Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-22
QUESTIONS APPROPRIATION
. FOR BUREAU OF MARKETS
Auditor Wants to Know Whether
Salaries Are to BE Paid From
Department Funds.
ATToRNEY-GENERAL TO DECIDE
Agriculture Office Of State Now Has
Income From Fertilizer Tax
Amounting to S7S,823.05 Per Year
in Addition to Appropriations.

. -
Calling into question the availability
of the appropriation provided for IN the
statute creating the Division OF Mar
kets. Auditor c. Lee Moore yesterday
requested Attorncy-Gcneral John Car
land Pollard to advise him whether the
Legislature intended that the appro-
priation OF $1,000 "a year should be paid
out of money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated. should be taken
| exclusively from funds paid into tho
| treasury by the State Department OF
Agriculture.
Upon the decision OF the Attorney
General hangs the very life OF tho di-
vision. The Department OF Agr!cul-
ture has no income other than that de-
rived from TAX on fertilizer tonnage
and there will be no surplus this YEA
from money secured from this source.
If the Attorney General holds that war
rants drawn upon the Auditor, payable
on, OF the general fund, are not an.
thorized under the act then the divi-
, sion OF markets will receive "a death
oiow. so far az the next two years are
concerned.
The Auditor calls attention 10 Tho
fact that the title OF tho statute doe,
not embrace any reference TO an appro.
priation. a srievous defect II Il was
intended by the Legislature that tho
money provided for in paragraph :
should be paid out of the rener,l
fund and not the special fund TO tho
credit or The Department OF Agricul-
lure. Nor is the appropriation EN-.
oraced III the general appropriation act
HEiiENE LEGISLATURE INTENDED
TO TAKE CARE or BUREAu
The Attorney-Gieneral is expected to
nahd down his decision to-day Do
partment officials yesterday expressed
little fear that his opinion would h.,
adverse II is plain. they say. tb,,
."c legislature meant that support
Tor the ncwly-created division shoul,
come from the general fund no CO.,,
mat IL was left out OF the general
APPROPRIATION act. they hold. is due IN
'hc confusion OF the last few how,
OF the Legislature. when confercns
were aiinos, hoDelessly AT sea ms to
appropriations
Priauon in the act is contained :,
parasraph .. which reads as follows.
FOR the purpose OF CARRYING. ont mo
p'"' 'Sioi'S or this act. the sum OF 81 mn
~ hercnN appropriated for tho fiscal
H;,e,ar chdinr February 2S. 1917. and I'm
-, III: nh"r Tor each fiscal year there
"l'er. 'herc Is appropriated the SIM,
Oh So'opo Tho expense inciden, :,
carrying out the provisions Of this &c,
snail b" paid by the Treasure, or ,bo
't"te OUT OF the appropriation 10 crcdi,
"i me commissioner Of Agriculture and
Immigration upon warrant drnwn ,,non
u,'c !'uditor OF Public accounts NJ,
M sara commissioner. counterstrncd
ny inc president OF the Board of Art
culture and Immigration."
ne report OF tho state Auditor
SHOWS various direct appropriations
amounting to s2a.oe0 to the Dcpar,
mrh' or Agriculture. and states that
'he receipts OF that department LAST
year from fees and tayns on ror,i,;znrn
amounted 10 S1SG23.o5. while the tnxcs
ana teeS OF the dairy and food A.
VISION amounted to S3736o0s nci,bnr
| ,unn eclnG part OF the general fund
| ;" VIC treasury Of tho Commonwealth