The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-11
IMP ROvED
ACCOUNTING |
IMf. Thomas Offers a Bill Pro-
posing Commission to Ex-
anime Official Books.
APPLY BUSINESS j /: S: METHODS !. :':
B <, ,l-. $500 : = ---.-:--- 4, ls
Feasibility Of Having Uniform.
System Of Book Keeping
81. I'M Li i s. ( Offices a:i 1:1::is
APPLY BUSINESS /. METHODS u !

s5 Mr.. r honaas, of Campbell. offered II
the Senate bill Of great public interest.
and one which promises to provoke con-
siderable discussion. 1t Is a bill to provide
Z. a commission to investigate the methods
OF accounting employed In the State and
Its subdivisions by officers whose duty
1t is to collect and disburse tho public
revenues and approprlating $4,000 there
for. .-.
Speaking OF the bill and Its purpose.
Mr.. Thomas said yesterday: ut ia adj
mitted that the matter OF system in tho
conduct Of the fiscal operations Of the
State and its subdivisions Is Of great
Importance. There L. every reason why
Virginia should have a system fully
up, in efficiency to that Of any other
organization handling large amounts Of
money. Any one at all conversant with
business methods knows that to ook Into
and properly deal with the subject Is Of
the utmost Importance Therefore the OBJ
ject OF tho proposed commission Is to give
ample time to thoroughly consider and
digest the subject and have laid before
the next General Assembly such recon-
mendations as will enable 1t to deal with
the subject intelligently..'''
The provisions Of the bill In full are as
follows:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Virginia. That q commission consist
ing Of two memb ers Of the Senate and
three members Of the House of Delegates
be, and is hereby, created for the purpose
OF investigator the methods of account
Ing employed in the State and its sub
divisions by officers whose duty It Is to
collect and disburse tho public reye-s
.nues. 5s
The members OF this commission shall
be appointed by the President OF the Sen.
ate and the Speaker OF the House OF
Delegates, respectively. Ri
The commission shall have power to
examine the books and accounts Of the
officers OF the State and Its subdivisions,
and to this end shall have power Ia
compel the attendance of witnesses and
tho production Of books.
LIT shall hold its meetings within the
State at such times and places as 1t
may deem proper.
1t shall be the duty of this commisA
sion to employ one or more pro fcssonal
accountants to assist 1t. The commits
sion shall report back to the next Cen
eral Assembly the results Of Its investI-,
cations with such recommendations as
Z 1t may see fit to make. And shall report
specially on the following subjects: 81
First a system Of checks and balances.
Second. The feasibility Of having uni,
form system Of bookkeeping In offices Of
the samo class. NH L Ss
Third. A system OF audit and Inspec-
tlon.
Tho pay of the members OF this COM
mission shall be the same as members OF
the General Assembly for the time ac-
tually employed. except that their actual
travelling expenses shall be paid out OF
the fund hereinafter provided.
Tho expenses OF this commission shall
not exceed ten thousand dollars, which
sum is hereby appropriated ont of tho
money belonging to the State not other
wise appropriated q ~
This money shall beFpald out by war;
wants signed by the Chairman and coun-
tersgned by the secretary and drawn
on the auditor.