The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-11
EXAMINERS MUST WAIT
FOR THEIR COMMISSION
Funds In State Treasury Which May
He Used For This Purpose Has
All Been Discussed
LARGE AMOUNTS NOW DUE
But Legislature Must Act Before Any
More Can Be Paid-More Than Sa0,-
900 Now Due Two Examiners For
Their Work.

is a busy body. and its mempers' 1oF-
ernor Stuart, Auditor OF Puplc A.
counts Moore and Judge fren'is' oi
the State Corporation Commission are
busv men and though the board ana
its members--by reason OF the many
matters presented through the activl-
ties OF commissioners OF the revenue
local boards of review and examiners
OF records-have made the Attorney
General a buster man. there seems ye1
consid era BILE heavy work ahead ior the
board. It's members and the Attorney
r;rneral. And possibly for the exam
liners Of records. the commissioners oi
revenue and tho local boards OF re-
view.
The STATE Tax Advisory Board had
a meeting At the once of the Governor
on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday even
Ing the opinion OF the Attorney-1en-
eral was made public, holding tnat
tho banks, national and State, IN the
Commonwealth must disclose TO state
,ax ofylcials their lists OF depositors and
Of deposits carried by them under the
heads Of time and Interest de-
positA
The state Tax Advisory Board had
n conference at the ONCE of the Gov
srnor yesterday afternoon. Secretary
williams, Of the board. was not In
attendance and the Governor. auditor
ana state SOIpoIakiOH
discussed Informally several matters
touching on the tax situation.
Later yesterday afternoon r. Fl.
prummond, examiner OF records for
the Twenty Circuit accompa MED
by Attorney Jack" Lee, OF Lynchburg,
called at the ONCE of the auditor and
OF the Attorney General. Consider
able time was spent by Mr.. Lee ana
Mr.. Drummond In the Office OF Mr..
for
a short time was In conference with
them. 1t is understood that Messrs>
Drummond and Lee were here In con-
nection with the collection on
OF comm issions due from the
State to Mr.. Drummond. who as
examiner OF records, uncovered a la &c
amount OF omitted taxes due from the
estate OF Thomas +. Ryan, the Nelson
County money king.
Vouchers Not Drawn.
1t Ia understood also that the books
Of the state Treasurer were closed
TO- the day ard that voucher or war
rant for the amount nf commissions
due Mr.. Drummond, something IKE
$4,000 or $4,000. 1t is said. o'ufd
not be drawn. 1t is understood
further that, while the Attorney
General has ruled for Auditor Moore
that the examiners of record are en-
tilted to commissions on all omitted
taxable property added 70 the tax
lists as result Of the examiner
work. there Is 10 fund In the treasury
for the payment of these commissions
The appropriation made by the last
regular session OF the General AS
sea.b,y for the payment OF these ices
or commissions In 1915 has been en-
hausted. one hundred and seventeen
thousand dollars was the apPropria-
ton for TIM wear
II seems likely that Mr.. nrummond
ard some ~ the others OF the exam
iners 81 records who have not already
gotten theirs will have to wait IN
t.. after the next Legislature outs
something IN the state treasury for
thiS purpose,
While the tax situation. in a general
way may .ase Aeea zan}e0hai clari-
,tet il is said ny the special session
Of the Legislature held early in TINS
wear, the addition of an amendment
- the West fee bill, postponing its
going into operation unta January i,
1916 led to complications win state
officials. the advisory board and others
aow face.
Fec Law Effective January 1.
The West Fee bill limits the fees
of examiners to not In excess OF w.
hu0. As there We're 10 be found TAT
pickfngs in commission on omissions
turned up by di.igent Application 20
Investigations and EXAMINATIONS TINS
YEAR, and. as after January ] next the
pickings would be limited To s2.AVa,
the examiners in various sections dlii-
gently applied themselves To their
tasks Severa. of the examiners now
have fees due them because OF dis
covered omissions. which are far IN
excess of what they can possibly be
after the fee bill becomes effective the
first of the year. When the amend
ment deferrlng tho TIME at which the
West bill should become effective was
adopted, the Legislature did not fore
see that the examiners were bound TO
take advantage >of their opportunity,
and that the $117. o00 provided by the
former session for payment OF fees
In 1915 would be- exhausted before
the end OF the year. The present
situation, no money in hand for the
payment OF commission. to which the
Acknowledgement has informed the
Auditor OF Public Accounts that the
examiners are entitled. is due largely
70 this lack OF foresight. No State
official has the authority to pay these
commissions, or to make appropria-
tons for this purpose. and 1t will be
up to the next Legislature to make
good.
Some Rich Finds.
Inc Harvest les oI t1G Ices
on omitted taxes are the examiners
In the richest districts. One OF these
" Mr.. Drummond. who had some ten
years of records to go over in the case
vf T. r. Ryan in Nelson County. MIR.
Drummond turned up a sufficient,
amount Of back taxes due the State
TO bring the commissions coming to
MIN up to more than $4,000. An.
other OF the examiners in the fat"
land is Major William II. Sands. o.!
this city. To Major Sands, 1t Is said,
are due commissions amounting to
$22,052. Other examiners have COM
ing to them--whcre commissions were
not paid before the $4,000 was cx-
hnusted--.arCe Sums. some as large
- $4,000 others above, others be-
low $4,000. In numerous cases are
the amounts of the commission vastly
In excess OF the 5000 bond required
BY the State of the examiners.
Get Commissions On Filing of Report
The law allows the examiners to be
paid their commissioners after their
reports have been filed with the audi
tor, and before the omitted taxes ..r--
covered have been received by the
State. In the case of the Ryan omis-
sions payment has not yet been made