordance with
the fundamental law OF Rhode Island, Is
q duty that Will be as apparent to you
as 1t is to every citizen of the State To
adopt unconstitutional and irregular
methods Of providing for expenditures is
not to be tolerated. The people, who
have placed us in control Of their affairs,
are quite capable of dealing intelligently
with the necessities Of the State. They
have, by an overwhelming ma jority, at
the last election approved the policy OF
purposes. To submit to them the ques-
tion of granting authority to raise the
funds to complete the State Normal
School is acting IN accordance with the
constitution which We have sworn TO
uphold.
The valuation OF Rhode Island in 1890
was S504, 1862, ,352 Only two other New
England States exceed her in wealth. The
property OF Rhode Island and the import
ance OF completing the Normal School
fully justifies the issue of bonds
I'm the present circumstances intelligent
economy is necessary In connection with
ell State affairs. IL is doubtless as appar-
ent to You as II Is to the executive and to
the people OF the State. Economy, how
ever, does not always mean n cessation OF
expenditure. IL would not be economical
10 stop the construction OF the State Nor
NAL school building.
To permit the elements to gradually
destroy the portion OF the structure
already erected, to lose the benefit OF the
money already expended, and TO prevent
the state and her citizens from securing
the advantages OF greatly improved and
very mach needed educational facilities
would net be prudent.
The peorls OF Rhode Island demand OF
their repres entativss intelligent, careful,
economical management OF the State
finances i'm Accordance with the ConafiIn-