Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-02
Milligan, Wilkin { Go.

MllllSan, Nllkln { 20.
cial pillar of the present administra-
ton.
The report is at hand, and we much
regret that we have neither the space
nor the words to do it justice. Suffice
it to say that in violation of all law
and the unbroken practice of twenty
five years, he has entirely omitted
ALL DETAILED STATEMENTS
of receipts and disbursements. Like
the Treasurer's campaign speech, 1t
is statement in gross, nothing more.
1t is utterly without value as check
on the Auditor, or as throwing any
light in detail on the time, nature and
amount of specific payments. But even
the very meagre data in this alleged
report was really not necessary to ex-
plain the balance that has been SO
mysteriously whispered about In ad-
administration circles during the last
four months. 1t arose-j just as natural
ly as it will disappear, should the next
Legislature be Republican.
The excess of receipts of all kinds
over all disbursements during the
years 1897 and 1898, was $191, 266.
This amount added to the amount
left by the last Democratic admins
tration, S233, 446, gives the September
balance Of $424,641. This sum of $751;
266 representing the savings of the
last two years, is entirely due to the
fact that the total receipts for this
period exceeded those of the preceding
years by the very large sum OF $780,
SIS, and the present administration is
entitled to credit for the September
balance to the same extent it is en-
titled to credit for this large increase
in receipts, no more.
A glance at the following compari
son of receipts on the principal items
of revenue will aid very materially in
ascertaining the causes that have pro-
duced this excess of $376,57
1S25 1891 G5oo r.
State tax (sherif)s 1898 S 95S,Gl7 $l70.624
License tax (shr'D 1G1.563 426,915 l65, 952
teri ...:.. .....:.. 195.759 2.S.cs5 s2,sl5
Redemption, land 57,476 49, $50 1 j. 81
Total ........$ 81, 252 1872 81, 734. 385 $iS1 SOB
The excuses shown in these items
are amply sufficient to explain the ag-
gregate increase without going into
further detail. A brief glance at these
items viii
SHOW HOW MUCH CREDIT
belongs to the Republican party for
the respective increases, and it will
be found to consist entirely in the
fact that the State Auditor has prob
ably discharged his duties with refer
0nce 10 the collection Of taxes in the
way that any faithful and efficient
public servant should. We say, prob
ably, because the Treasugf mat it is
tullXsIpDfe TO tell to what years the
taxes received belong, or whether the
bulk of overdue taxes reaching the
treasury in the fiscal year 1897 were
collected in the first five or the last
seven months Of that year; that is to
say, whether they came in during the
last months Of the Democratic or the
first months of the Republican admin
1stratlon. We suppose we shall have
to wait for the Auditors report to
obtain this very desirable information.
Should he follow the Treasurer in his
pernlclous endeavorS to obscure mat
tiers OF this kind, resort will have to be
had to the original entries through
the medium Of the Legislature about to
be chosen.
The item of s33,915 was paid into
the treasury as the result of a suit
Ior taxes instituted and prosecuted I'M
der Democratic auspices.
Inc increase in the item of charter
taxes is mainly due to an increase in
the number OF charters issued, and has
peen brought about at the expense of
the good name of the State. Under
the present administration this nefari-
Gus traHc has been stimulated beyond
all precedent. West Virginia charters
nave been handed about everywhere
and II the Legislature does not shortly
put stop to it, the name of the State
VIII become by-word of reproach
throughout the entire Union. To such
an extent has the prospect of fees he
come an incentive to exertion that
clerks in the executive department now
openly solicit the procurement of
charters by advertising cards in news
papers.
The item of license and propertv
taxes, $3S5,976, is, of course, due chief
ly to the collection of back taxes
These amounted to about $3.50 900. as
stated by ex-Auditor Johnson in his
last report. About $4,000 received in
the compromise with the liquor deal
ers on the short license question in
this (Ohio) county, is responsible for
that much Of the increase, and the re-
is probably due to the natural
increase in valuations. collections from
sheriffs hitherto reported delinquent
and probable closer collection of
taxes due on the current years 1897
1898.
As this addition of s191, 266 to the
Democratic balance thus appears en-
tirely due to such increases in receipts
as from their nature
ARE NOT LIKELY TO RECJJR
it is apparent at once that it cannot he
relied upon to repeat itself. EXCEPT
for these large increases that do not
belong to ordinary revenue and will
not again occur, the extravagant ap-
of the last Legislature
would have caused a large decrease in
the balance handed over by the proceed |
ing administration. The only sure
method OF keeping balance in the |
State treasury is prudent economy in |
which the present ad- |
ninistration has not practiced. Their |
expenditures for the two years en-