The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-11

be seen that if the balance OF three hun
, dred and sixty.four thousand FIVE nun /.
excluded. we shall have over and above
the regular expenses only the s'm of
five hundred and seventy-nine thousand
four hundred and s!xty-fve dollars (S579,-
$4,000. We expect our revenues to in
crease from year to year; yet with these
figures. estimated by the First Auditor.
for extraordinary appropriations. and that
the utmost economy and discriminate II
should he pract.sed. for sound nriancier
ing demands that we look alone to our
balance which may not repeat itself.
Therefore. with the great need of money
1og 19F roads - and for thnk
OF reduction of our already low rate OF
taxation, for We. shall need for some
Years 70 all the revenue we
and progressive necessities of our people.
Treasury Department.
Ny former recommendations respecting
the representation Of the The, treasury ,s;l de-
moneys coming TO the state, but he should
be wholly unauthorized to issue his war
rant upon the Treasurer for any sum
formed by the Second Auditor. who
should make no collections or deposits,
and his warrants alone SHOULD be recog-
nzed by the Treasurer Such r s
system of bookkeeping wherein the en-
tries OF moneys received or paid i'd out e. IN
with. accuracy, and case. would result in
the best possible protection OF the funds
OF tile Treasury. The concurrent and
Complementary accounts of the three Of
which could be disclosed by. the most
efficient business methods. Nor should
cost. for the number of men required TO
conduct the entire Treasury department
would be no greater than now
Why the Commonwealth should have
delayed the inauguration of checks so
simple and effective is difficult to under
stand We cannot be satisfied with the
through the First Auditors Office, in the
past forty years, more than one hundred
and iifty-eiGht thousand dollars Gl5S-
more but for the honesty OF our officials.
The new Constitution plainly demands
some such re-adustment. for 1t prescribes
Vide by law for the establishment and
maintenance of an efficient system OF
checks and balances between the offices
at the seat. of government entrusted with
the collection, receipt, custody. or dis.
bursement of the revenues of the State;
and clearly the omission of an express
of Second Auditor is but another evidence
of the necessity of such re-organiza-
ton. For manifestly it is both economy
of the Constitution to abolish this office
unless ii can be made T.. perform a c,ir1-
current and effective check in the manage
ment of our finances.
New System of Bookkeeping.
The necessity for a new system of book
Keeping in our Treasury department, in
accordance with approved business
methods. is also apparent. would there
fore ask your earnest consideration OF
the expediency of the Introduction OF
modern accounting methods.
In this connection regret must IL cH-
pressed that the last General Assembly
failed to appoint the standing Aud,ting
Committee" prescribed by the Constitu-
ton, and the Executive is therefore un-
able, as required, to sub.rit TO your lody
the report of this committee whose inves-
tigation and criticism would be SO help
The State should cWate one special
accountant to inspect and scrutiniZe as
far as possible the accounts, vouchers
and methods of bookkeeping of al OF,
,licials at the seat of government and
elsewhere in the State who collect, &C
count for or pay out public moneys.
such an accountant. IL selected solely
for his experience and capacity, could
hardly 'perform all of the duties which
would deyolve upon him, but we could
al least make a begin ing Of f3work so
much needed. Efficient atflcials would
desire the approval and inefficient othcials
would fear the disapproynl OF MS ac-
the public protiting, in either
event by the examination. This system
obtains in the United States govern
ment and perhaps In some OF the states