The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-04-13

The epistoIsry interchange he
tween Auditor Darst and Att,rra,
General Liny appears 20 be a mutu-
ally interesting correspondence. II
nothing else. But Il Is not getting
anywhere or anything so far as The
htellisencer can see. Its main object.
however,. seems TO be an effort 10 force
the Governor to borrow money that
may relieve some Insistent ONCE hold
ers. and 10 encourage the critics OF
the Governor In holding him respon-
sible for the present condition of the
States finances. The statement of
the Auditor does not show the present
revenues or the present expenses OF
che state. but II does show an sceu.
ruIation OF funds for which the state
fs trustee. which. he points out. may
De borrowed to relieve the present
contingency. The Attorney General.
In his opinion. says the Governor has
the power 10 borrow from these spe.
cial funds in case OF an extraordinary
deficit in the States revenues. out.
aide of the proprieties of doing so at
any time the Governor maintains that
the deficit is not an extraordinary one.
but one that has existed for some
time. and any temporary relief extend
ed now will not help matters.
The Auditors report does show that
sSoO.OOO OF appropriations made by
the legislature of 1918 have not
been expended. for the simple reason
there was no revenue to meet them.
These appropriations were not ex-
travagantly made. hut were extended
TO the educational institutions of the
State. the Normal schools and the
University and other institutions of
public welfare. The Legislature o.
1915 knew of this. and the Withdrawal
OF the liquor licenses. amounting TO
100000. and OF the requirements of
extra sources OF revenue TO meet the
obligations OF the State. II has 10.
fused TO provide these revenues. so
IL makes the present financial difficult
~ continuous deficit. and not an ex-
traordinary one within the purview
OF the constitution. Had the with
drawsl Of The liquor licenses. emount.
Ing TO s1O000D. occurred after A leg.
islature had met and provided for the
regular appropriations. then there
would have arisen an extraordinary
deficit. which might have justified the
Governor In exercising the power dele.
GATED TO him by the constitution. I'm
borrowing money TO tide over the TEN.
porary necessities OF the government.
but such Is not the character of the
present difficulty. The deficit has
been Incurred through the failure OF
the legislature to provide the proper
revenues Suppose the Governor did
bOrrow from the special funds now in
The hands Of the state as trustee.
how would these funds be repaid? Dy
prospective revenues not yet collect.
ed? oh. no. for there are no pros.
pective revenues
II is quite plain that the Governor
Is justified In the position he has
taken in refusing to borrow from the
special funds to tide over what IL not
temporary embarrassment Of the
state Treasury 20 meet the expenses
OF the government. but which IL really
continuous deficit which he cannot
legally relieve in the manner suggest.
ed BY the tenor OF the correspondence
which has been going on between the
Auditor and the Attorney General
end which seems 10 have been pre-.
psred especially Tor the press Tor the
purpose Of forming sentiment pre-.
judicial 10 Governor Hatfield. A. iess,
that h. the strong inference 10 be
drawn from tho illusions OF the episto.
lsrians already printed