The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-12
Statement Issued
By the Governor
Continued from page four.)

care of the existing deficit and provide
for the appropriations made for the
next two years, but this did not ma
terfalize, and as a result, the states
fiscal affairs did not materialize. and
as a result the states fiscal affairs
have been permitted to remain in a
very unsatisfactory condition. 1t
might be possible that the state could
manage to get along for a short time
by the Juggling" of funds, which in
my Judgment the state has no legal
right to do. l do not believe the peo-
pie of West Virginia desire the states
business conducted in such a frenzied
manner.
The opinion OF the attorney general
to the effect that the governor has a
right to borrow money for a period OF
eighteen months to meet a casual
deficit in the treasury, a point which
so far as l have ever learned has
never been questioned, indicates that
there has never been a deficit in the
state treasury despite the fact that the
audit of Mr.. E.. A. Dover, chief account
ant OF the state, d~iscloses the TACT that
there was a deficit of $3.50, 900 at the
close of the fiscal year of 1913, and
by holding on the expeditures of APP
preparations for new buildings, this
deficit was reduced on June 80, 1914,
to he sum of $346 900. Mr.. Dover's
audit showing these facts was an Of
fetal record of the legislature. II the
conclusions of the attorney general
are sound, there is nj reason whatso-
ever that the auditor and treasurer
should not be disbursing money out
of the state fund today. The attorney
general, as a member of the board of
public works, certified to the legisla-
ture some few days before the adjourn
ment of the extraordinary session that
it would require additional revenue of
81, 900 900 for the next biennial period
to take are of the demands on the
state treasury. The only act of the
legislature after the statement of the
board of public FORKS that would
change the financial condition of the
state was the act to relieve the state
from the payment of SS6 400 annually
for the maintenance of the compensa-
ton department. Certainly a educ
ton OF $4,000 annually would not
Offset a requirement of 81, 200, 900
annually. II the statement of the board
of public works were true. how can
it be true now after the legislature
has failed to provide the revenue OF
100000 that the states finances are
not seriously affected? That question
necessarily answers itself.
The compilation OF figures given
in the opinion of h attorney general
to disprove any unusual condition OF
the states finances, is in substance
the same as used in an article pub
lished in certain West Virginia news
papers over the name of "A. H. Lande
secretary of the coal operators Legs
latiye committee" and in some of
these newspapers this statement was
made the basis for an anticipation of
the decision OF the attorney general.
The matter published in various
newspapers contained, among other
statements h assertion hat l have
borrowed money on a certain
from the workmen's compensation
fund'and from the general scnooI inc
h same statement was repeated al
most word for word in. the opinion of
the attorney general in regard to Dor
rowing money. The attorney general
as a member of the board of public
works must know that I have al all
times refused to borrow money for the
use of the state. The official records
of the board of public works as given
in the communication from Mr.. Stuart
F. Reed, secretary of the board of
public works, shows the untruth of the
statement that had borrowed money
at any time.
If the same caution has been exer-
cised in assembling the statistical
matter used in h opinion as was
done in making the unfounded state
meht that / had borrowed money
there can be little surprise shown
show the conclusion was reached that
the states finances are quite salts
factory.
If the figures given by the attorney
general are correct and here are
----I- A.
state treasury there is no deficit ex-
listing and certainly l would not be
authorized ( borrow money. Under
this condition those in authority
should not have suspended payment
out of the state treasury.