The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-14

can be reduced. II the governor
had not exercised his constitutional
right and vetoed over. 100000 Of
appropriations made by the regular
session OF the 1915 legislature. and
later called the legislature in second
extraordinary session for the purpose
Of raising additional revenue, and
the state had continued to provide
for all OF Its institutions and depart-
ments together with the new build
ines. repairs and Improvements that
will be made during the next two
wears, a deficit OF more thai $1,000.
600 would exist July i. 1917, instead
OF the surplus tina; will then be on
hand.
"Allowing the year ending June
s0 1916, an expenditure OF $780,.
600 for buildings and lands, repairs
and improvements. and the same az
grepate amount for all other pur.
poses as allowed for each OF the years
1916 and 1917, the 1917 levy should
not exceed six cents. Personally ]
do not believe that the state should
depend upon direct levy for reye-
nue.. This method should be left to
the local taxing bodies, the state ex-
ercising the power to lay direct levy
to meet emergencies. The present
increase in the state levy is to meet
a temporary emergency and within
the next two years, with the aid OF
the new revenue provided by the
second extraordinary session, the
present deficit having been met. the
state levy can be reduced, as stated
before.
approximately three and one-half
cents OF the state direct levy laid
each year is not for state purposes,
but is for local school purposes. The
state annually pays out OF Its gen
eral revenue" approximately $780,
600 towards the support OF the local
schools. Without this state aid to the
local schools the local district school
leyies would be increased to three
and one-half cents and the state levy
for the present year would be ten and
one-half cents, instead OF fourteen
cents; for the year 1916, less than
ten cents; and for the year 1917. not
to exceed two and one-half cents.
THE expenditures for the years
ending June 80, 1916, and June 80,
1917, are extraordinary, being great
er than the ordinary expenditures,
for the reason that buildings and re-
pairs that should have been complet-
ed during the preceding two years
were not commenced on account OF
lack OF funds. Said buildings and
improvements are now being made
and the cost is included in the esti-
mate of expenditures for the years
ending June 30, 1916, and 1917. To
meet the extraordinary expenditures
and the deficit which had accumu-
lated, requires an unusual amount Of
revenue.
1.-THE deficit in the general reve-
nue. OF the state fund originated dur
ing the year 1912 when one-cent
state levy was laid ana the industrial
trouble in the Kanawha valley oc-
Cured. which cost the state over
$500, 900 for the maintenance OF law
and order. Sufficient revenue was
not afterwards provided to meet the
growing needs OF the state. together
with the expenditures for mainte-
nance OF law and order and the loss
OF revenue from liquor licenses.
"As stated in the preceding pages
OF this report, the state had an ac-
tual deficit July 1, 1914, Of $346,000.
This deficit existed before the loss Of
revenue from liquor licenses. hence
our present needs can be attributed
only partly to the loss Of liquor IL
censes."
On On page % is an interesting
percentage classification Of the total
amount disbursed by the state for
all purposes Except investment IL
the school fund, disbursements from
the workmen's compensation fund
and disbursements Of taxes collected
for counties, districts and municipal
ities) during the year ending June
80, 1915, was 2,72s,702.93 from
general. revenue and s1.012, 469.5S
from special revenue, totaling So
741,252.51. Briefly stated, this
amount was expended from appropri-
atoms for the following purposes: