The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-05
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1904.
AGood Measure.

35l6 On Tuesday last wc referred to plli
offered In the House by Mr.. QUO, pro
s ,,id,nr that boards of supervisors IN the
.overa, counties be required to make out
twice a year an itemized statement OF
receipts and disbursements for the pre-
oedinE six months, and that such state
rnents be posted at the courthouse door
ma IT each boarding precinct an the
county, or published in one or more
newspapers in the county or in an adjoln-
ing county or city.
a statute similar to this has been on
1he books for years, but our Information
is that In some counties 1t has been zen TO-
tally disregarded, and only in a few coun-
Ties have the accounts been published
in the newspapers.
The ould Bill has since been amended
80 as to make 1t mandatory upon the
board Of supervisors in each county not
only to post their accounts as above
but after each meeting of the board 70
s1,ublish In the county newspaper or IN a
,paper published in an adjoining county
Or city. an tcn1ized statement OF re-
ceipts and disbursements. Yesterday the
hill. in its amended form, was ordered
Inv the House to its engrossment, ana
we sincerely hope that it will become
law. The cost to each county OF pup
Fishing these statements would be mere
bagateHe, and In order to safeguard
against any possible extortion, 1t might
he further provided that the price paid
should not exceed SO much per agate
line. In most Of the counties the cost
would not amount to more than hun
dred or so dollars a year. and the money
would be we'll expended.
In looking over the Auditors report for
the year ending July ], 1908 we find IN
"a number of counties considerable sums
of money charged up to incidental ex-
penses.'' In one county this item Is
SCOT; in another, S4,442: In another
s6,s74; In many OF. them from 5000 tc
$500. while in one county 1t is $2l.2S6
and in still another s44,4oS
Again, as we showed the other day
the counties are expanding large sums
Of money for road improvement, the
amounts ranging from 5000 to $4,000
a year. and about as much more fol
schools. Naturally the taxpayers wisl
Ito know how this money is expended
1T is their right to know. 1t is thc
right to have copies Of these accounts
placed in their hands every month. 81
that they may studS. them at their leisur
and determine for themselves whether o
not the money has been properly ex
pended.
For many years we have been urging
upon the General Assembly to requir
boards Of supervisors to make public ex
hibits from time to time through tn
newspapers. and we are more than eve
convinced that such a system Is badl
needed in Virginia. If everything
right. tho boards can have no obJectio
TO mal1ing; full exhibit; If anSthin
the showdown. In any event the tas
payers will be better satisfied and board
OF supervisors will be moro careful no
they disburso pubic funds. Nothlr
more surely spurs public official to h
duty than the knowledge that he mu
give an account Of his stewardship rel
ularly to his constituents. Virginia il,
been entirely too careless IN inspectir
the work OF her officials. and has lost
great deal of money through her careles
ness.
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