The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-06
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Acknowledgements
WHEELING. MARCH 9, 1898.


~ Inc Register puDNdnes, Us apecial
from Charleston. such IN outrageously
garbled and misleading statement as 10
the appropriations by the legislature OF
1895, and the report Of tho same rs pre-
pared by Clerk Phillips, under tho d..
rection OF the finance committee, that
the best and most complete answer to
the Register seems to DO publication
OF tho statement which appears in an-
other column.
This statement was prepared for tho
convenience Of the next finance COM
mittee, and the fact that such a thing
has been heretofore unheard "ot is
only commentary on the lack Of bust.
ness methods employed by former leg.
islatures. Every one who has ever
served on the finance committee will
readily see the convenience such tablo
as this will DO in the preparation Of an
appropriation bill.
The statement referred to is a sum-
mary OF the different items mentioned
n.tho appropriation bill aud ia complete
and accurate. The comparison between
the amounts appropriated for 1895 and
1896 as compared with 1898 and 1894 is
also correct, as can BIO readily ascer-
tanned by comparing tho two bills. No
Misrepresentation will alter the facts,
which arc matters OF official record.
The most absurd OF the Registers
propositions is that because the audi
tor is the only officer OF the government
who is authorized: to make an estimate
of the appropriations required" that
therefore no other appropriations were
asked for." Ono illustration will
show the absurdity OF such position.
The auditor in his estimated probable
charges for the year 1895, gives for the
penitentiary the to tai sum OF S. 100, while
the legislature OF 1898 appropriated for
1898 Sl7,S5O, and the last legislature an
propriated for 1895 the sum OF Sl9.05O.
I II the last legislature had made its APP
propriations entirely on the lnforma-
ton furnished by the auditor, there
would have been howl from one end
of the state to the other.
The auditor simply guesses, and as
an illustration that he is a bad guesscr
it is only necessary to look at his re.
port on pages 90 and %. He gives
estimated probable receipts for 1895
and 1896, commencing in both years
with state tax $4,000. whereas his
own report shows that the receipts for
1892 from state taxes were 1850, 900, and
1898 a trite less than 100000, from
which it is to DO inferred that the hard
times have caused shrinkage OF 70.
ceipts OF some $4,000. No.withstand-
ing this he cheerfully estimates" that
the receipts from that source will be
$3.50. 900 per annum. or $4,000 more
than high water mark OF 1892. On page
4 OF the auditors report we find these
exhibit:
The estimated probable receipts at the treas.
ury for the fiscal year ending September %. 1926,
are, as follows:
For the state COO 90
To which add balance on hand ......... 1877, 1855 20
Making total ................-..s753,7 G3 %
The estimated charges for that year
5II.SlS 20
Leaving probable balance OFF,. 500. 10 O6
The estimated receipts for the general
SCHOOL fund SS3 20
Add balance on hand 3l36S3 10
Making total sGGj, J5 70
The estimated receipts 70. the school
fGnd 49, 90 %
Add balance on hand 2Sg1i5 o.
Making total o.
Tue estimated probable receipts n, tho treas.
my for the fiscal year ending September 90 1895.
Gtc:
For the state fund 90
Making total 90 o.
The estimated charges for that year
$4,000 o.
i Leaving probable balance ofS.....s ST., 40 O6
Tho fact that tho Legislature OF 1898
appropriated for 1898 and 1891 the sum
oil $40, E6 10 more than tho auditor
''eslimatcs" will bcrequired for 1895 and
1896, needs no comment. aud proves the
utter unrcliabiIity OF the auditors "cs.
Inmates"
Tho fact ia. and tho auditor knew it
when he made up his report. thu. II tho
treasury had boon called on to pay what
was due, and should have been paid,
there would have boon deficiency in
tho treasury Mt tho beginning of this
fiscal year of sji,ll86 81, as is shown by
the following:
S;Gicmcnt showing tho nctunl financial condl.
tlnn OF tic treasury Oi the state OF West virginia
OF the nth September 1891.
1891. Or.
Scptcnbnr 30 Dy balance on hnnd M
shown by the auditors rcpOrt4........;si27,i 1913 &c
DIR. .-s.
Tonm0nnt lost by failure OF bank aud
r. since CHARGED or ..y..s 1901 OF
70 ,asilelgIncy ~ appropriation 70,
ntnOunt required To SClto M out.
standing cnmA. Scptcmbor 70, lS9i.. CD,010 90
To deficiency on militia .......,, .,., lDyGT II
To HmonDt In trcHNIry belonging 70
r. second hospital iot ig.nno 49,. 1900 %