The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-16
u " ~ Z = ! .
LAWMAKERS HAVE
AOCASH T0SPEND
Running Expenses and Deficit
Will Eat Up Next Years
Income.
DoNoHoE GIVES ESTIMATES
No New Buildings in Sight.
Officers Should Remit
Monthly.
DoNoHoE GIVES ESTIMATES

-
No money at all will be available
for new buildings or extensions or
improvementsh or anything save tho
maintenance of those institutions Ill
ready In existence during the coming
t year, IL an estimate made by State
Auditor S. r. Donohoe Ia not In fault.
! He figures that the receipts for the
fscal year 1912 will exceed the dis
bursemcnts by only s14o.s8s.2o. and,
deducting tho deficit at the end of the
past year, there Will be less that SAL
600 in the treasury to tho good.
Captain Donohoe seems determined
to acquaint the people OF Virginia
with the financial affairs Of their gov
eminent. Not satisfied with an intro
duction to his annual report, which,
for the first time in the memory of
men, shows just how the treasury
stood at the end of tho year. he ap-
Ponds to that report, which was made
public yesterday. his estimates OF re-
ce!pts and expenditures for the year
Just begun. And the results arc not
calculated to be satisfactory to those
who have been expecting extensions of
institutions.
Gives Showing In Detail.
Table No. 45 is the new feature In
the Auditors report. 1t shows in de-
tall tho amounts to be expected from
various sources, including the new
realty assessments. the capitation
taxes. the license taxes, tho public SER
Vice corporations taxes and all other
sources OF revenue, based, of course,
largely on the receipts of last year
and the new valuations. He finds that
the total to be expected available for
appropriations by the Legislature, for
the year ending September 80, 1912,
Is s6,571, 355.59 This Is, OF course, ex-
elusive of receipts for specific pur-
! poses not subject to appropriations,
such as funds from the United States,
departmental fees, automobile licenses
and literary fund fines and sales.
Against this sum Is to be placed q
total of estimated expenditures OF
S6.43o,367.Ss. This includes estimates
OF criminal costs as based on previous
years, the support of the government,
salarfee and some unexpended bal
ances Of prior appropriations. Tho
institutions are put down for support
only. without regard to new buildings
or improvements. save for the unex-
pended balance on the Fredericksburg
Normal of $4,000. and the Radford
school at $4,000. Nothing whatever
is allowed for extensions.
Pay Back Pensions.
Provision Is made. however, in this
estimate for $4,000 to pay in full
1911 pensions. which had to be pro-
rated because the appropriation made
by the last legislature proved to be
| insufficient. There Is also added $780,
600 TO pay 1919 pensions in full for
those now enrolled and probable addi-
lions to the rolls. In addition to tho
usual appropriation OF $4,000.
The Auditor suggests that county
trensurcrs be required to pay into the
treasury all money In their hands on
the first day OF each month. State
funds In tho hands OF treasurers." he
says, cannot be lawfully used by
them for any purpose whatever. ex-
cept to pay juror and witness certin-
Gates in Commonwealth cases. and
there ls no good reason why auoh
funds should be retained by them for
lengthy periods. The State, besides
meeting ordinary current expenses, has
to pay large sums every month to the
State hospitals. educat ionai and other
institutions. and should have all her
funds In the public treasury. where
they properly belong.
Business Principles.
1.-THE manager of any great railroad
system or other large business enter
prise, who required settlements by his
collecting agents only twice a year,
would be speedily removed for incom-
potency. 1t Ia Just as essential for the
State to receive her revenues as COL
lected as 1t Is for any business con-
Germ to have the benefit of Its earnings
as they accrue. Furthermore. the pros
ent system too often results In m
inefficient collection of taxes. BY US
ing. with no improper motive, all
moneys coming into his hands to meet
county expenses, the treasurer, In
many instances. does not proceed with
due diligence with the collection OF
tax bills. and when the time comes
for his settlement with the Auditor.
he sometimes finds himself without
sufficient funds to make his settlement
promptly. II required to settle
monthly, necessity would compel him
to proceed with more energy and dill
gence with the collection of the reve-
nue.. and many treasurers would thus
be saved the modification and dis
credit OF being unable to meet their
obligations to the Commonwealth
when due"
Captain Donohoe thinks courts
s.ould be empowered to act In vaca-
ton in the case OF commissioners of
the revenue who refuse to send In
their books by the time required by
law. This has given the Auditor much
trouble. He believes clerks, as we'll as
treasurehs, should be made to settle
monthly. Further, trensurers, he
thinks. should proceed against delIn-
quent Taxpayers Immediately after
December I. for this addition to the
bills. he points out. Is not dono to en-
title the citizen to extension, but as a
penalty for not having paid by that
date.