10 GOVERNOR URGESMORE MONEY FORPUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ENACTMENT OF HOUSING CODE FOR STATE AT LARGE Would Make Farm Life More Attractive, Thereby Holding to Agricultural Pursuits Many Boys Who Now Drift to the Cities; Cities Should Have More Opportunity For Home Rule and Suggests Municipal Commission to Outline Needed Legislation; Waterways of the State Should Be Surveyed as Possible Auxiliaries to Rail roads as Transportation Agents [Continued From First ment of conditions in the State at targe along lines that no doubt will meet with popular, if not legislative, approval The Governor's messages in full is as follows: GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA TIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: In compliance with the law I beg to make report to you of the admini stration of the business of this Com monwealth and to suggest such mat ters for your consideration as experi ence and a study of the needs of our Commonwealth seem to require. Since lost you met. the business of this Commonwealth has been care fully, economically and conscientious ly attended to. The several depart ments have been devoting their best efforts to serve in compliance with law the -whole people. The funds you appropriated, less the amounts de ducted by the Executive in order to keep the total appropriation within our revenues, have been devoted to the purposes you directed and the heads of the several departments have In general rendered a commendable service to our people. It may be safe ly stated that the business of the people has received most prompt and capable attention. We have steadily held to the ideal that government should be an agency of service. We have given much time to the im poctant matter of knowing at first hand the needs of our eight millions of people. These needs are multi form and exceedingly complex. Our people have developed so many and so varied fields of endeavor that the task of meeting in an effective way the needs of our great citizenry is an arduous one. To do this service many departments are by the Assembly set up in the administrative work of the Commonwealth and the task of co ordinating and interrelating these de partments is increasingly difficult. This increase in the complexity of administrative service has been studied by our Economy and Effic iency Board, together with many groups of influential and thoughtful citizens who have the welfare of our people at heart, and many helpful and suggestive plans have been form ulated to aid in making for a larger degree of effective service. Our greatest asset is our people. That they may be kept in health, properly housed, wisely educated, happily employed, morally safeguard ed and spirituajly free are essentials to every great enterprise that they may In the future undertake. What ever laws or administrative agencies operate in Pennsylvania must secure the largest measure of social justice and give the loftiest humanitarian guidance and support to our people. The prosperity of our whole popula tion is our holiest concern. We can not be indifferent to the cry of the helpless infant, to the needs of the remotest child, to the rights of the humblest individual. The encircling concern of the government must em brace with impartial care all our peo ple, and the ultimate aim should be the development of that finest fruit of government the spirit of good will and of cordial co-operation in which each plans for all and all plan for each. We guarantee in the most sacred covenant our Constitution "peace, safety and happiness," to all within our borders. I shall be happy to co-operate with you at all times in securing for our people such laws and no others as will make real in a definite way this sacred obligation to our people. To achieve In a commanding way the greatest good for our citizens will require at your hands and mine lofty patriotism, enlightened vision of our possibilities and opportunities, and an unswerving devotion to the welfare of the people of Pennsylvania. I wish again to record my opinion that we are over-lawed. We cannot cure our social, political and econ omic ills alone by statutes. We must address ourselves to the vastly more important duty of educating our people into an increasing love for liberty, respect for law, and devotion to our national spirit. The quality of our life is the assured measure of our strength and efficiency. We must never harm some for the ad vancement of others. We must sit in the councils of the State solely to secure righteous issues and to safe guard our common good against sor did or narrow-minded or selfish or banal influences and agencies whose secret purpose Is to use the govern ment for unworthy and unfair ends instead of serving the government for the welfare of the Commonwealth and the uplift and advancement of ® er citizens. V, e have outgrown many tnMtfiients. Wo are prone to enact *n*aj> more that we shall speedily out- The remedy Is to repeal much that Is no longer helpful and to enact only those that are so clearly humane and equitable and just as to ensure their permanency In the guidance of our people and in the unfolding of a steadily advancing Commonwealth wlfiUV™ H heCk or cheat a People's legitimate advance they should be re pealed and none like them enacted I V*. as the conser vators of the people, to scrutinize all proposed legislation with care and enact only the few vitally necessary measures that will unquestionably promote the welfare of our great people. 