Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-02-21
KEEPING FAITH

made OF the right stuff and proposes
TO keep faith with the people Dur
ing the campaign he promised that,
II elected. economy and efficiency
should be the watchwords of his adj
mlnistration, He evidently intends
to keep that promise and to use the
power vested in him aggressively,
not negatively, in trying to hold
down the appropriations to meet the
revenue of the state.
With this end in view he vetoed
the bill appropriating 100000 for
the rebuilding of the administration
building at the Cheney norm al
school, which was destroyed by fire.
In the message explaining his veto
he said:
The appropriations required for
the re-establishment of the Cheney
normal school, in addition to the
100000 appropriated by this bill,
would amount to approximately
100000 more during the two years
beginning April 1, 1913. This would
make total of a half million dollars
the taxpayers of the state would be
called upon to eXpend for this insti-
tuition during the coming biennium
Following the lines suggested in my
message the expenditure of a small
part of this sum in more completely
equipping one Of the other two nor
NAL schools would, in my opinion, re-
suit in much higher degree of eff
ficiency in training teachers than can
be obtained by the continuation of
three normal schools along the lines
now being followed.
The appropriations for the five
state educational institutions are
constantly increasing. Two years
ago the amount appropriated for
these institutions was approximately
S1,700,000, and the requests made
for the coming biennium amount to
almost $3,0OO,0O0.
In the consideration of appropria-
tions, | believe it is our duty to con
slider carefully the matter of revenue.
The cost of conducting our institu-
tons is direct tax upon the people
of the state. 1t is scarcely necessary
for me to call to your attention the
fact that the valuation of the prop
erty of the state Of Washington mas
not materially increased during the
last two years, while the demands for
appropriations for the five educa-
tional institutions of the state have
increased almost so per cent Should
the same proportionate increase be
called for by the other departments
of the state the legislature would in
deed lie facing serious situation
My views regarding this subject
have been we'll known to all members
of the legislature since | assumed the
duties of my office. While it has
been under consideration by your
honorable body this department has
made no effort whatever to change
the opinion of a single member of
the legislature or influence his or
her vote on the subject
The responsibility is now upon
your shoulders In the further con-
sideration of your honorable body of
this bin | sincerely hope that each
and every member will consider it
strictly upon it's merits and the mat
ter of influence, or trade of votes,
will not enter into its consideration
Il regret exceedingly that my
judgment in this matter does not CO.
incide with the views of the legis-
lature; yet entertaining these objec-
tions to the bill. / feel it my duty to
disapproye it and return it to your
honorable body for such action as
you may deem advisable"
While there may be some question
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of abolishing
the Cheney normal school, there can
be no question as to the sincerity of
the governor. 1t took courage of a
high order to veto this appropria-
ton, which had been passed by very
large majority of both houses of the
Legislature. That the governor had
the courage, augurs well for the peo-
pie Of the state and the reasons
which he gives for his action will ap-
peal to many taxpayers as being
sound and logical
His instructions, issued to the
heads of the state institutions and
departments and their subordinates,
warning them to attend strictly to
their duties and refrain from lobby
ing and to keep away from the legis-
lature unless summoned for consulta-
ton. is a body blow to a long stand
ing abuse. Heretofore state en-
ployes have swarmed about the legis-
latiye halls at every session, and