The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-21
BIG DEFICIT
(Conttnued from First Page.)

Qurlng that before any state OltlCtE
can attend the meetings OF such OF.
ganization, al state expense. approVa!
therefor must be secured from some
officer or board designated BY law.
Fourth. It is recommended that a
law be enacted cancelling all unex-
pended appropriations except for build
lngs and lands, at the end t the year,
for which made, a siXty-day extension
being given, however, for the payment
of former years bills. This Will SIM
plify the handling Of accounts and de-
ternining the future needs for appro-
priationS.
Under the present law appropria-
tons are in effect for three years after
the passage Of the appropriation act
therefore, to determine accurately the
States liability, an inquiry must al.
ways DO made to determine II
the purpose of the appropriation has
been carried Out before the approprl-
alton can be eliminated as liability.
Fifth. II is recommended that a
law be enacted providing for reason,
able and definite compensation Tor al
attaches of the Legislature and ABOLISH.
ing all allowances for extensions Oh
! time.
Custodian Of Bills.
The Secretary OF State. by law, ~
the custodian Of all enrolled ollla'
therefore the work OF the LEGISLATURE
after it's adjournment, can De com,
pleted under the supervision OF tne
Secretary of State, appropriation pc
inp made sufficient TO cover the neces-
saTy expense. This would result IN
IA financial saving-thc work oelns
handled BY one of the established de'
M rtmentS of government.
"Sixth. II is recommended that d
law be enacted requiring all expense
accounts to be tented in detail. IN
d,rpIicate, and verified by affidavit or
The claimant; one Of the duplicate &C
counts TO be filed in the office issuing
the reuuisition upon the auditor, anu
The other 10 be attached TO the requlSl-
ton. delivered to the auditor ana by
him filed In his Office.
Seventh. The payment OF annual
or other dues TO voluntary assocla-
lions by public officers out or puollc
funds Is disapproved; and 1t IS RECON-
mended that law be enacted nlaklns
it unlawful for public officers TO pay
annual or other dues to voluntary VI
CARNATIONS out Of public tunds.
,isIon of Everett 4. Dover, chlsi aC-
,countant for the state tax conlinlsSiohIi
who was assisted in making the au1il ~
iii. C.. Underwood. II: I. Paxton W. -
Whiteman and &. y. Wood. ,,.,o
After giving the receipts and dlsbuIse-
p,euts for the wear ending June ~. l"ib'
and the estimated receipts ana us
bursemen,s UP to June 49, lsl'' the re-
port says ,. ~ IN, state
direct levy laid each year is not Tor state
PURPOSES, but is for local School purf
poses; The state amnGa'ly snmp 2SS Hui
her general reNen ,Te s,, IpprtN Of local
schools, Without this state aid 10 the
local schools the local district schooi
levics would he increased ga cents aL,I
the state levy for the year lSI0 c %Ttu
for the year 1916, 81. cents instead OF
cents, and estimated for the year l9ll,
not To exceed or cents 10 cover c"S'
OF permanent improvements.
Penitentiary Net Earnings:
Attention is called to the fact that the
state penitcntiary Is sclt-supportins-
no part Of the states general Ie'enuJ
being contributed To its support. any
that in June. 1916. the penitentlary pald
ont OF its earnings into the state s. gen.
eral revenue sl0O.000.00, S36.U00.0o OIL
this amount accumulated during the Ias5
year after paying current EXPENSES az
$lg,ONO for repairs and improvements,
the balance Of the $lOU,0VU Accumulated
during preceding years.
Deficit to Surplus.
1t will be observed from the foregoing
tables and explanations that the state
reduced the general revenue deficit dur
ing th,. wear S52+ 1868 3l--the deficit be-
ing reduced from s7d6.l5l.oS July /.
1915 to S2+l.7S7>77 July |, l'l6' ana ahaS
during the present year the balance OF
the deficit will he Cancelled. all lsmpor-
airy loans repaid. and he state VIII hays hay.
a general revenue SYTplrsMIthheo h de LHad
to a surplus of S56,1G2.23 July !, 1917.
/, Rey1ew Of tho States Finances.
An act OF the 1913 legislature har-
monizcd tho states fiscal and appro,
priation year with the revenue year ana
made provision for auditing the states
finances. Information was thus dis
closed and presented II the l9l5 lcElSla-
ture showing that the state had accumu-
lated Il deficit in her general revenues
which amounted July |. l9l3 TO SANo'-
OnU CO. this deficit originating during Inc
year 1912 when 4 l-ccnt state levy was
laid and when the Industrial trouble III
the kanawhl YalIry occurred. which cost
the state over $500. 900. The 1-ccnt state
levy WAS not sufficient 10 cover the
stnte's ordinary expenditures without
including the extraordinary expenditure
Of maintaining law and order.
The state suffered = still further loss
during the year ending June So. l3la'
in revenue from liquor license or over
S600.00U.0o. The result was that the
state finished the year June 30, 1915.
with Il deficit IF S76G0n0. which deficit
would have been further Increased had
not extraordinary appropriations maze
by the 1913 legislature for buildings and
lands been suspended for want OF revc-
rue until thu summer of 1915.
The state. beginning with the year
1905, has contributed annually out of
her general revenues 100000 towards
the support Of lutal schools. nr zig
cents "f the state levy is for local school
purposes.
II was. therefore. necessary for the
1915 legislature to provide for the $685.
OrN. 90 deficit, the annual loss of $780,
10000 from liquor license. Ia meet the
annual state aid 10 local schools amount
ing to $500 10000. and to meet the old
appropriations for new buildings and
lands
This condition was met and rcmcdicd
by an act of the second extraordinary
session Of the 1915 legislature. which
act provided the necessary revenue. and
today places the state on a sound ilnan-
ciai basis.
Expenditures for permanent improve
mrnts and buildings and lands during
tho last two years equal expenditures
seven years The levy for the present
year Is cents. bcins; less than levy
prior to thc passage of this act. At The
"n,l Of the present year the state will
have 4 surplus and will. without any
state levy, have sufficient funds for
ruuninc me government and maintain
ing Mi her institutions. 1t will be nee
cSsary 10 levy 4 state tax only To cover
state aid 20 local schools. AMI 10 cover
he cost of permanent improvements TO
the state institutions and buildings. y
scent or Scent levy is sufficient to
cover ordinary permanent Improve
mrntS ami state aid To local schools.
Expeuditures for Permanent Improve
ments.
Expenditures for buildings and land
and permanent improvements during
he last twu years nrc cXtrHordinary,
due To- tho rrnwtl"Il condition OF our
state institutions and growing demands
Of ;hc state and for the reason that
buildings and repairs that should have
been completed during former years
nf cot1