The Red Cloud chief., 1901-03-15
HE D~iSAPPROvES AcT
Governor Dietrich vetoes $4,000 Ap,
preparation for Peru Normal.

preparation for Peru Normal.
Lincoln, March l2.-Governor Diet
rich yesterday evening gave the mem
bers Of the legislature something To
talk about when he transmitted to the
house a veto OF the bill appropriatins
SIS 500 for the construction of new
buildings at the state normal school
at Peru. The message was brought up
In the latter part Of the afternoon by
Private Secretary II. G. Lindsay and
was not read as the house was in CON-
mittee Of the whole at the time. For
a considerable time the members were
In Ignorance Of the purport Of the mes
sage as II was not read at all before
adjournment. Gradually the news
leaked out and caused CONSERVATION
in many places. 1t was at first be-
lieved that the governor had returned
the bill with the suggestion that the
appropriation be caiIed down but there
is no such balm even for the support
ers OF the bill. The veto Is fiat and
uncompromising. /, reads as follows:
Executive .aansion, Lincoln, Neb.,
March IL. 1901.-To the Honorable
Speaker, and the House Of Representa-
tives: | return you herewith, with
out my approval, house roll No. III,
being an act to appropriate the sum
Of SIS, 800 to build a library building
and a combined chapel and gymnas-
ium building for the state normal
school located at Peru, Neb.
The primary reason for my objec-
ton to this bill Is that the condition OF
the state finances neither warrants nor
tsgttAng at,ah M UYNAyItttv ThA nttr-
rent demands OF the state have ex-
ceeded the available thereof
for a period of years. until now the
amount of interest-bearing warrants
outstanding against the general fund
Ton December l, 1901, aggregate ST.
.-i,447.72. The amount outstanding
December /, 1898. was $1,511 ,6S4.01.
which shows that during the two
years term of my honorable predeces-
sor the warrant Indebtedness was In
creased more than $50, 900, due largely
to the fact that the amount realized
from the tax levy and other sources
was not equal TO the appropriation
and expenditures.
According to the estimate Of the
honorable chairman of the finance,
ways and means committee OF the sen
ate. the contemplated appropriations
at this session exceeds available re-
sources by more than S400. 900. which
means a corresponding increase In
outstanding interest bearing indebted
ness.
This is a most reckless, II not I'M
lawful, policy, and to carry II to ex-
cess would impair and must eventual
ly destroy Jul public credit. There is
a penalty attached to reckless hnan-
ciering II there is no limit, though the
latter is generally in business affairs
determined by the former.
The recent confiagration at the peni-
Tertiary entailed a loss upon the state
variously estimated Ia from S125. 900 to
$50, 600. Conditions at this institution
are such that a large expenditure Of
money is made a necessity, and that,
too, without delay. II will require at
the least $125 900 to repair that part Of
the building damaged by fire and equip
the new cell house with modern cells
and appliances.
In the light Of these conditions, with
appropriations already far in excess Of
the amount available, and with re-
sources taxed to their full capacity to
meet current expenses, 1t is made c
essary that the closest economy should
be practiced and that only such appro-
priations shall be made for extraordi-
nary purposes as are imperatively nee
essary.
Nor do | consider the appropriation
provided for in this act either wise or
necessary. The contemplated improve
ments are not such as require imme-
diate action. The Peru normal has a
library building and II would require
no great amount OF ingenuity to so ar
range such accommodations as are
now to be had as to provide for chapel
exercises. In addition to this, the city
of Peru Is we'll provided with churches
of various denominations. SO that so
far as opportunity for religious and
moral training of the students Is con-
cerned there Ia no cause for anxiety.
CHAS. H. DIETRICH, Governor.
Armstrong OF Nemaha county, when
the news was broken to him, imme-
diately began hunting the rules for
the plan of procedure to be followed
in passing bills over the governors
veto and then he sat and thought tor
an hour without moving a muscle. The
pill has been cherished by the MEM
bers in the southeastern corner OF the
state and II went through the legisla-
ture as II CREASED. 1t was not dis
cussed in the senate. 1t was common
ly reported at the time that the mem
bers In favor Of the house bill for the
location of two additional normals and
the friends Of this bill had an arrange
ment whereby support was to be given
to both. An attempt will undoubtedly
ha mazda IN paSa the hill over the veto
AS the measure found so few oppo-
nents, this may be accomplished.