The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-27
HARRISBURG LETTER
The Question Of Revenues Worry
ing the State Lawmakers.
A DEFICIENCY OF FOUR MILLIONS

1S0S.Is What Is Causing Serious Con-
cern-Lavish Appropriations With
out Sufiic Client Provision For Them.
Especial Correspondence.)
Harrisburg, May 25. - The question
that is now keeping the legislature
guessing is the one of revenue suffi-
cient to meet the demands of the var
ious institutions of the state. Auditor
General Mylap and State Treasurer
Haywood have prepared a statement
setting forth the exact condition of the
revenues under existing laws. This
statement will be submitted to an i'm
portant conference of leaders Of the
state administration and prominent
members of the legislature to be held
at the executive mansion on Thursday
evening. A deficiency of at least $4,000
900 for the two years ending Nov. 80,
1898, is the thing which is causing much
serious concern. This amount must be
made up from new sorces of revenue,
and unless the appropriations are
kept down still further revenue will be
necessary. The state officials regard
the situation as extremely serious, and
they say the time for theorizing has
passed. 1t is no longer theory to be
discussed, but q condition which con-
fronts the lawmakers. They cannot
hope to shirk the responsibility.
One new revenue raiser, the direct
inheritance bill, has been approved by
the governor and is now in full force
and effect. Several other propositions
have been advanced, but each has met
with objection from one quarter or an
al To - l..
out of the question, because of the al
legged unconstitutionality of imposing a
tax upon beer imported into the state.
Corporations insist that they are al
ready bearing their share of the burden
of taxation. Building and loan asso-
Citations do not like the suggestion that
their matured stock be taxed. There
is a howl over the proposed diversion
Of one-fifth Of the monies derived from
liquor licenses from the counties to
the commonwealth. Any increase of
the personal property tax is met with
storm of disapproval. So IL goes
from one proposition to another, and
the revenue raisers are at their wits
end.
When the direct inheritance tax was
approved by Governor Hastings it was
estimated that 1t would increase the
revenues at least a million dollars a
year, but there are grave doubts now
as to its revenue raising power, owing
to the great amount of litigation that
Is almost sure to follow its enforce
ment. All propositions looking to a
diversion of a portion of the personal
property tax from the counties for use
Of the state. and to a reduction of the
appropriation for the public schools,
are opposed by the members of the leg
islature on the ground that their con-
stituents would not favor these
schemes, inasmuch as local taxation
would be increased thereby.
Treasurer Morrison's Warming.
State Treasurer Morrison, in 1893,
sounded a note of warning in his an
nual report, but the legislature did not
heed. He called attention to the fact
that the depression in business had SO
seriously affected all corporations and
manufacturing companies that the
revenues from these sources on capital
stock and gross receipts had been
greatly diminished, and that IL the
system Of expenditures was maintained
1t would not require a prophet to fore
ago State Treasurer Haywood en-
phasized Mr.. Morrison's warning. and
said that unless the appropriations for
the succeeding two years were kept
within the limits Of the receipts for
the same period a most serious en-
barrassment to. the treasury would be
sure II result. These predictions have
been fulfilled to the letter, and unless
the legislature measures up to it's full
duty many institutions will not get a
cent in the way Of state aid for the
next two years.
Governor Hastings has notified the
legislature that he will not approve
any bills increasing salaries or multi
plying offices. He started out by veto
ing resolutions authorizing the publi-
cation of thousands Of copies Of reports
OF special committees, and to increase
the salaries of the board of revision of
taxes In. Philadelphia. There is still
a bill which has not yet reached him.
but which is sure to be vetoed when
1t does. 1t provides for an increase Of
the salary of deputy sheriffs in Phila-
delphia from $1,000 to $500 per year.
There Is considerable curiosity as to
the probable action Of the governor
on the bill appropriating s65.90S.96 for
the payment of the expenses of the SEN
ate committee which investigated the
municipal affairs of Philadelphia. This
committee has always been looked
upon as the outgrowth of the faction
al trouble in the Republican party, and
one of the vetoes of the governor two
years ago indicates that he may not
approve this bill. A companion measure
which has already passed the senate,
and is now on a special order of the
house, authorizes and requires the state
treasurer to advance monev to the
| chairman Of committees authorized to
make Investigations by the legislature
| for the payment of witnesses. 1t is not
believed that the governor will sign
| this bill.
A special order has been made by the
house for the QUAY reform bills on
political assessments, poll tax and In.
timidation of voters. Nothing has as
yet been done with the civil service
bill, which is undergoing some recon.
struction In the special committee ap.
pointed to harmonize the differences
|