Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-05
Cut Appropriation or let ,hc Din Die


a GREAT light seems to have dawncd upon
n members of Virginias General Assembly
In it's rays they are reading a message from
their constituents which is to this effect: De-
feat the outrageous demand Of the ProhlDi-
ton Commissioner for an annual appropriate
ton of S100.000 and an increase OF $1,000
iii salary. There are abundant signs that
this prayer of the sancr element Of the people
will be granted. Already tho House COM
mttee has shaved the appropriation TO $780,
000 and Las cut the proposed salary increase
by $500. Even this increase would be pre-
posterous, and the pruning knife must be
used still more vigorously if approval of the
great body Of taxpayers is to be won.
But why any increase? Why would not
decrease be more in Keeping with the actual
needs Of the commissioners Office as we'll as
with the spirit of the times. which demands
economy? 1t has been pointed ont time after
time in these columns that to grant the de-
mand OF the Prohibition Commissioner would
constitute nothing more or less than a raid
on tho treasury which would be absolutely
indefcnsiblc before the people. The COM
missioner now has an annual appropriation
of $4,000, this amount having been regarded
as entirely adequate to the conduct of his
Office by the General Assembly Of 1916. He
also has an annual salary of $500, this also
fixed by the Same Assembly. When that APP
preparation made Statewide prohibition
was in its infancy. Law enforcement Of
fcers were about TO set sail on q voyage
across uncharted seas. There were almost
countless citizens who said that the dry laws
could not be enforced; there were scores OF
traiIlCkers in liquor who proposed to defy
them. Had 100000 been appropriated then
to meet expenses Of the tight to abolish the
traffic il might not have been deemed OK
ceSsivc. But that day has passed. The laws
have been enforced, and tho prohibition ma
chinery is working smoothly, All this has
been accomplished under the annual appro-
priation CT $4,000. In tho meantime, the
Federal government has taken over the majo
portion OF the policing duties through the
Reed hone-dry law Now with all it's hardest
work behind II. with Statewide enforcement
an acknowledged fact, and with no immediate
emergencies to meet, so far can be known.
why should tho Prohibition Commissioners
Office come forward With demand for more
than four times as much money AS it has
been receiving under the appropriation Of two
years ago? No reason for the increased de-
mands has been given. The public knows of
none except the surplus in the treasury, and
the Assembly will he held strictly to account
should such an incxcusahle waste he per-
mitted. Fortunately for tho State, the AS
scmbly is made up OF sensible men.
There is no great objection to the rrdraftc
prohibition law, 50 far aB it is designed to
tighten up tho present law and mako moro
drastic the ban on Illicit sale and use OF in
tOHicant5. Statewide prohibition is here, in
al probability TO stay. and even its former
opponents want the laws rgidly enforced.
but they DO not want prohibition ardor to DO
used lever with which to force open the
doors OF the treasury so that 100000 can
be taken thcrcfron ycarly when the money
is 50 sorc!y needed for other and legitima tc
objects Either the appropriation should be
cut to It's present amount or the hill should