The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-14

RIG MOI ID, vA.-Special.-
The above choice bit of verse exact
" expresses the sentiment of forty
gates as recorded Monday when
gates as recorded this afternoon when
the roll was called on the bill reQuir-
fng the various city and county treas
(urers to make quarterly reports to
fkhe State Auditor of Public Accounts.
Only thirty-eight members voted for
the bill 1t was consequently defeat
Delegates Edwin p. Cox, of Rich
mond; w. w. Baker. of Chesterfield.
and Aubrey Weaver, of Warren.
strove heroically for the passage of
~ changed a number Of votes, but
not enough. The majority Of the
members did not think the treasurers
should be forced to render an ac-
counting-or: in other words no
member OF the majority thought that
the treasurer Of his city or town
should be made to furnish reports. so
the bill was killed.
The Original Bill.
The original bill provides that the
Auditor should call upon the treas
urers whenever the State Corporation
Commission called upon the banks
about four times annually. IL also
provides that the statements of the
treasurers should be published. and
that treasurers knowingly making
false statements should be punished
~ II they were bank officers
Delegate Spessard raised the ques-
ton that regardless OF shortages the
state had never lost anything.
he was replied to by Mr.. Baker.
who related how the Chesterfield
treasurer. though known to be hon
est In every respect. had allowed his
books to become so confused that
shortage in one of the accounts of
nearly $4,000 was recently discover
Cd by an expert accountant. All the
money was recovered, he declared.
but the bill of the accountant-seve-
raj hundred dollars-was paid by the
county. This, OF course. was consid
cred In the nature of a loss and was
made necessary Captain Baker de-
clared, because no system is required
\of county treasurers, and because they
Keep their accounts as no corpora
ffoQ would allow its accounts to be
kepA,
Had Passed the Senate.
The bill known as Senate bill No.
z96" had already passed the Senate
and was recently favorably reported
by the House Committee on Finance.
On motion of Delegate Walter Oil
yer, Of Fairfax, the bill was first dis
missed-stricken from the calendar.
Mr.. Cox, who had been called out
of the chamber for a few minutes.
passioned speech besought the House
to reconsider its action. He saw no
reason why the mill, which the SEN
ate had endorsed. should be so sum-
marty disposed OF. He asked that
the House strike out the Objectionable
features by amending the bill. Its
good features could thus be preserved.
BY heavy majority the House
voted to reconsider the vote by which
the bill had been rejected.
Mr.. Oliver, supported by N. e. Spes-
Bard, OF Craig, declared that the bill
was an insult to the integrity of the
Sreasurers in the State. He asserted.
moreover, that 1t would be impossible
for the trasurers to carry out the sud-
den and unexpected orders of the eu-
ditor without going to great personal
expense.
Judge williams, of Giles, closed the
debate against the bill. He was of the
opinion that Its passage would be in
effect an order directing the auditor
Ito spy on the treasurers. He did
not think this should be permitted.
Before the final vote was ordered
four amendments were offered. Three
OF these were agreed to. TIL first was
Introduced by Delegate Gillian, of
Petersburg. striking out the provision
requiring treasurers TO publish their
reports. 1t was passed.
Delegate Lunsford, of Botetourt,
wanted only city and county (not
town. treasurers put under the pro-
visions OF the bill. This was agreed
Go.
Mr.. Evans, of Caroline, wanted the
reports made general rather than spe-
etf1c. This was agreed to.
Alden Bell, OF Culpepers moved that
treasurers violating the law should be
Nned, upon conviction, not less than
955, nor more than 500. This was
killed.
Similar treatment was then admin
iateFed to the bill itself.