8 41 From a careful study of our needs and a wide canvass of our people's wishes I am constrained to urge unon >ou certain matters of moment and to request that they be given the thoughtful consideration which their importance may to you seem proper and necessary. v Natural Resources and Their Development Pennsylvania topographically Is uni que. Her great rivers pay no homage to her mighty mountains. They sweep unchecked and directly to the sea carving a landscape so rich, so varied so beautiful that it may be fairly said that ours is the scenic State of the Republic, and our people love it. The Divine Spirit wrought with beauty in his soul and happiness In his heart when he carved from the void this wonderful, this glorious land. Here he stored with bounteous blessings unmeasured good. Our natural re sources are rich and varied beyond TUESDAY EVENING, the imagination of man. We must make all this contribute in the loftiest way to the well-being of the people now here and to those who in the endless procession of time shall walk our ways after us. Moreover, the pre vailing winds and the proximity of mountain and sea give us annually copious rainfall which ought to be husbanded and refined into all pos sible good. We have taken away the great forests, symbolic of our name. We have allowed this natural reser voir of our rains all too speedily to be replaced with fire-swept wastes that add to the menace of our people and our industries, and that leave arid what might otherwise be fertile reaches of great productiveness. In stead of a steady and dependable flow of water In our streams we have the destructive flood and famished land. The toll of life and property is in creasingly heavy- and we have not applied "safety first" principles to our conservation problem. I should like to see this Legislature take the initial steps in a great con structive service to our people: (a) By providing for a topographical and geological survey of our State. (b) By taking the initiative in im pounding flood waters and se curing a steady flow through out the season for the benefit of our people and of our indus tries. (c) By securing at the source of our streams largely increased areas of water-sheds from which to obtain potable water for our increasing millions. (d) By inquiring into the feasibility of irrigation and the supply ing at minimum cost of water power at its source to the great utility and industrial agencies that would welcome this power and that would dis tribute it for the welfare of our people. (e) By beginning now the construc tion of some of these great res ervoirs such as the Pymatum ing Dam and others in the Allegheny range. (f) By considering freely and fairly the utilization of our waterways as the basis of great systems of water transportation such as prevail in many of the most advanced industrial communi ties of the world. (g) By planting on our forest reserves seedlings that will in time give our people the protection and the revenue a forest will as suredly give. (h) By organizing upon a scale com mensurate with its importance the force that has to do with the prevention of forest fires, the protection of game and fish and the encouragement of our people to live a part of each year out under the sky near to nature, upon lands made rich in welcome and beneficence to our people. (I) By computing the decrease in our mineral resources and de termining our obligation to posterity in the taxation wisely to be laid now upon this dim inishing asset of our people, (j) By co-operating with the national government and local munici palities to make our navigable streams heavy with the traffic from our mills and mines, our forges and factories, thus link ing Pennsylvania industry di rectly with the work markets, (k) By encouraging great industries to establish themselves in in creasing numbers in Pennsyl vania with the assurance that the Commonwealth will by its constructive service make this increasingly the greatest indus trial Commonwealth in the Union. (1) By making liberal provision for our farmers and farm life to the end that it will be increas ingly attractive and remuner ative to till our soil, to grow our food, to make life in rural places as wholesomely attrac tive and educative as a wise people should, (m) By increasingly liberal provision for education and equalizing its benefits to all our children, (n) By safeguarding public health and decreasing the ravages of disease and the loss by prema ture death in this Common wealth. (o) By demanding that the cost of production shall include rea sonable compensation for death or accident, and such addi tional elements of relief as in dustry can support and as so cial jusUce may make manifest from Ume to time. (p) And in general, by laying now deep and well the foundation for a realizable good to our people. ,^ e .P annot lay all this Khtly aside with the unreflectlve thought that it is visionary and impracticable It is really possible. It Is within our at tainment. It cannot, of course, all be done now. But it can be accept ed as a goal to which step by step in successive sessions covering many years we can finally arrive. I ask only that the whole subject be thor oughly considered and such begin nings made as will prove an earnest of purpose. It Is essential to the welfare and future growth of the Commonwealth. Every wise hus bandman every sane corporation plans for the future and works stead ily for the realization of its pur- P ° Be ,!u ,^ y shoul <i not the Common wealth? We are Its responsible agents to-day. Others will follow us. What we do will in a definite way influ ence those that succeed us What we fail to do complicates the duties of our successors and harms the Com monwealth. Let there be an end to sporadic, tentative and unprogresslve enactments, and let us turn to the great duty of safeguarding and ad vancing the welfare of our people and the prestige of our beloved State. Local Option I have steadily stood for the en actment of a County Local Option Law, and hope you share with me the Importance of giving to the people the right to decide for themselves wheth er or not they wish to have licenses for the sale of intoxicants granted In their several counties, N'o dels gated body can so well administer the license laws of the State as can the fi ' K •* Jr ■Bp- s - ; ■; ■ jd H HHi pPP^s^y '' ■>' ' GOVERNOR MARTIN G. BRUMBAUGH Lights in the Governor's Message "Whatever laws or administrative agencies operate in Pennsylvania must secure the largest measure of social justice and give the loftiest humanitarian guidance and support to our people." "I shall be happy to co-operate with you at all times ii/securing for our people such laws and no others as will make real in a definite way this sacred obligation to the people." Expresses the opinion that the State is "over-lawed" and urges that many statutes be repeal ed and that few new laws be enacted. Urges that a topographical and geological survey of the State be made with the object of obtaining accurate data for a campaign covering many years for the conservation and develop ment of the water supply and water power of Pennsylvania. Inquire into feasibility of strong water for irrigation and industrial purposes, and studying possibility of using streams for navigation purposes outlined. Recommends measures for protection of game and fish and the planting of seedlings to re forest State lands and tracts now lying waste. Would make liberal provisions for farms and farm life in order to make agriculture attrac tive and the continued upbuilding of the public schools. Demands that cost of production shall include reasonable compensation for death or acci dent and such additional elements of relief as industry can support and as social justice may man ifest. Renews his recommendation that county unit local option bill be enacted. Condemns efforts to drastically amend or revise compensation, child labor and other social welfare legislation until laws recently passed can be tested fully. Urges enactment of housing code. • Says it is not his "function to find money to maintain the people's business; but it is my duty to insist that you make adequate provision to meet the expenditures you authorize." Urges that the school appropriation be increased to $9,000,000 a year, and liberal support for the various branches of educational development required to meet modern needs. Recommends that automobile license fees be devoted to highway purposes but that they be separate and in addition to legislative appropriations: asks appropriation for abolition of toll roads. Suggests State aid for State highway construction through boroughs. Urges that problem of getting farm products to market be considered and that the State co operate with the federal authorities in improvement of agricultural conditions. Scientific management and exercise of care in State appropriations are recommended in ad ministering the charities of the State. Suggests commission to study needs of cities, with idea of more home rule and business administration of municipal affairs. Mine cave-in problem drawn to attention of legislature. 100 much of time of executive is taken up with claims and demands of office seekers;" should have civil service. Strongly urges Capitol Park extension development and markers for Camp Curtin and other historic spots. people themselves. In this proposition is the essence of our democracy. Have we not already had ample evidence of the unwisdom of our judiciary having this unwelcome task imposed upon it? What to-day is in many counties the controlling influence in the election of Judges? It is this extra-judicial function. This is work ing increasing harm to these officials upon whom we have rested the final legal determination of the sacred rights of our people. It should not be a political Issue. The sooner our politics are rid of the license question the better for Penn sylvania. PJvery consideration look ing to the good of our people Impels me to urge upon you the enactment of a law that will permit the people under proper regulation to settle for themselves this vexed question. It will remain a source of Increasing aggra vation until it is settled and settled right. In view of the lessons taught by our recent olectlons throughout the nation, I am more than ever con vinced that this Legislature should heed the will of the people and give the legislative relief so widely prayed for. Humane Laws The Commonwealth should at all times seek to enact only such laws as will conserve equal rights and complete Justice for all persons In all stations of life. The Commonwealth should guarantee the right of all to maintain themselves, thus securing that virility and independence of • . <*v <•*;*• ' " ' m ' HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH character so essential to an advanc ing democracy. Any enactment that violates this sacred right should be steadily opposed. We should favor a gradual and reasonable reduction of the hours of labor and plan to make the leisure of our people a means of healthful, happy recreation and of educative uplift. If in your wisdom you can evolve a means of lessening poverty you will add to the humanity of the Commonwealth and enlarge the whole field of industry and social Jus tice. The laws promotive of social Justice enacted by the Assembly In 1915 have been put into operation to the good of our workers and to the general acceptance of the thoughtful men connected officially with our groat industries. Many of our largest industrial and transportation agencies have for yeg.rs maintained sbme form of relief in case of accident or death. These have found the new laws a help and have, cordially accepted the action of the State In making general and uniform the humane treatment of workers. The Compensation Law for workmen, the Child Labor Law, the restriction of the hours of labor for women, the increased safeguarding of workers from accident, the establish ment of free employment agencies, the protection of our food supply, and the continued activity In adjusting the differences arising between employer and employe by arbitration and medi ation have all been cordially com mended, These enactments should have time to work themselves fully into our industrial life and no drastic or radical changes or additions should be now made. Let labor by co-oper ation and good will help make