The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-29
Saying frankly that 1T would not b

Saying frankly that It would not be
averse to- but would rather welcome,
the direct issue of retrenchrnent and
economy in the campaign Tor the elec-
tion OF members of the next General
Assembly. the Joint Auditing Commit
tee of the Legislature yesterday pre-
sented it's annual report TO the Gov
erncr. Tne committee urges the prac-
tice OF the most rigid economy in gov
ernmental affairs. Even the Increased
revenue. 1t points out. is consumed by
the burdens OF the State, which are
sufficient to cause those. in authority to
look with anxiety to next year and to
those which are Immediately to fol-
low.
Probably but few persons know that
only few months ago 1t became neces-
sary to borrow money from Richmond
banks to pay the running expenses of
the State government. This fact has
been common talk about the Capitol
for some time, but has been unknown
elsewhere. The occasion arose in the
lean months from September to No
vember /, when practically no revenue
is coming In. a total of s250.o00 was
borrowed during the past autumn. the
State paying per cent. interest to
two of the largest banks In this city.
The fact that this amount was so
easily secured at such low rate of
interest was regarded as a tribute to
the credit of Virginia.
Average of s1c5,00O.
Not all of the quarter of million
was borrowed at one time. the amounts
being secured as they We're required.
Possibly the average was about Sl25,-
600 a month for the two months.
hn
railroads were asked to advance por-
tEon of their taxes, In view of the
fact. however, that during September
of this wear the State Corporation Com
mission had under consideration the In
crease of assessment of the physical
properties of railroads, Governor Mann
declined to ask favors of them.
The fact that mnoey was borrowed
now comes out officially in the report
of the Auditing Committee, The Times
Dispatch adding the details.
The reference to Second Auditor
John G. Dew is. accompanied by no rec
ommendation. At the last annual
meeting of the committee 1t reported
to Governor Swanson that the BOOKS
in this Office were in an unsatisfactory
condition, and strongly urged the ap-
pointment of a competent bookkeeper
to open a regular set of books. The
Governor Immediately secured the SER
vices of an accountant.
Needed More Money.
Later when the Legislature met,
Judge Dew appeared before the F'nance
Committee and explained that the sit
uation arose over the failure to make
an appropriation for a hookkeeper, for
which he had repeatedly asked. He
was thereupon given $500 additional
for the employment of such an off1cers
Now it appears. according to the re-
port of the Auditing Committee, that
he used this money to increase the sal
aries Of two of his clerks by the sum
Of $4Oo each and to pay an additional
employe, known as stenographer, at
$1,000 The latter employe, says the
the committee, is not authorized by law,
while the pay of the clerks is fixed
by statute.
Judges of courts are asked to call
the attention OF grand juries to the
assessment OF personal property for
taxation Every citizen swears to his
assessment and is liable to prosecution
for perjury In case he fails to report
the full market value of all his taxable
property, This feature of the report,
tax returns In the Auditors office, will
no doubt arouse immense interest
Throughout the State. 1t Is matter
of common knowledge that some coun-
ties do not return any person at all
as being listed for income taxation.
The Lost Vouchers.
Comment is made as to the vouchers
lost in the efDepartment of Agriculture,
with note that precautions have been
adopted against the recurrence OF such
a happening,
Eventually, says the Auditing Com,
mittee, the State must employ compe-
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