Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-27
A Proposed Raid on the Treasury


n 1SCOVERED! Tackled on to the very OK
II IRENE southern end OF the redrafted pro-
hibition bill now pending III t.e Senate. under
the patronage Of Mcssrs Mapp ana West IS
the proposed annual appropriation Of $780,.
0oO--and nore-for the office OF the Prohi-
bition Commissioner. There is nothing
modest about the recommendation for this
| big expenditure OF public money except its
!owly position at tho foot of the biz, where
in lis obscurit" it might have horci 10 r!ic
along unnoticcI INTO law. The commissioner
wants not only 100000 for the year ending
February IS, 1919. but also any uncypended
balance remaining from tho previous year
while for the year ending in February, 1920,
lie also wants tho 100000 plus any UNI
expended balance.
Here is proposed raid, no matter by what
other names it may be called or by what
plausible explanations il may be accompanied,
upon the State treasury, aud as such it must
be recognized by even the most ardent pro-
hibitionists. To increase by more than $780,
600 tho annual cost OF conducting the office
OF tho Prohibition Commissioner would be
an outrage upon the people of Virginia, and a
purlcsque upon any ideas OF State economy
the Assembly may entertain. II such a sum
were needed, its appropriation would be justi-
fed But how can it be needed when the
work of the department surely has been cut
more than in half during the past year?
Even those persons who fought against State
wide prohibition on the ground that the liquor
tra1llc was matter for State regulation now
want TO sec the dry laws rieidy enforced and
have given their willing assistance to that
end. Results Of the past sixteen months seem
to have been satisfactory from this viewpoint
According 10 the words OF law-en forcemcnt
officers themselves, conditions have grown
better constantly, and in this statement they
are supported by court records throughout tho
state. Faced by the difficult task of policing
the States borders ana preventing illicit sell
ing "hen Statewide prohibition became n
TACT, the commissioner managed we'll enough
with the annual appropriation OF $4,000.
Since that time conditions have changed ma
terialiy for the better. Tho Federal bonc-drv
law. which forbids Importation OF liquor into
states which prohibit its sale has gone into
erect. and tho central government has taken
over large part OF the police duties which
formerly fell to tho State
In face OF these facts il masses nuhlic nm
dorstanding why 100000 n year is needed
now. Should the Legislature be so unwjse
ana so uhpatf!otlc as to grant this vast sum
unnecessarily, it will have difficult time in
explaining its action to its constituents 1t
Is hafdi% conceivable that these level -hcadcd
business men viii thus yield to the demands
oil the Anti-Saloon League. Should the bill
containing this provision succeed in pnssinr
senate and House, it still would require thc
Governors signature. No one may speak for
Mr. Davis, but remembering his various utter
ahccs on the necessity of safeguarding the
public funds. and knowing his attitude of
absolute fairness in public matters, il NAV
DC prophcsied that he will promptly veto
Such measure
Here arises another question. Is there
anrcwd politics behind this demand for $780,
WV ra'hcr than imagined necessity? Nav
IL not be that tho Anti-Saloon League leaders
realize that the Governor will exercise his
ilEht OF veto and thus enable them to point
10 MN as an enemy OF prohibition and saw.
we told you So? The league was bitterly
nostiic TO Mr. Davis before his election, and
,!iS may De us opportunity to try to discredit
MN IN the eyes Of the pr0hibitionis;s