Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-05
Gems With Suggestions For Beterment of State Govern
ment; Urges Workmens Compensation and Woman's
Suffrage; State Control and Development of Water
Power Resources Recommended; Licenses For All
Private Banks

T@AtNullNt
Harrisburg, Jan. ., 1915.
Gentlemen of the Senate and the
House OF Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
The government is a trust and the
officers of the government are trus-
tees, and both the trust and the trus-
tees are created for the benefit of the
people" The duty of Governor,
therefore upon his retirement from
office, should be to furnish the Gen
eral Assembly and the people of the
Commonwealth with a statement of
his trusteeship, and he might, with
propriety, refrain from making many
recommendations as to measures for
legislative consideration, as they may
we'll be left to his successor.
Finances of the Commonwealth
General FUND.-
Cash balance in the State Treasury,
November 80. 1914, $7,42I,20S.5S: less
amount credited to the Sinking Fund,
which under the law cannot be used
for any purpose other than the pay
ment Of the public debt, and is there
fore not available for appropriation,
SSH, 1880; less amount credited to
the permanent State School Fund
the income only may be expended,
$30,SO4.77: less amount credited TO
the Motor Fund, which under the pro
visions of the Act of July I, 1913, is
set aside for specific purposes. SS,-
973.00; amount in General Fund. No
Vember 30, 1914. 1915, 6s7.41; est-
mated gross receipts for the fiscal
year ending November 80, 1915, S29,-
3SO.SGI.45; less the following collec-
tions which merely pass through the
treasury. and are not subject 10 ap-
preparation: Receipts from various
sources devoted to the Permanent
School Fund: receipts from Motor Lii
censes, devoted to the uses of the
State Highway Department: receipts
from the Federal Government for the
use of the State College and the Sol
diers' and Sailors Home: the state
Highway Construction Fund, received
from municipalities for the use OF
the State Highway Department, and
one-half the premiums received from
foreign fire insurance companies, pay
able 10 municipalities without appro-
priation. estimated in the aggregate
at the sum of 81 1.S32. $685.; estimated
gross receipts for the fiscal year end
ing November 80. 1916. S3O,S49,-
9O4.52: less the following collections
which merely pass through the treas
ury, and are not subject to approprla-
ton: Receipts from various sources,
devoted to the Permanent School
Fund: receipts from Motor Licenses,
devoted to the uses of the state Hlgn-
way Department; receipts from the
Federal Government, for the use or
State College and the Soldiers and
Sailors Home; the State Highway
Construction Fund, received from
municipalities for the use Oh the StaJe
Highway Department and one-hall
the premiums received from foreign
fire insurance companies, payaple 10
municipalities without appropriation
estimated in the aggregate at the sum
of S1,S32, $685.; estimated recelpts
for the period from Novemoer oer 6l 81,
1915. to May 81, 1917. S12,l06, 6,66O.9I;
total amount available and to become
available. June 1, 1917, S15,2fI,-
1886; less payments for oohSatlons
and current expenses to June l, 1917,
as indicated by the uneXpended pal
ances of existing appropriations: Szo'-
46S132.l6: net amount available ana
to become available for appropriations
for the two fiscal years beginning
June l. 1915. and ending May ~,
1917, s4S,779.641.49; Sinking Fund,
November 80. 1914-Sinking Fund
assets cash. SS11.TSS.40; total public
debt, S65l,110.02; net surplus in sink
ing Fund, S160,623.3S.
In estimating the probable revenues
of the Commonwealth, the tax on an
thracite coal imposed under the pro-
visions of the Act of the General AS
semnly of June 81. 1913, has not been
included, for the reason that practi-
caIlv all anthracite coal mining COM
panies have appealed from the settle
ments made against them and have
indicated their intention of carrying
such appeals to the Supreme Court OF
the United States. In case of deci-
sion favorable to the Commonwealth,
the result will probably be that reve-
nue. from this source will not be re-
ceived until after the period tor
which the above estimate is made.
Appropriations
Under the law the State Board OF
Public Charities has free access to
the grounds buildings and all books
and papers relating to charitable, re-
formatory. and correctional institu-
tions; and all such institutions that
may desire to receive State aid must
give notice to the Board, on or before
the first day of November in each
year, OF the amount of any applica-
ton for aid they may propose to make
to the Legislature. and of the several
purposes to which such aid, II
granted. is to be applied; and in its
report to the General Assembly the
conclusions and recommendations OF
the Board thereon are given. In act
ing upon appropriations to these IN
stitutions 1 have found these conclu-
sions and recommendation to be
carefully prepared and worthy of
every consideration. The Legislature,
therefore, in making appropriations
to these institutions should endeaNor
TO limit them to the amounts recon-
mended by this Board.
The chief problem in the lives of
individuals. families, and business en-
terprises is the adjustment OF expen-
ditures to the receipts. the outgo TO
the income. In the management of
the States fiscal affairs there should
he established business-like principles.
1t is wrong for each session of the
General Assembly TO make appropria-
tions far in excess of the revenue, inn
posing upon the Governor the re-
sponsibility of reducing the amounts
TO reasonable limits. There is no eX-
cuse for such a practice, especially
when one considers that the executive
and fiscal officers furnish, at the be-
ginning of each session of the Legis-
lature statement as to what revenue
will be available for appropriation
purposes.
I. therefore, urge the General As
sembly to discontinue this method of
appropriation. and thereby tighten in
no little measure the duties of the
executive.
Inventory of Real and Personal
Property
In order that an inventory might be
made of the tangible assets of the
Commonwealth. I appointed an inveu-
tory commission. consisting of the
E.xacuttve ControiIer tho DEPUTY