The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-16
Paving as You Go.

The course which Governor stone
has chosen to pursue with reference
to the public school appropriation VIII
excite temporary criticism, but it Will
be vindicated by time. He had by
free play of the veto AK trimmed s5VO'-
900 out of the states miscellaneous
expense account and his reasons Tor
cutting off for two years the soOO'ooo
annual allowance for free text hooks
are thus explained by him:
More than s6,OOO,O00 are paid out
of the state treasury each year in
support of the cause of education
When we take into consideration the
fact that the net revenues of the state
amount to little more than Sll,OOo'ooo
each year it will be readily seen how
generous the state has been in dealing
with the school question. These large
and magnificent appropriations TO the
common schools have gone on from
year to year until our treasury is LETT
in a condition of financial embarrass-
ment and we are now confronted with
the practical question whether or not
priations without seriously affecting
the credit of the commonwealth. / am
proud Of our common school system,
and in hearty sympathy with every
movement that has for its purpose the
betterment Of our schools. If a large
deficit did not already exist in our
treasury on account of these appropri-
q A.. 4tys,N God ami nG
of the state would justify their con-
tinuance, should most cheerfully give
my approval to this section of the
general appropriation bill.
Il cordially commend the intelligent
purpose and patriotic devotion of our
citizens to the common schools of the
state, but every honest man must con-
cede that 1t is impossible for the state
to give away more money than it re-
ceives, no matter how worthy the pur-
pose for which the money is expended.
1t is absolutely necessary to reduce the
appropriations made by the legislature,
and it has seemed to me that since free
text books have already been provided
and paid for out Of the general appro-
priations made since 1898 the annual
appropriations could he reduced 100000
a year without doing any injustice to
the schools.
In my inaugural address l called the
attention of the Legislature to the
financial condition Of the common
wealth, and stated that there was an
actual deficit Of between Sc, 900 and
$4,000 900 on account Of unpaid appro-
priations and suggested that the legis-
laturc should either cut down the ap-
propriations or increase the revenues.
i urged this both privately and pub
licly upon different occasions, but the
legislature has adjourned without pro-
Viding any additional revenue except
possibly an increased estimate of 5000,
600 per annum after the first year un-
der the new mercantile tax law. The
appropriations made will amount to as
much as, If not more than, the esti-
mated revenues Of the next two years
ON June but a few weeks hence
the whole appropriation of $500, 900 for
the year ending at that time will be
hu', no part OI WIlCn mas yet Deen
paid At that time there will not be
$1,000, 10O i'm the treasury to meet this
obligation In view OF this financial
condition il seems to me unwise TO ac-
Cumulate one appropriation upon an
other when there are no funds with
which to pay them. \ state, like an
individual, cannot continue to pay ou,
year by year more money than il
receives and remain in solvent con,
dition"
Critics of the governors course viii
not command respect by simply howl
ing at it. To be convincing they mus
show wherein he has erred and how ht
could have acted differently under tn,
circumstances. His statements of fac
and principle will not be overcome b!
mere factiOnal abuse