Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-09-13
BIG SHORTAGES
Tax Commissioners Accountants Find
Huge Losses--Two Cent Fare
Up Again.


ing:
Shortage in excess OF 100000 are
Appropriated from reports OF the
findings Of the Tax Commissioners
Department. after the accounts Of
about one-half the ex-county oaiea s
OF the state for a period covering
about five years have been audited by
experts under the direction Of r. A.
Dover.
The assertion is maze semfoiilcial
ly that If all the shortage in the state
were to be made good, the taxation
for state purposes could easily be
cut fin two, and that If all the ex.of
iicials found short we're TO pay the
differences existing the state would
be in position to pay greater por
ton Of the Virginia debt
Bookkeeping systems employed in
many of the important county offices
have been found in many Instances to
be so palpably inadequate that II has
been possible for officials to convert
to their own use sums OF incredible
extent without being caught. In many
places the records have been destroy
ed and the approximate shortage can
be learned only by comparison with
what the proceeds OF these Offices
have been since a uniform system OF
accounting has been installed in the
various Offices Of the many counties
Of the state. The conduct Of the
business of many municipalities has
been amout as much OFF color as that
of the counties also, according to the
official findings of the tax commits
sioners department.
When the time comes for final ae
ton on the part of the Norfolk and
Western railway to combat the com
pulsory introduction of the two-eent
fare in West Virginia the basis of the
company's defense viii be that the
road cannot make profit by granting
a two-cent mile. The Attorney Gen
erals department has prepared to op
pose the arguments along that line,
and an interesting legal battle may
be expected when the case comes UP
for decision at the October term OF
The United States Supreme Court, to
which the company appealed after I
getting an adverse decision in the |
Circuit Court of Kanawha county and I
after being refused an appeal by the
Supreme Court of the state. The
Norfolk and Western has continued |
TO charge three cents mile, and the
courts have decided. especially in the
and Ohio railway case
hat the rate of two cents as fixed by I
he legislature is the rate that should
govern.
Although its exposition site has
1een selected and plans completed |
or a splendid showing for the State
If West Virginia at the Panama.Pa
,Ifc Exposition in San Francisco in
9l5, there is chance of this state
laving no ofliciar representation
has been done since Cover
Tor GlassCock sent commission to
frisco to select a site and make the
necessary preliminary announcement
or the states part at the exposition
'he commission made the trip at its
Iwn expense with the UNDERSTANDING
hat the legislature would probably
emunerate it's members and make
for liberal expenditures for
Vest Virginia, for the big lnterna
ional show.
Little Encouragement Now
Those most enthusiastic in the prop
sition to have West Virginia exhibit
me worth while. have been given but
title encouragement of late weeks.
nd are becoming less interested in
he project for they cannot see how
hey can well afford to devote their
me and money when there is no di.
ect promise OF the fulfllment Of
heir plans.
Members of the commission appoint
ID when Glasscock was governor,
ave placed their proposition before
PRESIDENT James A. Lakn. of the
Board OF Control but he has shown
title inclination to permit any ex
,endituros He does not see wherein
he state would benefit to any consid
'rable extent. even If It had d credi
able exposition of its resources, and
nless there is a change in his attl
ude West Virginia viii not be on thu
nap when one is made showing the