Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-05-18
STONE YIELDS
THE VETO AK.
The Governor Cuts Down Appro-
priations to Meet the
States Income,
THE SCHOOL FUND ITEM

Free Text BOOKS uaNtn. Been i'ro'
nvided. He Believes No Great Hard
ship VIII he Experienced by Re-
ductiou For the NeNt Two Years.
Especial Correspondence
Harrisburg, May 16.--Governor STONE
is making a remarkable record by the
courageous and unsparing use of the
veto power vested in him by the cons.l-
tuition. He is welding the veto az
right and left. He seems absolutely in
different to the inhuenceof thepoltical
leaders when passing upon matters OF
legislation. His experience in congress,
where he was recognized as one OF the
most methodicaland painstakins mem.
bers on the floor of the house, has been
of invaluable service to him In per-
forming this important branch OF his
work as the states executive officer,
Governor Stone has been placed III
peculiar and very embarrassing posi-
tion. The several measures which he
advocated to raise revenue to meet the
standing obligations and current eX-
penses of the state were all defeated in
the house of representatives by COM
bination between the Republican -.
gents and the Democrats. The inf1u-
ences back OF these Republican guer-
rillas are now denounclng the governor
because of his vetoes OF appropriation
bills. which he is obliged to do, by rea-
son of the failure of the legislature to
carry out his various schemes for rais-
ing funds TO Ioeet these very demands
upon the generosity aud charity of the
commonwealth. Despite HIS heroic ac-
tion. the governor has been unable 10
cut down these miscellaneous appro-
priations TO allow the revenues to- cover
the full amount OF the appropriations
made to the schools. lie has found it
necessary to reduce the general school
appropriation $500,000 year, and in
doing so has written veto message
which gives in detail, the history OF the
increase in the school appropriation
from 1874. when the sum was the mimi
mum fixed by the new constitution.
81 ,00O, 900 In 1887 an agitation was
started that resulted In increasing the
annual appropriation OF 81 500 900, and
for the two years following the public
schools received that amount each
year, In 1889 the appropriation was in
creased 10 81, ,0O0, 900 annually. and this
was the amount of aid extended by the
state for two years, when in 1891 the
friends OF the common schools were
successful through agitation in having
the annual appropriation increased TO
So, ,000, 900.
MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.
This is a larger amount" says tho
governor than is appropriated by any
other state in our great country for the
support of common schools, and 1t was
very generally supposed that no fur
ther attempt to increase ii would be
made In 1893, however, bill was in
troduced into the Legislature which au-
thorized and required directors TO flr-
| nish free text books TO the pupils III
our common schools. At that time a
very large number of the districts
| throughout the state did not provide
free text books for the pupils. The In
| PRODUCTION OF free text books necessar-
| lily involved the expenditure OF large
sums OF money. and the friends of the
measure succeeded la securing an addt-
! tional $500, 900 for this purpose. Fol-
| lowing these precedents each succeed
| ing legislature has appropriated $5,-
| 500. 900 annually for the support of the
| common schools,
1T must not be forgotten. continues
| the governor 'in this connection that
the appropriation of S. 500 900 does not
| include the appropriations made for the
maintenance and support of our or
! phan schools. normal schools and ex-
| penses incident to the support OF the
| department of public instruction, the
payment OF salaries OF county superin-
| tendents and the appropriations made
| from time TO time 10 other worthy ed
ucational institutions. Adding the ap.
propriations made for the purposes last
! enumerated to the annual appropria-
ton for the support of the common
| schools we find that more than $4,000
900 are paid ont OF the state treasury
each year In support OF the cause OF ed
ucation. When we take into consider
alton the fact that the net revenues OF
the state amount to little more than
$11 900 900 each year Ii will be readily
seen how generous the state has been
in deling with the school question.
! PROUD OF SCHOOLS. BUT EMBAR-
RASSED..
"These large and magnificent appro-
priations to the common schools have
gone on from year TO year until Ouf
treasury is left in a condition of finan,
| cial embarrassment and we are now
confronted with the practical question
whether or not we can continue tC
make these appropriations without Sc
riously affecting the credit of the com.
monwealth. l am proud OF our com,
mon school system and in bettermeui
of our schools. If a large deficit die
not already exist in our treasury Oh
account OF these appropriations, and I.
the anticipated revenues of the state
would justify their continuance,
should most cheerfully give my ap'
proyal to this section OF the general ap'
propriation bill. cordially COM
mend the Intelligent purpose and pa
triotic devotion of our citizens to thu
common schools of the state, but every
honest man must concede that II is I'M