Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-05-13

comfortable and working balances IN
the appropria tons made for the years
1918 and 1914. in which cases the APP
preparations made for 1915 remain
wholly untouched The year 1915 vii
end June Both next, at which time the
new appropriations will become avail.
able. In this classification the sum will
remain unexpended and at the end Of
the fiscal year will closely approach
500. 900
As it had been made to appear that
the large sum of unexpended appro-
priations would have been devoted to
buildings, improvements and better
ments of the State institutions, it il
worth while noting that of the more
than million dollars of s,unexpended
appropriations" as appears by the
state records, only $471, SAT Ia was for
buildings and improvements. 1t may
be assumed that, whereas the legisla-
lature appropriated, in ali instances,
literally, depending upon the Board of
Control to contract judiciousIy and ex-
pended carefully. much of the. appro-
priations would have been saved leav-
ing the total amount actually in de-
mand for buildings and grounds. much
smaller sum than the figure shown.
The rule of West Virginia lsgisla-
lures has been to appropriate literally
even lavishly-for the maintenance
of the State Departments and InstitL-
tions. This.is shown in the fact that
there are usually. If not always, large
amounts left unexpended at the ex-
piration of fiscal terms. More money
than could be spent--as arule-by more
or less extravagant spenders. The
state institutions cost, far and away,
more in 1914 than in any previous year.
Not the slightest tendency toward par
simony was exhibited And even more
than was spent was appropriated.
Recently. elaborst. opinions were
written by Judge Mason, Hon. Fred o.
Blue and Hon. John Holt, upholding
the position of the governor in his re-
fusal to borrow money to tide The
treasury out of its present embarrass-
ment. These gentlemen treated these
"unexpended appropriations as liza
bil;ties against the treasury and pre-.
dicted their presumption of deficitsin
the treasury upon the statement 81
Mr.. Dover, which treated The .'unex-
pended appropriations" as items re
curing real money to discharge
As appears from the records of the
State about the only items at all en-
titled to be SO considered are those re-
lating to Buildings ard improvements
at the State Institutions. The to- al OF
these items amounts to $47l .647.14
What Is the status of these aupro.
priations now They were made ut
the 1913 session Of the legi,Iatu and,
as il reported to have been stated sub
8 quently, by the chairman of the
House Finance Committee to the Board
of Public Works, they were made upe n
the presumption aid with the under
standing that the Board would lay the
state levy at ten cents. When the
Board &C e1, instead Of laying the levy
at ten cents it was nude SIX cents, the
Board pref. ring, on its own motion,
to keep he levy down and su pend the
expendi. ures for buildings. grounds and
improvements. Had the 1914 levy been
ten cents ms cad of six cents the diff
ference would have practically covered
the amount of the appropriations for
buildings and grounds and improve
ments"
The fact that the appropriations
made It the proceeding session OF the
legislature for buildings and grounds
had not been drawn upon, was a mat
ter of knowledge to the members of
the 1915 session. When they acted
upon appropriations the amounts for
buildings and improvements were re-
appropriated. In considering the ap-
preparations the governor vetoed items
for that purpose amounting to $4S1, O09.
The legislature did not reinstate these
items in the bill.
It is therefore matter or very SER
lous question whether the 1913 items
appropriating money for buildings,
grounds and improvements may be
furthered considered even in the light
Of appropriations, much less liabilities.
Certainly not as deficits.
The opinions of the eminent lawyers
called to the aid of the governor hav-
ing been tased upon the presumption
put forward by Mr.. Dover, that the
''unexpended appropriations repre-
sented real actual debts against the
state instead, as is shown of overlap
appropriations for objects.
that are extinct and appropriations
made long in advance of any possible
need Of them, the question as to wheth-
or there has been occasion for mora
toriumif not already decided negative
", is at least entitled to a public re-
hearing.
The final statement on the subject
ian be borne out beyond dispute: The
legislature of 1915 provided sufficient
revenue to take care of all the sppro-
oriations made by it: cover for all the
appropriations made for buildings and
improvements by -,the legislature Of
1913 and emerge out of the fiscal term
# 1915 and 1917 with a comfortable
balance in the treasury.
The Knockers Creed.
! believe that nothing Is right. Ibe-
ieve every thing.is wrong. I believe