The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-08

sued covering every payment by the
State. however small The number
issued averages about tifty:nye hun
dred per month.
Under the Constitution and statutes
OF West Virginia. the Auditor is re.
CURED to approve every claim present
ed to him for payment. This necessl-
tates continuallvlsilance and deliberate
care in the inspection and examination
OF acquisitions. Upon the Auditor falls
the unpleasant but important duties of
guarding the Treasury and conserving
the resources of the State.
During the years that have served
the State as Auditor. l have endeavor.
ed. with the utmost persistence. to re.
quire each and every claiment to show
In detail In itemized statements for
what purpose every cent stipulated in
the claim was expended. in accord.
ance with the intent of the statute.
In the expenditure OF funds under
my direct control, my endeavor has
been to accomplish the desired result
with the least possible outlay, rather
than to. attempt to use all the money
available. recall that on one oc.
casion 100000 was appropriated to
cover repairs OF the office vault. The
work was done for $4,000. and the
remainder reverted to the Treasury.
Three years ago the Legislature ap-
propriated $4,000 for the investigation
OF insurance rate-making associations.
The work was done by the regular
employees Of the office without touch.
Ing one cent OF the appropriation.
Each year. by rigid economy. we are
able to save a substantial amount of
the funds appropriated for the main.
tenance Of this office.
Bookkeeping Department.
In this department every cent Of
receipts and disbursements is properly
recorded, vouched for and separated
into the various funds. The amount
disbursed. including Workmen's Com.
pensation Fund. is now about $4,000.
600 per year. Not only does this de.
partment keep the general accounts
of the State, but 1t is charged with
the custody and care OF the States
investments, and collection of interest
thereon.
1t now holds bonds for approximate.
ly $l,000.0O0. to the credit OF the
Workmen's Compensation Fund, and
100000 to the credit of the General
School Fund: also the hundreds of
thousands of dollars deposited with
the Auditor by insurance companies.
Automobile Department
This department registers automo.
bile owners and chauffeurs, issues
their licenses and collects the fees.
In 1905, the total number of automo.
bile licenses issued was 172; in 1915
(from July LIST to December 31st, only)
the number issued was 1928, and
the fees collected. s129.O00Oo.
Land Department.
This department has in its charge
all the land books of every County in
the State, from the date Of the forma-
tion OF each Of said Counties; also the
records OF all grants made by the
States Of Virginia and West Virginia,
and is frequently required to make alb
stracts Of title to different tracts of
land, showing the payment or non
payment OF taxes from the date of the
grant OF said lands by the State; every
year It examines, compares and cor.
reefs all the delinquent lists of every
County. and makes the redemptions of
all delinquent lands. and makes up tab.
ulated statements each year showing
the value Of the lands, the average
value of land per acre. the total
amount of personal property assessed
and the average value OF the live
stock, In each County. -.