The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-26
STATE ACCOUNTANTS
WORK IS COMMENDED
AIditing Committee Pays Strong Tes-
tisnonial to His Efficiency the
Past Year.
MAKE KEPoDT TO GOVERNOR
Committee Calls Attention to Section
of Constitution Which Has Been
Pcrsistently Disrcgarded BY As
scmbly.

rlre state Auditing COMMITTEES.
week reviewing The reports of the
state Accountant on the affairs of the
various state offices and institutions.
has submitted its report to the Gov
ernor The committee made their re-
port to the Governor ON the conditions
found in the offices at The seat OF
government. They also examined
much of the work done by the State
Accountant in his audit OF state In
stitutions. The report saws: The
committee calls the attention of those
having charge of the expense funds
of pubic offices and institutions to tn.
Jaw requiring vouchers for all dis
bursements of funds to set up the
items OF the account. SO that the ne
cessity of the expenditure may he In
teiiigently passed upon"
The committee calls attention to
section Is of the Constitution of Wiz
ginia. which reads: The General AS
semb.y of Virginia shall provide for
the mination of the books ac-
counts and settlements OF county and
city onicers who are charged with
The collection and disbursement of
public funds"
The committee states that this law
has been ignored, and recommends the
enactment of laws enlarging the au-
thorlty ana requirements of the State
Accountants office. so as to REQUIRE
this work for counties. The commit
tee further recommends that a perlna-
nent committee or authority be e--
tabilsned whose duty it shall he to
pass upon all bills for Incidental
tfaVeing or personal expenses i'm
Cured by the different departments
OF the State government prior to
their payment. There being no eff
feetive authority 10 control sucn eX-
/ cnditures.
Text of Report
The report says:
The examinations We have Gagged
II be made Of the State afrres ana
Institutions through the Office OF III.
St2's -Accottf Grf shows no ln;Ati,f %
p.'iation of Jhlie funds. 1na l,3,1,-
lie service has been ~&-t35 con-
Quoted. aud IL. most instances X has
heen an efficient service. Statements
covering Qudits Of the various inetitu-
- ns located throughout the STATE
have beer Submitted 70 us by the state
stee,etts t,'sst~ show improve
ments in methods OF accounting. and
that the custom of overdsawlng APP
PROOF atoms. by creating debts an
authorized, has been discontinued
The committee mas called the al
tsn.lon OF those having charge If
t'e expense funds If public c9iees
aad iDStIlpitous TO the jaw re.tuir!,..
vniisheSs lor th4 Gisbur~etn a;s= of aii
iEt'ds @ set up The items ~ The &c
count ~ order 10 pass ipoa n" ne
,s~ity Of the eharge. Ihi law -
frequently violated. especially m tS-
Etnse accounts Contin&eN. funds
are rtrely necessary, ara frequently
lead 10 extraya giant expenditures -
In conclusion The committee strong
Il commends the work OF state Ae-
esfuntan w r. Slayth, Ii says:
The committee feels that simple
justice demand. us word OF COM
mendatton for the manner I'm which
the offices Of State Accountant has
been administered especially whers Il
IS recognized the greatest amount Of
lsb Dor the accountant has been called
ence to the affair pertaining solely t.
vices he has been called upon u
perform for eetrain counties and
cities This leads us TO suggest that
the work of this Office be enlarged by
permission TO employ more assistance
With a sufficient increase in appropria-
ton - meet the growing leInsnds
made upon the office of tbs. STAT Ac-
countant. and in this way make il OF
even greater value to the neople Of
the State"