Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-01-11
MoNTAauE's MESSAGE.

Gov. Montague, in his annual mes
sage to the legislature, delivered in per-
son yesterday, advocated a reorganiza-
ton of the States treasury department,
the creation of State board OF charities,
laws to prevent the excessive use oil
money in elections, better safeguards for
primary elections, compulsory school at
tendance, and the State-aid plan tor
road improvement. He said, IN part;
81 renew my former recommendation
respecting the creation OF board OF
charities and corrections. Such board
would be If little expense and OF great
service. Many of the States, as well as
the national government, have these
boards, aud in every instance eticiency
of service has resulted from their CO.
operation and critical supervision.
THE condition of our revenues Is
growing more satisfactory under the re-
forms instituted by the new constitution.
At the close of the fiscal year we had a
balance of 1866, 492. We expect our
revenues to increase from year TO year;
vet, with these figures, estimated by the
first auditor, it is evident that we have
no large sum for extraordinary appro'
priations, and that the utmost economy
and discrimination should be practiced,
for sound fnanciering demands that we
look alone to our annual income rather
than to treasury balance which may
not repeat itself.
Therefore, with the great need Of
money for education, for roads. and Tor
elaemosyEary institutions, il is idle to
think of a reduction of our already low
rate of taxation, for we shall need for
some years to come all the revenues we
have, and more besides, to meet the
growth and progressive necessities of our
people.
"My former recommendations respect
ing the reorgsn zation of the treasury
department are renewed. The first au-
ditor should settle, collect, and deposit
all moneys coming to the State, but he
should be wholly unauthorized to issue
his warrant upon the treasurer for any
sum whatever. The latter duty should
be performed by the second auditor,
who should make no collections or de-
posils, aud his warrants alone should be
recognized by the treasurer. Such re-
arrangement, If properly ssfeguarded by
system of bookkeeping wherein the
entries of moneys received or paid out
ia these three offices could be identified
with accuracy and ease, would result in
the best possible protection of the funds
of the treasurer. The concurrent end
complimentary accounts OF the three
officials would thus reveal any mistake
which couli be disclosed by the most
efficient business methods. Nor should
this Encouragement entail additional
cost, for the number OF men required to
conduct the entire treasury department
would be no greater than now.
"COmprebensive civil service regula-
tons authorized by statute and applica'
BILE in the appointment and retention OF
all clerks in the Offices of the ire isury
department would be beneficial
achievement. The conduct OF this bust
ness should be analogous to that OF safe
and sound banking institutions. A sys-
tenn of civil service should. also be ex-
tended to all employees of the peniten.
tiary and insane hospitals, other than
their respective superintendent and as
sistsnis, and to the police, janitors, con-
ductors of elevators, aud machinists en-
ployed ut the seat of government.
"The selection OF these officials, as well
as their tenure of Office, should be deter
mined wholly by efficiency aud chsrac-
ter, and removed entirely from the sus-
picion of political considerations.
"The excessive use of money in cleo
tons should excite the alarm of all patri-
OTIS, and | would, therefore, urge legisla-
ton not only prOhibitory of all campaign
contributions by corporations, but of the
right OF doing business by any corpora
ton which makes any contribution, di-
rectly or indirectly, in or without the
State, for the purpose Of influencing any
election in this State, primary or regular"