The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-02
CENTRAL PURCHASING
AGENCY RECOMMENDED
BY AUDITOR MOORE
Advises One Office Buy All Supplies
Needed by states Several Depart
ments and Institutions.
ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS
IN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Great Mining and Manufacturing In
crease I'm Virginia Makes Present
Small Inspection Force inadequate.
Praise for Doherty's Work.

Three state department heads APP
peared before the senate finance COM
mittee yesterday, the first auditor. the
commissioner OF labor and tho dfrec-
tor OF the legislative reference bureau.
Owing to the absence from the city
of b. c. Moomaw, Jr., chief of the
division of markets of the state de-
partment of agriculture. the agricul-
tural department had It's hearing post
poned until this afternoon. Mr.. Moo
u1aw's department Is the newest of
the activities OF the department and
has more than demonstrated its value
to the people OF the state. The ex-
perience Of the division of markets
since Its establishment under act of
the legislature OF 1915 has developed
certain needs which viii be placed
before the committee by Mr.. Moo
NAV. The commissioner of insurance
and secretary of the commonwealth
Will appear later.
Auditor c. Lee Moore discussed the
question of the state revenue and ex-
penditure and presented to the COM
mtttee In systematic manner the BUSH
ness affairs OF the state, answering
the questions of members of the COM
mittee in an illuminating manner. CIV
ing them an excellent insight into the
modus operandi of the states finan-
cia1 machinery.
Tells of States Finances.
Mr.. Moore repeated the statement
which has been published in The vir-
gtnian that, on the basis of expendi-
lures which prevailed the last fiscal
year and with the rate of taxation
unchanged, there viii be a surplus of
a million dollars in the treasury Of
the state at the end OF the present
fiscal year. September so. 1918.
Suggests State Purchasing Agency.
Mr.. Moore directed the attention of
the committee TO the advisability of
the establishment of a state agency
for the purchase OF all material and
supplies used by the state in all of
it's departments and institutions. Al
present purchases are made by the
individual departments and institu-
lions Independently. There was some
discussion as TO whether or not the
expense of distribution would not out
weigh such saving as might be effect
ed by means OF the central purchasing
ONCE Mr.. Moore believed that busi-
nesslike handling OF purchasing and
distributing would keep the matter of
distribution cost at a minimum
Mr.. Moore suggested q plan for re-
ducing the number Of examiners of
record, ard the vesting In the state
tax board OF power to assign work to
such examiners outside of the terri
torial limits OF their judicial circuits.
Mr.. Moore directed attention to ths
advisa bility OF the elimination OF the
state tax on personally and the reduc-
ton of taxes on intangibles and capt.
tai. but did not feel that the state
should eliminate or reduce these taxes
them on these items
Praise for Dohcrty's work.
The committee was intensely In
terested In the showing made by the
department of labor. Commissioners
J. e. Doherty appeared for his depart
ment and asked the committee To
make provision for the appointment
Of an additional mine inspector and
an additional factory inspector. The
virginia department holds the record
for maximum results attained with
minimum working force In the mat.
ter OF total inspections made.
During the past year a large mum.
Der OF new operations have beer
opened up in coal and other niinerals
and 1t is extremely essential that these
new mipes as well a. the old work.
ings shall be frequently and CAREFUL,
inspected.
1t 10 to the eternal credit of the Ia
Dor department OF Virginia that MOI
since II was able to secure favorabl,
action on the mine inspection law II
the general assembly of 1912 hai
there been a serious accident In tn.
mines Of the state, notwithstanding
the wonderful increase in the com.
monweaith's mining interests.
/ Regret was suppressed last night b,
members OF ths finance committee
that Mr.. Doherty was to retire at thu
i expiration Of his present term OF Of
nee February 4. and tho hope wa
fContinued on SECOND Pass.)