The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-06
LEclsLAT,,r nYNAnlrnts.

raseous of all the things that have
characterized the present General AS
scmbly so far as incompetent ana re-
Progressive as to administrative ro-
reform has been its absolute sub
scryieuce TO the oiHccholders OF Vir
gina. 10 mako the Indictment more
snecfc the treasnrers must 10 named
they have cracked the whip and
legislhtors ran and fetched; they
have frowned and Legislators have
shrunk from their public duty, they
have ordered and legislators have
obeyed like driven ca;tlc Never has
The dpmaa;ion OF the oiIiceholders' 40
n,ination Of the General Assembly been
so frankly and so boldly shown as at
this session.
In the face Of the Constitution Of
Virginia and in defiance OF ali the
principles OF constitutional law as laid
down in decided cases, the Treasurers'
Trust forced through the General AS
ecmhly bill TO resuhmit to the PEG
rle in la12 an amendment which they
voted down in 1910. and which could
not Possibly he voted upon again con
stitutonally until 1914 Like an cx-
press train shooting through sub
way, the bill whizzcd through the
General Assembly There was no pub
lie demand for the amendment but
the ar-ishtcd treosurcrs whose terms
would expire in 1912. and who would
have to vac;.tc their Offices because the
amendment passed in 1910 limited thor
terms IA two successive terms, framed
Up Legislative deal. and rammcd an
Unconstitutional bill through the Cen
cral Assembly, Which, II submitted in
1912. might enable these official
patriots to possess their omces tor life.
Then came UP the BIN TO require
monthly settlements from the treas
nrers who now make semi-anuual sot-
Elements. Listen to what that eNcellcnt
ana ehiclent Auditor of Public Ac-
counts. CAPITA n $. z, Donohoe. says on
this point in bis report:
state funds In the hands Of treas
ure!s cannot be lawfully used rs them
for any purpose whatever except to
pay juror and witness certificates In
Cornnonw eaith cases. and there IS no
EooC reason why such funds should he
yetained sy Them Tor lengthy periods
The stale besides meeting ordinary
current expenses, has TO pay large
suias every month to the State
hospitals, cduca tional ana other IN
stitutions. ana should have all her
FUNDS in the public treasury where they
Prcperly belong, The present rule Of
seini-annuul settlements IS contrary
TO every sound business policy. The
manager OF any great railroad system
OF other large business enterprise who
required settlements by his collecting
agents only twice year would be
speedily removed for incompetency
Ii Is Just as essential for the State to
receive her revenues rs collected AS
s. Is Tor any business concern 10 have
tie benefit OF - 6arns4gs as they ac-
cruc. Furthe t-ilott.- tbs present sys-
TEN TOO often results in an lneniaic
collection o! taxes By using, with mo-
motive, all moneys coming
,nto his hands 10 meet county eN-
nenscs, the treasurer, in many in
stances, does not proceed with due
diligence with the collecting Of tax
pills, and rhen the time comes for
his settlement with the A4dItor he
finds himself without sur
hrtcnt funds TO make mis- settlement
II required to SETTLE month.
Is. necessity would compel him 10 pro
coed with more diligence and energy
With the collection Of the revenue. ana
many trcasurers would thus be saved
the moTt!tic:tlon and dlscredit OF be-
Ing unable 70 meet their OBLIGATIONS
t. tie Commonwealth when due"
Here was a bill in accord with Mr
ponohoe's puhlic Recommendation, but
tie treasureTs wanted 10 keep the
eia;e's money in their own LANDS. and
20 the Din was Rnlcc
Next came up the bill recurring
county, city and town treasursrs 10
make reports 70 The Auaitor OF Pubic
accounts as to tie nnanola, aan!rs
q their ofces There is no reago4.
why thls should not be done TIE bill!
provided for business msthods in tic
treasurers' onices and was really H.
their interest. The case OF tho chos-
terheid treasurer who. under tAo law
did not have TO make any repcrts. and
who FELL behind IN his accounts many
thousands Of dollars. was cited bat ,ho
bin was Killed. g 70 Is, ana the slip
shod method VIII continue pecsgss n.e
tTeasurers want e be anDusinessllEe.
why'
Buried almost beyond he boPe Of
resurrection IN the senate COMMITTEES
on Finance IS bin passed by The
House reducing the percentage Of com.
mission received hy four county treas
.nreFs from PAP. 20 ? per cent, Oh
collections exceeding $4,000 me
Teasurers OF Rockingham. Aggusto,
NoFfolk and Henrico getl ~ per cent
more than the city treesurers through
q gropndless anomaly ID the !aw. pb,
bin would put all trceslrers OH %
same basis as TO this cgmuission. Mil
9feSe four tFcasurefs who would be
revised downward got togothcr calloa
r.r.r..y...