Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-02

drastic or burdenSome code l do most
earnestly urge you to give the people
house in which to live that sani-
tarily and environmentally will pro-
mote health and happiness and not
breed disease and discord. We are
not AmeriCaniZing our new-coming
immigrants If we allow them to live
in what is often termed the 'black
spots" where they fail to obtain that
home life so essential to the making
of n true American citizen.
Finances
We have kept the expenses of gov
ernment we'll within the amount pro-
vided by the Assembly. This has been
q difficult task in view of the greatly
increased cost of almost every item of
purchase by the Commonwealth. Your
Executive was obliged to disallow
many items of appropriation which
were wholly worthy but which in the
aggregate exceeded the income of the
State. If the Assembly again makes
appropriations in excess of our pre-
dictable revenues based upon present
revenue laws, it will be incumbent
upon you to provide the necessary
revenues to pay the sums you author
ize. 1t ought not to be necessary for
the Executive to bear the RESPONSE
bility and censure of denying worthy
objects of State-aid the full sum the
Legislature gives them. I am of the
opinion that, with no hardship upon
any one you can add substantially to
the income of the State and I urge
you to give the matter of raising
revenues the greatest care and atten-
ton. 1t is not my function to find the
oney to maintain the peoples busi-
ness; but 1t is my duty to insist that
you make adequate provision to meet
the expenditures you authorize. The
T11ic cin in ~ II q
made reports of Importance, and it
may be that you will find therein set
forth an equitable and practical
means of placing our finances upon a
basis that will insure the prompt
payment of our obligations.
Public Education
Under the School Code PENNSYLVANIA
is rapidly realizing her true place
in the educational work of the Nation.
This great enactment has in the main
proven to be an adequate agency in
banishing ignorance, in increasing the
average intelligence of our people, in
laying the foundations for good citiz-
enship. The school has vet more to
do. 1t must not only train our youth
to live comparatively for the good of
society, but also to live competitively
In our great industries. Vocational
education should be added to liberal
training. Both are essential. 1t is a
source of satisfaction and a sign of
true progress to note the establishment
OF agricultural and other vocational
schools throughout the Commonwealth
We have recently had a new empha-
SIS placed upon our educational sys-
tenn. III we are to be prepared in
any adequate way as a nation to main
tain peace and command respect we
must train all our children speedily
and effectively into the real spirit of
Americanism To do this, and do IL
well in an increasingly complex popu-
latlon, is an arduous but necessary
uuty. our appropriations to the
schools have not kept pace with the
increase and complex quality of orr
school problem. The burden is fall
ing increasingly heavy upon the local
school districts to maintain an ade-
quate school system. | urge YOU in
justice to the whole spirit of our pro
gress to appropriate nine millions of
dollars per year for. our public
schools.
The continuation school established
for the children under sixteen at
work in Pennsylvania have done good
work and liberal provision should be
maze TO maintain these special
schools. They are in effect hand
naldens of industry and speedily fit
these young toilers to give more val
@ uaple service to industry and at the
same time acquire the Fundamental
training for good citizenship.
The institutions of higher learning
llperal and professional, receiving fin.
anclal aid from the State ought in
some effective and practical way give
TO the people larger measures of SER
vice. This most important matter
.nat Oh enabling the humblest citizen
10 nave the help of the skilled pro-
tessor, bringing the great gifts of re-
search TO the home of the citizen
Is one that should receive carefuI
ana considerate treatment.
The State Board of Education is fol-
lowing the unfolding OF our education-
al system with care and will, as bv
law olrected' submit to you sugges-
tlons or moment in advancing the vel
rare OF our teachers, the improve
ment OF our schools, ard the progress
slVe development of an educational
pollcy worthy our great people.
Highways
The last Legislature appropriated
three millions of dollars per year for
maintenance and construction of State
highways. 1t did not. give in addio
tlon TO this sum the fees obtained
from the sale of automobile licenses
ne license ices almost equal in
amount TO the total sum given for
highways, We're included in and made
part OF the three million fund. These
incense ices have gone into tho pubIic
treasury. They should have gone ex-
clusiVely and promptly into mainte-
nance of highways. That is the pur-
pose or the license fee. 1t is what
the people expect shall be done with
the moneys thus received. I ask YOU
to set aside the income from license
fees as a separate fund to be used
exclusively for maintenance upon the
10000 miles of State highways also
urge you in addition to this to an
propriate six millions OF dollars per
year for new construction. The de-
mand for better highways is State
wide and insistent. The people want
good roads. They are willing TO nav
FOR them. Fully two years will elapse
oerore a loan - If approved - can
be negotiated and funds made avail
able. We cannot wait two years to
begin the serious work of building
many miles of hard surfaced. dust.
less roads. The Highway Depart-
ment is fully organized to enter unon
the needed work and awaits only your
favorable action upon the matter. The
money will be economically and care
fully applied to the erection of per
manent roads throughout the State
cannot too earnestly urge this rea
sonable demand of our people.
Toll roads no longer are a credit
to Pennsylvania. We have taken over
as speedily as possible those that