The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-10-10
public SCHOOLS
WE'LL CARED FOR
Attorney General Elkin Tells of
the Appropriations Made.
PENNSYLVANIA MOST GENEROUS.

Are Greater Than Are Made by Any
other stnte In the Union.
In referring to the issue of the pub
lie school appropriation Attorney Gem
cral John p. Elkin has given very
clear and comprehensive statement Of
the attitude of the Stone administra-
tion.
Attorney General Elkin said:
81 have been requested to explain
the attitude of the Republican party
and the present administration on the
| question of the support of the common
schools. Upon that question Pennsyl-
vania has a proud record. Our first
appropriation to the common schools
was made in 1885. 1t amounted to
$4,000; every year an annual appro-
priation has been made for the schools.
In 1872, prior to the adoption of the
new constitution, appropriation was
100000. The trainers of our funda-
mental law inserted provision that
the minimum amount thereafter appro-
priated in any one year should be one
million dollars. From 1874 to 1887 in
elusive the amount appropriated was
the minimum fixed by the constitution.
At that session of the legislature a
movement was set on foot by the Re-
publican members to increase this ap-
prop:iation. The effort resulted in
compromise which gave Sl,500,000 for
this purpose. For 1889 the amount was
increased to two millions of dollars,
and in 1891, when the Republican party
controlled both branches of the legis-
lature. the annual appropriation was
increased to the princely sum of three
millions of dollars for 1898.
STONES WARMING IGNORED.
When Governor Stone vas inaugu-
rated he sent a message to the legls-
lature explaining the financial condi-
tlon of our state treasury. The records
then showed that there was practical
deficit of more than three million dol
lars. The governor suggested that one
of these things should be done, either
that the legislature should provide
more revenue or reduce the appropria-
tion, in order that the credit of the
commonwealth might be sustained.
THE legislature did not provide ad-
ditional revenue and did not decrease
the appropriation. The governor was
then confronted with the condition of
an already existing deficiency in the
treasury and more appropriations made
than the estimated revenue of the state
would pay. He viewed the situation as
practical business man would. He
said:
The state cannot approve the pay
ment of more than it receives, no mat
ter how worthy the purpose
He acted on the principle that we
must he just before we are generous.
He scaled down the appropriation
bills in every possible direction TO the
amount Of S50O0O0. But even this did
not bring the appropriations within the
estimated revenues and provide for the
payment of the deficit He was then
up to the question of the school appro-
priation. lie reduced this 100000
year He gave as his reason that there
was not sufficient money to make this
large appropriation and pay the debts.
He also stated in his veto message
that he would cheerfullv approvc the
conditions of the state treasury war
ranted it.
n DEFICIT is WIPED OUT.
LESS than two years have elapsed
since this action was taken by the gov
ern0r In the meantime the financial
condition Of the state has phenomenal
ly improved: up to the present moment
y-a 40; hC y 6
more than three million dollars. and
have sufficient NC cy to pay tho aatlre
school appropriation and still have
surplus cf more than onc mill!oa dol
lar5. This condition of affairs was
brought TO the attention Of the COVER
nor several weeks ago, C1d he jnc,a- !
diate'y irs'itrtcd az investigation >
see whe.he" or not the half million
might net he returned to the common
school appropriation. He has stated !
publicly tNst it was his intention to
recommend II his r-essaqe 70 thH leg |
islature that a deficiency hill should |
be passed to give the schools the $500
Gee year the amount which he do |
Quoted from the nDTrorriaticne made |
by the last legislature.
"The governor has done this In |
spirit of equity and broad mined s'ateq-
manship. His 7ction should end will |
meet with the approval Of overy fr'c d |
of the common school sys'e-, in he |
state. Sono Of the neVerarers that |
denounced the GCyernor wien he re- |
duced tie approximation are now most |
angry at him becf use he is tating |
measures to restore H. But their de- |
nunciations in the re instance and |
their angry inslnuations in the other
will not de.e" him from doing his duty. |
A SPLENDID RECORD.
"The Republican PARTY on the school |
question has made splendid record in |
our state The hiGhc-t appropriation |
made while tro Democrats had control |
of the Legislature was s2S00C0 a year.
The sum total c. 81 the annual appro- |
priations from 1895 up to 1850. while |
the Democratic party controlled the |
state government, 1t was $5.i95, 600.
"In other words, under a Republican |
administration we gave more to ;he |
common schools in a single year than |
the Democrats gave us the q years |
from 1895 to 1860
From 1880 to the present time, while
the legislature was controlled by the |
Republican party, there have been ap- |
propriated for school purposes the |
magnificent total of $51 800 900.
Pennsylvania approprlates for school |
purposes one and half times as much |
as New York. twice as much as Cali |
fOrnia three times as much as Indiana |