Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-11-11
SEEKS FEE FOR
OMIT TED TAXES
Examiner Of Records Gets
Only Part From Ryan's
Taxes
FUND IS EXHAUSTED
Situation Calls for Extended Con-
ference Between Governor, Attor-
ney General and Auditor.

Richmond, November 11-Follow-
ing n visit of r. Fl. Drummond, Elk
aminer of Records for the twenty
ninth Circuit. accompanied by his
counsel, John l.. Lee, of Lynchourg,
to the Capitol yesterday, a conteren-
&c was held by Governor Stuart
State Auditor C. Lee Moore and At
torney-General John Garland Pol
lard in the Office Of the Governor
While no report Of the conference
was vouchsafcd, it is understood that
the meeting of these State officers
was precipitated by request from Mr..
Drummond for settlement OF the
commissions due him on omitted
taxes of Thomas Fortune Ryan, dis
closed when he probed the Ryan eS-
tate. The commissions amount TO
about $4,000. The request for set
Element was made of Auditor Moore,
who is the disburser of the approprla-
tion made by the General Assembly
two years ago for the payment OF
claims of this character to Commits.
sioners OF Revenue and Examiners OF
the Records. This appropriation
makes it apparent that when the fund
for this purpose was appropriated
the Legislature did not foresee such
Z claims. as the examiners in the Rich
mond, Nelson County and Williams
burg Districts have piled up by dlli--
gencc, viliancc and perseverance,,
For when Examiner Drummond
called to collect his mite of twenty
odd thousand dollars, State Auditor
Moore ghastly smiled. Only 81 900 of
Of the appropriation remained to be
dsbursed And examiners and COM
missionerS in all parts Of the State
are holding out hands with palms
turned upward.
The Auditor told his troubles to the
Governor, assuring Mr.. Drummond
and Mr.. Lee that everything was all
right. but that he would have to sec
them about that little bill subsequent
ly.
The Governor called in the Attorney
General. They discussed the sltua-
ton in conference at some length
Exactly what arrangement was MADE
with the examiner who turned up Mr.
Ryan's omitted taxes and thereby
earned small fortune for himself
out of that one estate everybody con-
cerned asked to be excused from elu-
cidatinp. circumstances. however, in
dicated that before the close OF the
day Mr.. Drummond received Il part
of the money due him from the IN
sufficient appropriation.
It is known that Examiner Sands,
of Richmond. whose commissions on
omitted taxes disclosed by him amount
to considerably more than the Drum
mond claim, has received only part
of the money due him, while the eX-
aminer at Williamsburg is yet to be
paid in full. The fund being exhaust
ed. these examiners and many Com
missioners of the Revenue Will nave
10 wait for their commissions on omit
ted taxes until an appropriation is
made by the next General Assembly
Many of the examiners wall ADD
substantially to their earnings IN the
fifty DAYS remaining before the new
law, which puts a S2,50O limit on
their cmoluments. becomes effective
The chances heretofore afforded a
hard working, Industrious Examiner
cf Records TO make of himself MIL
licnaire will be swept away by the
relentless law which goes into eftec'
in January. Encouraged by the opm'
ion given this week by the Attorney
General on the legal right of taxing
officers to compel disclosures of bant
deposits. the Examiners of Record:
will make hay while the sun shines
was announced at the office o.
the State Auditor yesterday that tn,
payments of commissions to exsmin
ers alone for the period between Oc
tober l. 1914, and September l, 1915
amounted to S55,047,7e. Of this tota
y however, examiners had mado re