The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-11-21

ndrrlSDurS, Fa.-1He dCClOu OI Lu'
Their S. Kaufman of the Anti-Sectar.
ian Appropriation Association of Phil.
adelphia in successfully opposing the
appropriation by the state Legislature
of public funds for the support of sec.
tartan institutions, has called general
attention to a. great and growing evil
throughout the nation.
+ One of the fundamental principles
of our American democracy is the
separation of church and state. The
Roman Catholic church has never will.
ingly accepted this doctrine but fol
a century has sought by every means
in its power to obtain access to pub
lie funds by securing state aid
through legislative enactment for the
maintenance of it's educational ano
philanthropic institutions. In some
states it has gone so far as to demand
approprie tions directly for religious
buildings, as in California where
funds have been given to the church
to rebuild Franciscan missions.
Throughout the country there is an
awakening to realization that ap-
preparations of a sectarian character
violate not only the spirit but the
letter of the Constitution.
The state constitution of Pennsyl-
vania distinctly provides that "no
appropriation shall be made to any
UNCONVENTIONAL or sectarian institu-
tion." Despite this specific inhibition
it is estimated that in the years from
1881 to 1915 appropriations exceed
ing ten millions of dollars had been
made to various sectarian institu-
tions. Of the ten million dollars paid
out of the state treasury, it is esti-
mated that eight million went to Ro-
man Catholic institutions, one million
to Jewish and one million to institu-
tions maintained under Protestant
auspices.
The camoufage of philanthropy
worn by these institutions as a dis
guise for their true purpose, which is
to promote ecclesiastical interests
through benevolences, is ruthlessly ex-
posed by the supreme court of Penn
sylvania in it's decision under date of
July 1, 1921, when it says:
"After studying and rejecting up
on the carefully prepared opinions of
the court below, the arguments of
able counsel and the authorities cited,
we have reached the deliberate con-
clusion that when charitable, bene-
VIOLENT or educational establishment is
UNCONVENTIONAL or sectarian' accord
ing to the meaning of this term, as
understood by the average man, even
though the institution in question may
bestow it's benefits on others, and per-
NIT those outside the ranks of the sect
or denomination involved to take part
in it's management it is none the less
a sectarian or UNCONVENTIONAL insti-
tuition, within the inhibition of the
constitution against state aid"
In spite of the decisions of the su-
preme court and the plain provisions
of the state constitution, the Penn
sylvania legislature of 1923 passed
fifty-six appropriation bills, appro-
priating a total of $1,693,9OO to Sec
tartan institutions. The Anti-Sec-
tartan Appropriations Association
promptly notified the governor and
the encouragement of the charac-
ter of these institutions and prepared
briefs in every case, giving the facts
and the law in relation thereto.
In consequence thereof the COVER
nor, on July ID, 1923, vetoed thirty
eight (3s) of these bills, carrying ap-
preparations of $1,O75,100. The re-
naming bills he approved with re-
auctions amounting to $250,30O. So
that the total of vetoes and reduc-
lions amounts to $1,325,400.
AS a result of the legal contests
inaugurated by the association dur
ing the last four years over three
million dollars have been saved to
the state treasury that otherwise
would have been used for the support
of sectarian schools and philanthropic
enterprises.
In an effort to evade the constitu-
tional prohibition, scheme is being
worked out by interested parties
whereby hospitals maintained under
sectarian auspices may receive sub
stantial state aid under a state fund
tout of which $50 the law would
ready payment can be made to said
hospital for actual service rendered
to persons to whom the common
wealth owes a duty, and not to grant
a gratuity to said institution"
This scheme is very adroit effort
to obtain state aid without techni-
cally violating the constitution. 1t
is most interesting and maybe signi-
ficant that in the tentative figures
Submitted showing the practical work.
hing of the plan, Roman Catholic in
situations would receive $1,38s, 500,
Jewish institutions would get $50, 1000
and Protestant institutions would get
nothing!
The clever scheme undoubtedly is
doomed to failure. The supreme court
of the state has put itself ON record
in unequivocal terms collins VS.. KEEP
hart, 271 Pa. page 1927:
"The history Of the development of