The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-01-13
SOME NEW LEGISLATION SUGGESTED
BY GOVERNOR HASTINGS.
Strict Economy Necessary in the Making Of
Appropriations.

Tho animal tupaenro Of Govpr,o- pnufoi
., ,,',,.'
u. Hastings was read to tho Legislature on
Its assembling. The message covers % octave
peres and contains more than is 600 words.
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!',s "oou, ''o a'No Vi '"o ''''' iNVS7'e'
OF President Cleveland.
Tho Governor expresses satisfaction nj tho
comparative prosperity Of this state during
two years OF general depression. During that
time there were no riots and no pcstilence.
Some general good advice IL given to the
legislators, and he invokes public respect for
the lawmakers and their work. The { o iern-
or says: "Ths individual or corporation that
seeks TO obtain dishonest advantage over his
neighbor or competitor. or to bring gain to
himself at the expense OF the State na well
as the briber and lobbyist, should be driven
from your halls As the common enemy OF tho
people"
The net revenue OF the State In 1895 was
t9,gz4, $50. and Ia 1890 was $40, l76, 7i5, which
exceeded the estimates only because the
Auditor General and Attorney General were
diligent In enforcing the payment OF overdue
taxes.
The sinking fund receipts from December
1, 1894, to November 80, 1895. were s652, 800,
and the payments we're e27s, ,73g. Ihe STATE
debt December 1, 1875, was S6,s1G,3O3 Az
the same time the assets OF the sinking fund
were "a. ,802 The sinking fund receipts
from December I, 1895, to November 80, 1895,
were o648, DS7, and the payments were $267,.
$40. The total public debt December /, 1896.
was e8,S15, 1905, and the sinking fund assets
were 50, 1G4, ls0 This leaves the net debt
t1.65l, l25, the lowest for 60 years.
The Governor says that the distribution OF
the State appropriation OF q5,5o0, 900 to the
public schools ts not fair and equitable. The
distribution y based upon the number OF
resident taxnbies In each district. and this
discriininates against districts which lack in.
dustrtes to hold their adult population. The
number OF school children should be con.
sidered, as well rs the number OF taSables,
and the number OF schools. The Governor
further says
"The time has now come, In my judgment,
when the great rnral districts should be sup.
piled with high school facilities equal to
those enjoyed by the towns and smaller cities
Of the Commonwealth.
"Those OF our farming people who desire
advanced education for their children are
placed Mt extraordinary expense in sending
them away from home, while many OF tho
poorer residents OF farming communities arc
prevented from advancing their boys and
girls beyond the common schools because
they cannot afford the increased outlay.
Without the opportunity for education Mt
home, parents are constantly compelled to
combat the tendency Of youth to stay away
from home after they have formed new sssc-
ciates and attachment and have become
familiar with the life they find in towns and
cities. glance ut the census report shows
that with all growth and shifting of tine pop
ulation In the State, tho agricultural po--
tions are being depopulated more and more
each year.
"The time is ut hand to give the youth OF
the townships advantages equal to those
found In the towns and smaller ctiea and
the remedy 1t Is believed is neither expen-
sive nor at variance with our educational
system. The township high school IL need
ed In our agricultural communities to pro-
vide eqnal opportunities and advantages
with those now la existence In the towns. II
the population OF one township, and other
conditions. should not require separate
nigh school, two or more townships could
unite and Jointly share the expense and ad-
vantage.
After some discussion OF penal systems.
the dovern0r recommends modification OF
the recent English law, SO thar all the pcni-
tentiarioe and lails shall be controlled by
staie Commission, with branch commissions
In the counties, having power to transfer