The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-08
WILL NOT ASSIST
THE LEGISLATURE
dovernor Hastings Refuses to Name
Subjects for Taxation.
AN ACTION WITHOUT PRECEDENT
Governor Has Never Before Been
Called Upon 10 Take Part in Legis-
Iation-- He wouId Gladly Approve
Bills Cutting Down Salaries of
State Officials.

Harrisburg. Pa, June 7.--Governor
Hastings sent to the senate without
his approval the concurrent resolution
requesting him to state what new sub
jects of taxation he has to recon-
mend to the general assembly to in
crease the revenues. The executive
reminds the legislature that If in it's
duty it deems it necessary to pass addi-
tlonal revenue laws there Is no duty
resting upon him to name the subjects
for taxation. AS it is the fundamental
law of the commonwealth that all bills
for raising revenue shall originate in
the house of representatives, 1t would
be contrary not only to the letter,
but also to the spirit of the const-
tuition that all bills should originate
with the executive. Governor Hast
ings added.
am not aware that at any time in the
past the executive has been called upon by
the general assembly to take part in legls-
lation, and the resolution under consider
alton has therefore, neither precedent nor
authority of law upon which to stand.
Your honorable bodies were furnished
by me more than five months ago with
detailed estimate of the probable rev.
enues during the next two fiscal years and
We're advised at the same time that APP
propriations would not be approved in ex-
cess of the estimates so made unless ad-
ditional revenues were provided. During
the period that you have been in session
but one revenue measure has reached me,
commonly known THE direct inheri-
tance tax bill" The amount that will
probably be realized from this measure
will be $l,00OOO0 per annum.
BELIEVES In RETRENCHMENT
At this time, when almost, all indus
tries are suffering, when trade is stag
nant and when willing labor can find no
employment, economy in the expenditure
of public moneys should control the gen.
eral assembly in its appropriations and
will certainly control the executive in the
consideration of all measures. / have
steadily withheld my approval from vari-
Gus bills, increasing the salaries OF public
officials. but / would gladly approve any
bill that might be lawfully passed de-
creasing reasonably existing salaries
from the highest to the lowest.
When the individual citizen finds it nee
essary to exercise the most rigid economy
in order to support himself and his family
1T is certainly a strong admonition to you
and to the executive to see to 1t that his
burdens should not be increased, but so
far possible should be lessened Rep
resenting as you do all portions of the
state, being familiar with it's public insti-
tutions, your committees having visited
them for the purpose of ascertaining their
needs, your honorable bodies will best
understand how judiclous reductions may
be made without working serious injury
to any. Whereas, If necessity compels
the Withholding of executive approval
from appropriations in order to keep the
treasury solvent, much harm may be done
TO worthy institutions by Withholding all
where half would grealy help.
Our public schools must be sustained,
our penal institutions provided for and
the unfortunate in mind and body whom
We have always with us, must receive
our sheltering care. There is money for
all these If wisely administered. There
are two ways for states as well as indi-
viduals to successfully meet such exigen-
cies as the present conditions impose. The
first is to increase the income to meet
existing outlay. This is practically inn
possible for state or individual at this
time. The other is to reduce expenditures
so as to live within this income. This is
good housekeeping. Instead of searching
through ne crippled business interests
of the state for new subjects to tax or
calling upon ME to point them out, it viii
be much easier and more in the line of
duty, as public servants, to exert our en-
ergies in finding where the burden of tax
alton may in some measure be lifted from
the shoulders of our people.