Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-28
ASSEMBLY STARTS
HUNT FOR REVENUE.
Legislators May Reach Point Of
Dropping JobhoIders to
Find Funds
SCHOOL NEED is URGENT
BIZ a StoD Co,-espondcnt

Harrisburg. March 2s.-Member, of
the Legislature are becoming desperate.
The old question Of revenues and rx.
penditures is more acute.
hicks galore are being received from
all over the state because of the rro.
posed policy of retrenchment toward the
public school system.
The kicks are so numerous and, come
OF them so bitter that some members
cannot stand the strain much longer.
proposition has been advanced
very quietly--to look over the economy
program mapped out by Harry 8.
Mci'evitt. secretary to Governor Sproul.
"hen he was secretary of the now dc.
fnnct economy and efficiency commits
sion. Members realize a sincere effort IN
the direction Of real economy must be
made II more money Is to 20 to the
schools. II some provisions In the re
port really were adopted and nut into
erect number of persons now con =
nected with the state payroll would find
themselves separated from the meal
ticket the taxpayers now provide.
Inc bare suggestion OF doing such n
thing indicates that the zero hour has
arrived for some members.
Report Hidden With Relic,
McDevitt's report, which made n
comprehensive study of the state GOV :.
ernment together with real economy
recommendations. wns adopted br thc
Legislature during the Brumbaugh ad :
ministration with loud shouts Of Nd.
proval. Then It was filed away among
the deeds Of land grants 10 William
Penn and the dispatches Of General
Braddock's defeat.
But po one ever bothered much about
putting it's recommendations into effect
Now and then some gentleman with
gold-rimmed spectacles and a historic
turn OF mind looks up some of Penn's
old deeds. or peruses over the reports
OF the French and Indian war. but tn,
economy and efficiency report, while
musty and dusty, has not been consid L.
ered, OF sufficient vintage to attract at =
tention.
But agitation over the school anpro .
priation has suddenly imbued some leg =
islators with burning desire 70 as-
certain whether economics can be
reached through some other agency than
the public school system.
The trouble is that constituents al
some of the legislators. in writing them
about the public school appropriation
have been brutally frank. The writers
have not hesitated to pay their respect,
to condition of affairs whereby SALARY
raisers 80 through with great enthusi
asm while financially abbreviated
policy is adopted on the school question
Intensive School Drive On
Since Governor Sproul informed .
group of school teachers that the reve
nue. in sight for the next two year.
would not permit a greater increase tt
the S24. 100000 appropriation fol
schools two years ago than SO, 8,00O, 900
regular drive has started over tn,
state.
Much of the impetus for the drive ha,
been supplied by the school teacher,
themselves. They have gotten mad
clean through at the legislators ant
have resorted to an organized propa
ganda which is being circulated through
the medium of the school children.
''Is there any reason why the chill
dren Of Pennsylvania-the second rich
est state in the Union--should not be sc
| well educated as those Of neighborin,
states?" asked Il printed circular beinl
| given wide circulation.
"'Citizens Of Pennsylvania, you ar
sovereign. Demand greater appropria
tions for our schools and the great Penn
sylvania school improvement bill will b
put through this session Of our Legis
lature for our school children
Attention is called to the fact tina
while PENNSYLVANIA Is the second rich
est state in the Union she stands TWEEN.
ty first in educational progress and he