The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-01-15

intSSlOn II Is iuftheT feEpIil.ifciueu
-tssHt tine commissioner OF state hos
pitfalls be put on a full-time basis and
made ex-officio the state purchasing
agent and secretary.
ABOLITION OF SPECIAL AND
SEGREGATED REVENUES
Among the many other excellent
recon meHdations OF the commission
on economy and efficiency In It's re-
port to the general assembly on Jan.
Ibis, was the recommendation that
all funds-no matter how derived
received by any department institu-
ton or other agency of the state
should be strictly accounted for and
covered into the state treasury, and
that no money should he spent by
any department except out Of APP
preparations provided by the general
assembly" N number OF our Virginia
state agencies" the commission went
on to say, have developed a semi
financial independence and freedom
from executive control and super
vision that rs exerting a very detri-
mental influence on the service as a
whole. This is needed reform that
should be dealt with swiftly and
firmly by the general assembly"
In line with this suggestion of The
=eenffs4 isss,ss,= -eEanemS. and efficiency
I am recommending in this budget
that all special receipts now segre-
gated in special funds, be placed in
the general rund OF the state treasury
after March /, 1920. and the needs OF
the several departments be provided
for by appropriation in con ormity
with the budget law. Under our
budget plan II is no longer neces-
sary. nor is ii desira BILE. to compllcate
the states financial system by the
maintenance of special funds segre-
gated to specific purposes and expend-
ed under continuing and fixed stat
utory authority. Such expenditures
should be reviewed and approved
bienniaily by the general assembly
, before they are incurred.
Fees collected by thu state board OF
health for the inspection of hotels,
amounting to about S2,0ac year, the
receipts of the state board of crop
pest commissioners fro mihe sale OF
nursery certificates, amounting to 81
900 annually; the collections and fees
of the state library from the sale OF
state publications, for copying etc,
amounting to about $4,000 a year, and
the approximately $4,000 year col
lected by the state corporation com
mission in the enforcement of the
blue sky law all are included in this
recommendation.
! II is further recommended that the
I receipts of the departing mt OF game
and inlap d fisheries. II the Industrial
commission of Virginia. Of the bureau
of insurance and of he banking di-
vision of the state corporation COM
mission be placed by lew in the gem
eraI fund of the state treasury and
(, made subject to appropriation by the
general assembly in conformity with
| the budget law
! Also 1t Is recommended that all
! revenues derived from automobile
/, licenses and from registering titles
! to motor vehicles be paid into the
| state treasury by the secretary OF the
commonwealth, and the necessary ex-
| penses of his office i'm handling this
work be provided for through appro-
! pratt Under the existing laws.
| the expenses incident to handling this
work are deducted from the collec-
/ tons by the secretary of the common
wealth and only tho remaining bal
ance deposited in the state treasury.
/ BY this system, the general assembly
| liz deprived of the opportunity to re-
view and approve those expenditures
I before they arc Incurred which should
/ be changed. !
! FIXED CONFIRMATION
FOR STATE OFFICIALS
4 Another needed reform pointed out
/ by the commission on economy and
efYiciercy is with regard to the fees
and commissions which certain state
! administrative otiiciais are still al
! lowed to retain in addition to their
1 regular compensation. The commits
sion said in this connection that all
fees and commissions row paid state
| of1icials-the secretary of the COM
! n1onwealth state treasurer etc
should be turned into the state treas
ury. and a fixed regular compensation
be paid them"
In accordance with this suggestion
! of the commission on economy and
efficiency. 1t Is also recommended in
i this budget that at this session of the
general assembly legisla ton be enact
| ed fixing a regular salary for the state
! treasurer and for the secretary of the
! commonwealth, and that all the fees
and commissions collected by these
officials be paid into the. general fund
! of the state treasury and made avail
able for appropriation by the general
assembly in conformity with the bud
get law.
| Both the state treasurer and the
! secretary af the commonwealth are
elective constitutional officers and
| their salaries as provided by section
! 90 VA Liz VI fHSlnIa.
cannot he increased or diminished
during the term for WHICH they have
been elected. In order. therefore.
that this recommendation can be
made effective at the beginning OF
the next term OF those two officials
on Feb. l. 1922, the suggested. legis-
| lation must be enacted at this session
OF the general assembly.
STANDARDIZATION
! OF EMPLOYMENTS
In the preparation of this budget
an earnest effort has been made to
provide more adequate compensation
for all state officers and employees.
. hut II is realized that many ineauali-
ties exist which 1t has been impos-
sible to correct with the limited data.
available concerning the various state
employments. The adjustment o.
salary and wage payments has been
most difficult question. for there has
not been up to the present time any
/, logical method or basis for fixing
salary rates or titles of positions.
Positions have been created without
any definition whatever of the work
| FQnuirpynanfr or intalI;neot 49,