Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-02

4 their own local affairs upon tho line
laid down by our forcfathcrs, alon,
which NC have grown great and pros
porous. ! shall await with Patrloti
expectation tho successful Termination
OF the war by us when the status Qu,
ante between the Federal government
and the States shall be restored Til,
checks and balances established by ou
Constitution dcicsatinS powers to tn,
Federal government hut reservinE
| rights to the states. harc providet
elasticity OF government, for a vast ter
ritory divided into great political unit:
which have different problems to solve
| varied resources. and in many case:
have heterogeneous population to alb
serb. Our form OF government has diff,
fcrcd little in principle from that OF
the kingdom whose yoke we cast Off
save in the rights reserved by the
! states upon tho formation rf tho Union
| these rights are tho basis of true
democracy. under which opportunits
! for all has fourishcd: life. liberty and
! property have been protected.
! German efficiency is to he emulatcd
/ in tho commercial world--indced. in the
affairs of government, save where il
I logically leads 10 Il central admipistra-
ton 10 the loss of peoples rights
Care must be had lest with high pur-
pose and unsclfsh ambition in an effor,
We sow tho seeds of autocracy that
may in the future prove a plague to us.
These he thoughts for the future. at
the end OF the wa: for the present
VIC are in this war - win. and all CON
siderations fade into insignihcance as
VIC address ourselves i'll enthusiasts tic
support of the government in the her
culeap task that we nave essayed-thc
crushing Of Kaiserism.
In this connection it is proper that I
should direct your attention to the fact
that the taking over of the transpo rta-
ton companies by the Federal govern
mcnt may deprive the State OF large
cart of its taxable vaiucs. ! suggest
that the General Assembly take such
steps as they may bc advised necessary
10 protect the States revenue under
conditions now existing or that may
arise.
business Administration.
The keynote OF my administration
will be efficient government eco
nomicaliy administered. My pre- cIcc-
ton platform pledged me to an admin
istration of State affairs character ized
by economy. 10 IT,. end that our cdu-
oational and tax systems may be per-
footed. good roads built and the agri-
cultural anS Industrial resources Of
the State hc inteiliscntiy conserved
and developed. How. then. is this, eff
activity to he had. and how are these
pledges to be fulfilled? These will be
the problems OF my administration. and
In their solution hope for that hearty
cooperation between the executive and
legislative branches of our government
that is expected by our people and is
absolutely necessary for the progress of
our State
The report of the Auditor of Public
Accounts estimates the balance In the
State Treasury February the list about
so.ooo,00o. II, however We may Judge
the balance available for appropriation
on March l. 1915. in the light of Feb
ruary expenses of preceding years We
may expect TO have in the treasury
March l. lalS. sl.l5o.ooo. or which
$4,000 will hc to the credi. of special
funds. leaving available for appropri-
alton o. that date about s925,0O0. This
balance in the treasury, if 1t prove cor
rect would suggest most critical
scrutiny of all proposed appropriations
Large sums of money arc being in
vested by the public in nontaxable Sc
curities. in response to the patriotic
appeal TO buy Liberty bonds The
state Will therefore. be deprived In
tn" future of large taxable intangible
values. The treasury will reflect this
condition next year rather than during
the present year
TAXATION. and high cost OF living render
economy In government and the con-
seTNatt3n OF our agricultural and in
dustriai resources imperative.
Executive budget.
Tho burden OF taxation upon our peo-
PIC is no. to be lightencd by the method
Of it's collection: uniformity and ofH-
cheney OF administration are. of course
necessary to the success Of any tax
system. II our governmental burdens
ar" 10 hs icsscncd We must have q Sci
cntihc management OF our State affairs
80 that efficient government may bc had
~ less cost 10 tho taxpayers of the
state. The genius Of business success
iully conducted is the reduction of the
cost Of production. and the like rule
aprlics 10 government,
earnestly recommend tho Inaugural
non OF villa, is known as an executive
budget In my recent appeal TO the
c!cctorate OF Virginia the establishment
OF such system. which will place the
oneraticnS OF cur state Eoycrnm mt
npoN bnSincsslikc basis. vas leading
feature. and wherever went through
ouf tlic state found tho people coreial
IN rTspon'ts TO my promise 10 urge the
adoption OF this system in Virginia
In my printed platform, distributed
throughout the state said:
VIC should scientifically administer
continually scck new subjects Of tax
alton, involving added burdens on our
people. To this chi advocate The
inauguration Of what is known as an
executive budEet"--that is. an sppro-
rria'i"n bill tentatively prepared by
tho Governor and submitted to the
legislators at the opening of the session
OF the Genera! Assembly.
The appropriation bin thus presented
would hr based upon estimates fur
nishcd by heads OF departments and
'hat Of tho Auditor os Public Accounts
III would proSode q survey of the pub
lie effort OF the State. its financial con-
dition, It's income, aud its proposed es.
penditurcs. II would offer a study for
the public and for the Legislature of
the working Of each department. Of the
state, to tho end that their operations
may he simp!itied and economy and
efficiency assured.
OF more Importance still would be
the centcring OF public opinion upon
proposed expenditures. The discussion
OF the prcss would cngcnder among,
our people healthy interest in our
states finances. This tentative appro-