The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-06-21
THE REVENUE OF
Pennsylvania.
Interesting Statement Of the Condition
of the State Finances.
OYER THREE MILLIONS DEFICIT
Deputy Attorney General Elkin Declares
That the Liberal Appropriations
Made to the Public Schools
is Responsible For the
Deficiency.

Harrisburg, June 2t. - Deputy At
torney General j. p. Elldn gave out an
interesting statement last night on the
condition of the state finances. He says
there is a deficit of 81, 100000 in the
state treasury, and that it is the duty
Of every citizen interested in the wei
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 a defici-
ency of 81, 500 600 in the common school
fund, $1,000, 600 on account of quarterly
payments provided for in the general
appropriation act, $4,000 to the city
Of Philadelphia, and over $500, 900 to
other institutions and counties, maxi
ing total deficit of more than So, $780,
600.
Mr.. Ellkin 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
cills. The gross revenues of the state
are about $l200O,O00 n year. This in
cludes the entire personal property tax
collected by the counties and paid into
the state treasury. Three-fourths of
this amount. or about 81, 500 600 an
nually, is returned to the county, leav-
ing a balance Of less than $40 900, 900 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
insane asylums and charitable institu-
tions are caring for a 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-
tion 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
eXegency and sustain the credit of the
commonwealth" Mr. Ellxin SAYS.
Every person must admit that we
should not continue to appropriate
more money than we receive. The de-
fctt Is much too large already In a
period Of business depression expenses
of all kind should be scaled down to
a reasonable limit. Friends of educa-
ton and of charitable institutions
should be willing to take a sensible and
reasonable view of the situation
THE expenses and appropriations
must be reduced, but the reduction
should be made in a manner that will
not seriously cripple any of the insti-
tutions, After a careful study of the
whole question 1 am convinced that
II is possible to cut down our appropria-
tions annually 81, OOO and if we in
crease our revenues by bills now pend
ing in the legislature, and which will
yet be presented, the legislature can
adjourn with record creditable to
itself and the people it represents"
Mr.. EllIin is working day and night
trying to devise ways and means to in
crease the revenue OF the state Most
Of the revenue bills pending in the leg
islature and those which are yet to be
| 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,