The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-21
PENNSYLVANIA REVENUE
Interesting Statement Of the Con-
dition Of the State Finances.
OVER THREE MILLIONS DEFICIT.
Deputy Attorney General Elkin De.
cIares That the Liberal Appropria-
tions Made to the Public Schools Is
Responsible for tho Deficiency.

DepuUy ATTORNEY oeuefdt IIihih ho-
cIares That the Liberal Appropria.
tions Made to the Public Schools Is
Responsible for tho Deficiency.
Harrisburg, June q. - Deputy At
torney General ]. p, Elkin gave out an
interesting statement last night on the
condition of the state finances. He says
there is a deficit of $3,5OO,O0O in the
state treasury, and that 1t Is the duty
Of every citizen interested in the well
fare of the commonwealth to recognize
the fact and help to provide the rem
edy. If the state should apply every
dollar in the treasury to the payment
of appropriations hereafter made and
now due there would still be defici-
ency of s1.5G0 900 In the common school
fund, 81, 900, coo on account of quarterly
payments provided for In the general
appropriation act, s5OOOOO to the city
of Philadelphia, and over $5OO,OOO to
other institutions and counties, maxi
ing d total deficit of more than $780,
600.
Mr.. Elkln says the legislature has
for several years appropriated more
money than the net revenues received
by the state. This accounts for the
large deficiency which confronts the
present Legislature and the state Off
cials. The gross revenues Of the state
are about s12,000,0O0 a year. This in
cludes the entire personal property tax
collected by the counties and paid into
the state treasury. -fourths Of
oh n
nually, is returned to the county, leav-
ing balance of less than $10,OO0000 a
year available for appropriation pur-
poses.
The largest increase Is in the an
preparation made for the support of the
common schools. In addition to this
the penal institutions, reformatories,
insane asylums and charitable institu-
tions are caring for large number
of prisoners, inmates and patients, in
consequence of which new buildings
have been erected and extensions made.
All of these things have been eXpen-
sive to the state, although the deputy
attorney general claims the appropria-
ton that has been largely responsible
for the deficiency is that made to the
common schools.
"It is the duty of the legislature to
devise ways and means to meet this
eNegency and sustain the credit of the
comm mJnwealth,' MIR. EllIin says
Every person must admit that we
should not continue to appropriate
more money than we receive. The de-
felt is much too large already. In a
i o
Of all kind should be scaled down tc
reasonable limit. Friends of educa'
ton and of charitable institutions
should be willing to take a sensible ant
reasonable view of the situation.
1.-The expenses and appropriations
must be reduced, but the reduction
should be made in manner that viii
not seriously cripple any of the insti
tuuons. After a careful study of tht
whole question l am convinced thai
1t is possible to cut down our appropria
tions annually 100000 and if we in
crease our revenues by bills now pend
ing in the legislature, and which viii
vet be presented, the legislature car
adjourn with a record creditable t
itself and the people it represents"
Mr.. EllSin is working day and nigh
trying to devise ways and means to in
crease the revenue of the state. Mos
of the revenue bills pending in the leg
islature and those which are yet to b.
| introduced have been prepared by him
| He has spent the past two years in {
careful examination of the revenue
| laws, and is familiar with the intraCi
| cies of the taxing statutes.