The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-14
WEST VIRGINIA .
REPUBLICANS
CONTINUED from page g.


nue. received from the liquor traffic,
and following extraordinary expenses
requiring the maintenance for a con.
siderable time, Of the State militia in
active field operations, an increase in
the direct State tax became necessary
In 1915. We congratulate the citizens
OF West Virginia on the fact that a
large part of that increase was only
temporary, and that 1t has already
been done away with, and we pledge
the Republican members of the State
legislature to continue the efforts to
reduce the direct State tax TO the min.
mum. The Republican policy looks
to the principal maintenance OF this
State by indirect taxation, and pied.
ges the Republican administration to
an earnest effort to reduce the direct
State tax to the lowest point consist.
ent with the maintenance of our
schools and humane institutions on a
sound basis. and with the performance
OF the ordinary State functions In an
efficient and economical manner.
States Finances and Progressive Leg.
islation Relating Thereto
We call attention to Legislation OF
the present Republican administration
which has put the state on sound
financial basis and guarantees con.
tinuation of business administration.
Also to the Public Accounting and
tho Budget Law, which insures, for
the first time in the history OF the
state. full, complete and public nc.
counting for every dollar of the PEG.
pies money spent by the state govern.
ment. For the first time in the his.
tory OF the state, 1t Is possible for
every citizen, through published doc.
uments, to know exactly how the peo.
pies money has been spent, and
through the General Audit. annually
made and published, the party rem.
ders TO the humblest citizen an &c.
count OF its stewardship.
Review Of the States Finances
The 1913 legislature harmonized the
states fiscal and appropriation year
with the revenue year and made pro.
vision for auditing the states finances.
Information was thus disclosed and
presented to the 1915 legislature show.
ing that the state has accumulated i
deficit In her general revenue which
amounted July /, 1918. to $3.50, zoo. 90
this deficit originating during the year
1912 when 1.cent state levy was laid
and when the Industrial trouble In the
kanawha Valley occurred which cost
the state over $300000.00. The l.cent
state levy was not sufficient to cover
the states ordinary expenditures with.
out including the extraordinary ex.
penditure OF maintaining law and or.
der.
The state, beginning with the year
1905, has contributed annually out OF
her general revenue S4O0,O00.00 to.
wards the support of the local schools
or 3k cents OF the state levy Is for
local school purposes.
1t was therefore necessary for the
1915 legislature to provide for tho
$3.50, 100000 deficit, the annual loss Of
S6O0.O00.00 from liquor license. to meet
the annual state aid to local schools
amounting to s400,000.00, and to meet
the old appropriations for new build
tngs and lands, MS we'll as the current
appropriations for buildings and lands.
The 1915 accent state levy was used
as follows:
Amount applied to reducing the
deficit which accumulated
prior to July l, 1916. ...,45 cts.
Amount refunded td local
schools as state aid .....3.6 cts.
Amount expended for buildings
and lands, repairs and i'm
proVements ................5.G cts.
Amount expended for general
state expenses ............. 8 cts.
Iotai :.:..'''''..... .14.0 cts.
The 1916 s.cent state levy will be
used as follows:
Amount applied to the remain
der Of 1915 deficit (this can.
cells the deficit which had been
accumulated for years prior
to July, 1850 ......21 cts
Amount refunded to local
schools as state aid. .,3.2 cts.
Amount expended for buildings
and lands. repairs and i'm.
provements an ct.
Amount applied to creating
surplus 3 cts.
..'''''. ''.'..,......9,0 cts.
expenditures for buildings and lands
and permanent improvements during
the last two years are extraordinary,
due to the crowded condition OF orr
state institutions and the necessity OF
expansion to take care of the growing
demands. The last two years expendi.
lures for said purposes equal the pre-.
ceding seven years.
Financial Information Centralized and
Published In One Report
The act OF 1916 legislature requiring
all state officers, commissions and
boards not having an Office at the CAPT.
tol to transact their business through
the State Board OF Control further sys.
temizes the handling of the states
finances.
System Of Accounting
The budget law OF the 1915 lesisla.
ture requiring the Chief Inspector 10
prescribe system OF accounting for
handling the states finances, together
with the act OF the 1913 legislature
changing the states fiscal year so as
to harmonic the revenue and appro.
priation years. have accomplished
much towards placing the state on a
sound financial and business basis.
Unexpected Appropriation CANCELLED
Annually
We favor the enactment of A law
that Will cancel all unexpected appro.