The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-24
OFFICIALS MUST
SETTLE MONTHLY
County and City Treasures to
Hereafter Make Prompt
Payment to State.
WILL PREVENT ALL DELAYS
Crowds Attend Institutes and
Ask Speakers to Come
Again.
WILL PREVENT ALL DELAYS

In order to place the funds OF the
state where they belong--in the treas
ury-and to guard against possible
losses by dcfalcation or bank fail
ures. State Auditor s. K. Donohoe to-
day inauguratcs new plan of pro-
cedure. lie will hereafter require all
city and county treasUrers to settle
on the tirst day OF -,-cl; month, in
stead of keeping the FUNDS in their
own hands until the time comes for
the regular balancing OF accounts
Letters addressed TO each local
treasurer i'll Virginia viii ne sent
out to-day by Captain Donohoe. i'll
which he announces that he will avail
himself oil the privilege given him un-
der the law 10 begin the new deal
at once. he requires each official TO
make full settlement OF all State funds
in his hands by September l.
Sometimes Causes Trouble.
No reason exists. i'll the view of the
state Auditor. why the city and coun-
~ treasurcrs should hold FUNDS which
belong III the State Treasury in their
own hands. While dcfalcations on the
part of local officers have been very
few, there is temptation TO handle
this money FOR the treasurcr's own
purposes. with the Intention of repay
ing it when the time comes for set
Element. The history OF financial
trusts is that some Of these repay
ments cannot be made when the day
OF reckoning arrives. Again, more or
less state money has been tied up be-
cause OF local bank failures. which
have caused legal proceedings and de-
lays in payments, which would have
been avoided in great measure had
monthly settlements been required
BY this means the State, and not
the treasurer. will have the use OF
the public funds.
Auditor Donohoe has ample means
to enforce his rule. but does not ex-
pect to be called upon 20 exercise the
penalty. since he believes all the
treasurers Will settle regularly and
when settlements are not made ac-
cording to law, and in addition the
treasurer is charged interest at the
rate Of 15 per cent. year all
amounts delayed in forwarding.
Quotes Stututc.
The law on the subject, quoted by
the Auditor in his letter to the treas-
urers, is as follows:
The Auditor of Public Accounts
may cali upon any county or city
treasurer once in every thirty days
after the hrst day OF July of eCch
year for a settlement, under oath, OF
the amount OF State taxes collected by
him. and such treasurer shall. within
five days after the receipt OF such call.
forward such statement to the Audi
tor and pay into the treasury the
amount collected. II any treasurer
fail TO make any statement required by
this section, or TO pay over or account
Tor the amount due as shown by sal
statement. within the time prescribed.
he shall forfeit his commissions on all
sums that should have been or were
embraced In such statement"
Blank statements are required TO be
made. and are sworn TO, SO that there
IAN be no mistake about the amount
Tue.
In addition to the forfeiture of com
missions, as stated in the foregoing
Jaw. every treasurer who does NOT
gay the revenue into the treasury at
the time prescribed by law, shall be
charged with interest thereon at the
rate OF Is per cent. per annum from,
The time the same was so payable'