it pos sible for our great industries to grow and develop and thus provide fur ther relief to toilers. Let us be cer tain to do only that which will attract others to this State and which will ensure to all profitable employment. Manufacturing employs fully forty per cent, of our people. To main tain stable and Just relations in in dustry is of the greatest moment to the permanent progress of our people. It is this quality of servico that heartens patriots, advances the pres tige of the State and gives to our people the quality of service the gov ernment should steadily seek to pro vide. Housing Code We are properly concerned in con serving the health of our people. We have organized and maintained a great and efficient Department of Health. We have also erected and do maintain many institutions to care for sick, suf. ferlng and Impaired people. But why should wo expend such large sums to cure the suffering or to care for the helpless when It in our power to prevent much of all this? I have long entertained the wish to see Pennsylvania take the lead In en acting a Housing Code that would regulate In some degree the type of house In which our people who toil must live and in which children are born anU women must work, Surely JANUARY 2, 1917. Workmen*s Compensation and Labor Statutes Enacted in 1915 Should Be Permitted to Stand Without Drastic Change Until Given Fair Tryout in Practice; Toe Many Laws; Some of Them Should Be Wiped Off the Statute Books; Automobile License Funds Should Go to State Highway Department, but Be Separate From Appropriations Made For Good Road Purposes the duty of tho Commonwealth Is to | guarantee a decent habitation for its j people. With no Intention to urge any drastic or burdensome code I do most earnestly urge you to give the people ! a house in which to live that sani- I tartly and environmentally will pro- I mote health and happiness and not breed disease Knd discord. We are not Americanizing our new-coming immigrants if we allow them to live in rt'hat is often termed the "black spots" where they fall to obtain that home life so essential to the making of a true American citizen. Finances We have kept the expenses of gov ernment well within the amount pro vided by the Assembly. This has been a 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. It ought not to be necessary for the Executive to bear the responsi 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 tion. It is not mv function to find the oney to maintain the people's busi ness; but It is my duty to insist that you make adequate provision to meet the expenditures you authorize. The Tax Commission In 1911 and in 1913 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 yet more to do. It must not only train our youth to live co-operatively 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. It 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- I sis placed upon our educational sys | tem. If we are to be prepared in j any adequate way as a nation to maln | tain peace and command respect we j must train all our children speedily and effectively into the real spirit of Americanism To do this, and do It well in an increasingly complex popu lation, is an arduous but necessary duty. Our appropriations to the schools have not kept pace with the increase and complex quality of our school problem. The burden is fall -1 ing increasingly heavy upon the local -school districts to maintain an ade | quate school system. I urge you in | justice to the whole spirit of our pro gress to appropriate nine millions of dollars per year for . our public 1 schools. | The continuation school established i for the children under sixteen at | w ork in Pennsylvania have done good work and liberal provision should be made to maintain these special schools. They are in effect hand maidens of industry and speedily fit these young toilers to give a more val uable service to industry and at the same time acquire the fundamental training for good citizenship. The institutions of higher learning, liberal and professional, receiving fin ancial aid from the State ought in some effective and practical way give to the People larger measures of ser )'~ e ; , rhls most important matter— jthat of enabling the humblest citizen |to have the help of the skilled pro i fessor, bringing the great gifts of re search to the home of the citizen is one that should receive careful I and considerate treatment. The State Board of Education is fol lowing the unfolding of our education al system with care and will as hv aw directed, submit to you sugges tions of moment in advancing the wel fare of our teachers, the improve ment of our schools, and tho progres sive development of an educational policy worthy our great people. Highways The last Legislature appropriated three millions of dollars per year for maintenance and construction of State did not give in addi \° thta . 8,1 1" the tees obtained from the sale of automobile licenses. The license fees almost equal In amount to the total sum given for highways were Included In and made part of the three million fund. These license fees have gone into the public treasury. They should have gone ex clusively and promptly into mainte nance of hiyhways. That is the pur pose of the license fee. It 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 10,200 miles of State highways. I also urge you in addition to this to ap 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 pay for them. Fully two years will elapse before 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 upon 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 I cannot too earnestly urge this rea sonable demand of our people. Toll roads no longer are a credit to Pennsylvania. We have taken over us Bpeedily as possible those that coukl be purchased at a fair prlca and within the sum appropriated therefor. I trust you will see your way to make a liberal appropriation for the removal of these antiquated and