The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-05-17

appropriations or increase the reNe-
nues. urged this both privately ana
publicly upon different occasions, but
the legislature has adjourned without
providing any additional revenue ex-
cent possibly an increase estimated at
5000 900 per annum after the first year
under the new mercantile tax law. ne
appropriations will amount to as much
if not more, than the estimated -revc-
nues of the next two years. On the LIST
of June-but few weeks hence-the
whole appropriation of S5,5OO,OOO for
the year ending at that time will be
due. no part of which has yet been
paid At that time there will not be
million dollars in the treasury to meet
this obligation. In view of this imam
cial condition it seems to me unwise TO
accumulate one appropriation upon
another when there are no funds with
which to pay them. | have carefully
examined the general appropriation
bill. as we'll as other appropriation
bills, and have in every instance with
held my approval from items where
felt justified in so doing. In this way
| have reduced the appropriations
made by the legislature and withheld
my approval of bills amounting in
round numbers to 100000"
MUST PRESERVE STATE CREDIT
"It is my desire to pay the obliga-
tions of the state which have been
heretofore made, and which it is hon
orably bound to pay, to relieve tho
present embarrassment of the treas
ury and preserve the credit of the
state. No fair minded and impartial
citizen will justify me in approving
appropriation bills in excess of the
unpaid appropriations made by prior
legislatures and the estimated revenues
of the state for the two fiscal years
next following.
During the four years for which the
people have honored me with the ex-
ecutive office | hope by economy and
care. even in the absence of additional
revenue. to see these unpaid appro-
priations liquidated and the state
placed upon a sound financial basis.
| A state, like an individual, cannot con-
| tinue to pay out year by year more
| than il receives and remain in SOL
vent condition. My purpose is to pay
all appropriations made by the present
| legislature which receive executive ap-
proval. and liquidate at least one and
! half million dollars of the obligations
remaining from former legislatures
during the next two years. In order 10
| do this | am compelled to reduce the
appropriation to the common schools
! $500.000 year, amounting to mil
lion dollars in two years, which, added
! to the 100000 obtained by reducing
other appropriations of the legislature
of 1893, will enable the auditor gem
eral and state treasurer to reduce
what would be called the floating debt
| 81, 500, 600 during the next two years.
in my judgment the state should pay
| its pre-existing debts, incurred under
the sanction and authority of law, be-
fore It assumes new burdens which
| il is impossible to pay.
"The authority of the governor to
disapprove part of an item is doubted,
but several of my predecessors in office
have established precedents by with
holding their approval from part of an
item and approving other parts of the
same item. Following these precedents,
and believing that the authority which
confers the right to approve the whole
of an item necessarily includes the
power to approve part of the same item,
| therefore approve of so much of this
item which appropriates $5,000,000 an
nually. making $1O,000.000 for the two
years beginning June l, 1899, and with
holding my approval from S500,000 an
nually, making $1,000,000 for the two
fiscal years beginning the first day OF
June, 1899.
The governor has also vetoed num-
ber of items in the general appropria-
tion bill providing payment for salaries
of state officials and legislative en-
ploves that he regards as unnecessary,
end he gives death blow to number
of schemes to cover expenses of certain
net institutions and projects of some
of the members of the legislature.
The Democratic leaders throughout
the state are feliciting themselves upon
the fact that they may get a place on
the bench of the superior court at the
coming election, as well as upon that
of the supreme court, OF which latel
they are practically assured. This /;
made possible by bill enacted by the
last legislature. The purpose OF this
is to give representation on the SUI
perior bench to the minority party
when two or more judges are to b6
elected.
The same stipulation in the law ap'
niles 10 the supreme court, in whicr
two vacancies will occur to be filled Il
November. One Of these will go to The
Republicans as the majority party
and the second will probably be filled
by the Democrats. On the superior
court bench only one vacancy will oc
cur by the expiration of the term O.
Justice Beeber, appointed by Governor
Hastings to succeed the late Justic;
Reeder
Superior Court Justice Peter p
Smith. of Lackawanna, is among th'
Democratic candidates for the supren
court nomination. If nominated h
would resign from the place he nov
holds on the superior court bench, AM
this would make a second vacancy i
the latter court, which, in view of tn
recent legislation, would give til
Democratic party an opportunity t
elect q member of this court. TIL
! friends of Justice Smith are particu
larly pleased over this new condition