The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-29

DELINQUENT lands, making fun ana
proper returns OF court costs and fines.
and that other matters affecting the
states revenue and the property rights
OF tile people are having prompt and
faithful attention
Other states, larger richer and more
thoroughly organized than this have
been compelled to adopt this method
in order to secure tull results from
their revenue systems.
The committee suggests that those
departments which collect and dis
burse their. own receipts be limited to
priations, and that all their receipts
go into the general fund, and that any
saving thus secured he applied as far.
as needed to increasing the efficiency
of the supervisory work OF the Audi
tors office.
should Guard Revenue.
While the search for New sources
of revenue proceeds the committee
urges the important work of carefully
guarding and wisely eXpending the al
ready handsome revenue OF the state.
and here we would remark that the
most essential and unquestionable ex-
pcnses, and indeed those alone which
seem to justify the taxation OF the
people. are those which make the gov
er nment effective IN all its parts. Par
simony in dealing with the essential
departments of the government, coupled
with generosity or extravaganza else
where, would seem to be the very es-
sence OF governmental folly. The com
mittee, therefore, urges expenditure on
those departments which supervise the
creation of the great revenues and
which supervise the disbursements OF
the State 1t is in this connection and
with this view that the committee
recommends any necessary increase in
the force, the facilities and the cost
of the Auditors Office
An additional reason for increase
of force and expense in the Auditors
office is the fact that there Is need TOT
analysis and study of the figures which
arc accumulated there and great need
for such suggestions, forecasts and
recommendations as would, coming
from that source influence and guide
the Legislature in it's efforts to wisely
distribute the revenue of the state.
At present the Auditors report is but
little more than mere statement of
receipts and disbursements, void of
suggestions, estimates, study or rec
concentrations This. in the face of
the fact that this Office and the officer
in charge ought to be the dominating
influence in the financial affairs OF the
State.
Appropriation Bill.
The committee earnestly advises that
the States budget, or appropriation
bill, should be reported h. full, anil
placed, in print, n the hands of each
thirty days before adjournment; and
further the committee recommends
that the budget so reported shall con-
tain no new appropriations or any In
crease of the regular items or of sal
aries. and a provision that no new
item of appropriation or increase of
any item shall become part of the bill
unless upon It's own merit and apart
from any other item it secures the
usual, constitutional vote.
The committee is reliably informed
that in the case of ut least three
State institutions the balances of un
expended appropriations have been. for
successive years retained until they
assume the character of cumulative
balances, and there is an evident pur-
pose to create and hold cash fund
ment This would be Impossible If the
of the committee as
to payments from the Auditors Office
were put in force. And here It might
not be an1iss to say that during the
present year the State was borrower
drawn in cash their appropriations,
We're carrying balances in bank, and
officers in possession of funds, the
property of the State, We're withhold
ing them in bank or otherwise
The committee ventures to suggest
that the safest and best place for the
deposit of State funds is the State
Treasury.
Careful Expenditures.
This committee is of opinion that
there is no department or interest of
the State government which can honor
ably, in view of the situation and the
outlook. encourage enlargement and
increased expenditure as though the
mere worthiness or great desirability
of Improvement could justify expendi-
or the government provide without ut