unsatisfactory burdens upon our people. The State-aid highways should bo developed as rapidly as the several counties will Join in this work. There should be ample funds available to carry on co-operative work. It would be no credit to the State if local In itiative were to exceed State provi sion for this work. There are evi dences In many counties of a resolute purpose to impose heavy obligations to join with the State in building dur able roads and surely the State Is able and I hope willing to do its full share in this valuable service. The township roads remain the large mileage of transportation for our people. They are in many places well maintained. In others they are not well maintained. The money paid by direct tax for roads in the several townships and boroughs is manifest ly used for temporary repairs and each year the work must be repeat ed. Such a policy has no justification. The whole matter of local road super vision and construction requires radi cal treatment. A county unit plan may be the solution. At all events i the vast sum paid to local supervisors (and the money given by the State to aid in this work upon local roads I ought to yield a larger return in good, serviceable, permanent highways. We ouyht to take note of the enter prise of our people in promoting good roads and in making contributions for those roads. Such genuinely helpful activity ought to be sufficient warrant to make the largest possible appro priation to the highway development In the State. The patrol system has | been tried and found most economio j and practical. It needs to be ex tended rapidly to cover all improved j sections of our highways. It is my j earnest wish to make our highways ' attractive that our many miles of i scenic splendor may be reached and j enjoyed by our own people and by I thousands of tourists who would bo ' attracted here to their delight and to our advantage were we to make ac cessible the beauty of our State. The definite and practical value of these roads, especially to our farm life, can not too strongly be set forth. In many cases . State highway passes through an incorporated bor ough and it has come to my notice that some of these boroughs are uli able to make their part of the trunk line as satisfactory for travel as is the highway outside these boroughs. Some boroughs have asked us to ex pend State funds to carry the improv ed hiyhway over the borough street. This we are by law prevented from doing. I suggest that you take under advisement the wisdom of such change in the law as will permit the State funds to be used in whole or in part to make these great trunk line high ways through the boroughs as satis factory and as complete as the other parts of these trunk lines. I believe these boroughs would welcome this assistance and the traveling public in general would be greatly benefited. Agriculture Under the Act of the de part pients of the government having to do with the care and cultivation of the soil and the conservation of our great farm life were placed under one ! board of seven and a Commissioner | whose function is to give effect to all agricultural enactments. On the wholo, this has worked well. Timo will greatly improve the quality and | extent of this service. The Depart j ment has steadily in mind a more in tensive form of specific service to farmers. We must double the output |of the farms of Pennsylvania. Every I movement to increase the scientific | study of agriculture at our State Col ! lege and the administrative service by the Department Is well worth your favorable attention. The college and the Department are working together for he good of our farm life. Both these agencies by co-operation and co ordination of their several functions, each doing the service it can best do, and each of vital importance, will at all times serve our farm life in any way possible. One feature of this service Is now of pressing importance, namely, the method of preparing and forwarding farm products to the best markets. There is too much waste upon our farms. Our industrial and urban cen ters need all the food our farms can produce and the Department of Agri culture wisely senses the need of a. division of markets, whose function will be to give practical and definite information to our farmers in all mat ters that have to do with the best means of marketing all the products of the farm. It is vital to our peo ple that this be done and I urge you to give this matter your favorable at tention. We should also co-operate fully with the national government in ail its efforts to improve the agricultural interests of the country. Wo have kept In close touch with this national service and will continue to support and supplement it at all times. Our Charities Pennsylvania does more humane things for its dependents than does any other State. It can do more, and it should. In any program of social lustice we must not only heed tho need of our active workers but also the necessity of that great army of our people who by reason of age, dis ease, poverty or other untoward cir cumstances require at the hands of a generous people humane treatment. We need moro State institutions to care for our dependents. We have, by your direction, secured a site for a new Institution to care for our in sane in southwestern Pennsylvania. We need now a site for a llkrlnstltu tion In southeastern Pennsylvania, together with funds for the erection of proper buildings at both places. I am wholly convinced that we should erect no more wards in which to mass these unfortunates and further add to their distress. Medical treatment has not proven in the light of ex perience half so corrective as has vocational treatment. It Is manlfrsi that these new Institutions should b developed on the Cottage System. This should also apply to additional pro vision for tho feeble-r.<inded and in some cases to the criminal classes, [Continued on Pace 11]
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