The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-07
Deficit
In the State Tuesday viii
Have to Be Looked after by
the Coming Legislature.

CHARLESTON, Dec. 1.-THE
people Of the state will soon know, or
have the opportunity to know. the
exact condition Of the states finan-
lces; the sources from which the rev
enue came and the purposes for
which every dollar OF II was expended.
during the fiscal year ending June
80 last"
This was the statement made by
Fred o. Blue, state tax Commissioners,
to representatives of the press. Con-
tinuing, he said:
Under the provisions of Chapter
80, acts 1908, e. A. Dover, chief ac-
countant Of the state tax commission
er's Office, and the assistants assigned
for such work, have been engaged
for months In an examination and
audit Of the different departments Of
the state. The work is very large.
and necessarily requires much time.
1t has not been completed for the four
years period intended to be covered.
The work itself requires an examina-
ton OF every department, of every
claim and of every voucher as we'll
las the checking up and determining
whether the amounts paid into the
state treasury from different sources
ARE the correct amounts. Mr.. Dover
has, however, sufficiently completed
his work for the last fiscal year to
show In detail the income Of the state
from all sources, and the expenditures
of the state for all purposes. His re-
port embracing this part Of the work
will make something like three hun
dred pages of typewriting, and will
show in detail all the expenditures. to
whom and for what purpose, SO that
the taxpayers can know where every
dollar has gone and the purpose for
which 1t has been spent.
The examination and audit will
give to the people the exact financial
condition of the state as of June 80
last. It will disclose that there was
deficit in the state fund of approxi-
mately $3.50, 900, at the close of BUSH
ness, for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1914.
The audit further discloses that
unless the legislature proviu.s addi-
tional revenue available during the
present fiscal year, there will be a
deficit In the state fund at the end of
the present fiscal year. June 80, 1916,
of approximately $625,00O. There
will be such deficit, even when the
expenditures are limited to payments
Of the states ordinary running ex-
penses and to payments on buildings
and improvements already under
construction.
The audit further dfscloses that IL
the present administration had at
tempted to expend the appropriations
as made by the last legislature for
the running OF the state government
and for new buildings and improve
ments there would be deficit of ST.
500, 900 at the end of the present ifs
cal year. June 80, 1915. This will
answer any criticism of Governor
Hatfield's administration in the poll
cy of retrenchment along different
lines. Such policy of retrenchment
makes the deficit 100000 less, in
round numbers, than 1t otherwise
would be on the thirtieth of June
next.
The result of the audit should i'm
press upon and bring to the minds of
the members of the Legislature and
as we'll, at least two things:
first, economy and retrenchment in.
expenditures, wherever retrenchment
can be had without impairing the eff
ficiency of the public service; and,
second, the means and methods of
raising the required revenue. The
situation as disclosed by the audit
should be carefully and candidly dis
cussed and considered by the peo-
pie of the state, and particularly by
the members of the legislature before
the legislature convenes. SO that the
members may ascertain and know the
sentiment of their constituents and
formulate in their own minds plans
for the meeting Of the conditions dis
closed the audit.
The state has been. and is. con-
Quoting its business on less revenue
than other states Of equal resources:
and the further fact is that this is
the first time such examination anil
audit of the state has been made.
While not certain, yet 1t is my impress
sion that this is the first state to be
subjected to strict and thorough ex-
animation and audit, in detail, Of its
financial affairs and standing.
Mr.. Dover's audit will be completed
about the middle of this month, and
upon completion will be filed.
Fifty thousand knives are turned