The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-27
Democratic Party Must Act.
1r of The Tinnes-Disnatch:

Editor of The Times Dispatch:
sir,-Permit me to thank The Times
dispatch for its patriotic efforts in be-
half of reform and good government.
also the valuable work done by Mr..
Lewis II. Machen, in his lucid
analyses of the work done by the
Legislature, which have appeared in
your columns from day to day.
! concur with you in the opinion that
1t was an able body of representatives,
conservative and not subject to cor
porate domination. They are also en-
titled, to high commentator for the
faithful and diligent manner in which
they labored for the accomplishment OF
their herculean task in season and out
OF season. But 1t is human to err, and
1t Is not surprising that In the hurly
burly and rush of legislation there
were not only mistakes made, but in
eXcusable blunders, in permitting some
laws, which are absolutely necessary
for the integrity of our Institutions to
be 'choked off, by the small body of
retainers and parasites which infest the
Capitol. simply by Directing to the.r
consideration. What better illustra-
ton do you desire OF the tail wagging
the dog than to permit a minimum Of
obstructionists to clog the wheels
of legislation and defeat measures of
the greatest Importance to the State.
not because they are unsound or in
eNpedient or unnecessary, but simply
because they conflicted with the per-
quisites and privileges Of small or
ganized lobby of petty officials? When
the body convenes on the 25th inst. a
caucus of the Democratic party should
be called at once, and joint resolu-
ton adopted pledging the Legislature
To Ion
of these acts are placed upon our
statute book.
!. I would name the bill providing
for a uniform. improved and up-to-
date system of bookkeeping which
should be applicable to all departments
and institutions OF the government
State and county. If we but consider
the fact that this Assembly has APP
propriated sl1.0O0.oOO to be expended
during the next two years; that nearly
all salaries and allowances have beer
Increased, and appropriations augment
ed, without making any reforms If
the system of accounting and book
Keeping in vogue. in the face OF the
report OF "the Auditing Committee OF
the House and Senate at least two
members Of which are in the presen,
body, it is time for the taxpayers OIL
the State to stand up and be counted
and take notice of what party is run.
ming the State government. Certainl,
the Speaker Of the House is not le.
,sponsible, for 1t was the first subiec
to which he alluded in his opening ad
dress to the caucus which nominated
him.
| What does the Auditing Commute,
say? I'VE cannot too strongly urge
complete reconstruction of the sys
tenn OF accounting now practiced il
nearly all the departments of the STATE
government, There is no attempt to en-
ploy checks and balances between ont
another. There are no checks upol
many OF the sources Of revenue, ant
no auditing which compels the pay
ment into tho treasury of funds prop
erly due the State" '"rhe bookkeeping
in many of the departments is but lit
tie moro than mere memoranda M
balance sheets can be made out, an
| few of the methods OF detecting error
| are used" "In some .
the departments the reports made t
the General Assembly are arbitrary
and many of them could not be verlf1e
In detail by expert accounting etc
That the Governor should have over
looked this appalling and astoundlnl
report In his message to the Assembl!
when the Constitution makes 1t NJ
duty to submit said report for It's &C
ton thereon, and that this patrlotl
body should adjourn without meetln
the eNigencies of the situation J