Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-08
Governor Demands Light on Appropriations

Governor Demands Light on Appropriations
VERIFY the Virginia Legislature has
fallen on evil times. Governor Davis
announces his determination to review the
appropriation bill item by item. and TO use
his veto AK on those items which do not fit
in with his pledge Of economy. If the mem
bers do not want TO see these items cut from
the bill altogether, they have the option OF
pruning them in advance or of sticking
around without pay until the Governor has
done their work for them. There are enough
advocates of economy to prevent the passage
of the bill his veto No Governor has
taken more pronounced stand in this mat
ter though Governor Stuart four years ago
told the chairman of the Appropriations Com
mittee that he would not sign q bill which
totaled more than a specified amount.
From time immemorial the practice has
been to leave the appropriation bill to the
last day TO pass it without reading and to
leave it to the Governor to swallow whole.
In the 1908 session there had been discussion
Of new normal school to supplement the
excellent institution at Farmvillc. No bill
on the subject had passed, but when the APP
preparation bill came from conference OH the
closing night of the session, two OF the con-
ferees, former Senator Keezell of Harrison
burg, and Delegate Goolrick, of Frcdcricks-
burg, had secured normal schools for their
home towns, while the third conferee, Dele
gate Johnston, Of Radford, had secured
pledge of the credit of the State to establish
Il normal school in his home town two years
later. Without being printed, the bill was
passed an hour before adjournment, and amid
confusion worse confoundcd--swa llowed,
hook line and snker.
There have been many similar scenes. The
old war horses express a preference for a
congcstcd calendar in the closing days, when
under pressure of high speed they can push
through measures which could not be de-
Tended in the broad light of day.
Governor Davis refuses to be hurried He
proposes to what the appropriation bill
contains before he signs ii. He is not willing
to spend S19,000,000 in the next two years
without knowing what it is for Since the
treasury starts out with 100000 surplus,
perhaps he can prune away enough items
from this bullying document to make un-
necessary that general raise in taxes which
the legislators are trying to make popular
through the sugar-coating that it is for roads
and schools. There are those who hold that
adequate provision be made for roads
and schools if other and unnecessary items
are eliminated.
Legislators who loudly resent the Gov
ernors interference" and "dictation' have
not explained their reluctance to pass any
measure requiring the fees OF various semi
independent departments to be paid into the
treasury, so that only such appropriations as
are actually needed may be made for their
maintenance. Until this s+aH is taken an
the General Assembly surervises appr0pria-
tons for tho game, insurance. banking, ayr
cultural and ctner dca"trlCnts now spending
as they please from fees 0aid direct to them.
j. cannot claim that it Is adequately safe.
guarding inc III )ney Of the taxpayer