The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-20
STROTHER BILL PROVIDES ALL
PAYMENTS DIRECT To STATE

Special Dispatch TO The InteIiiSeaVet,
Charleston, W. Va, Jan. l9.-Au,ots
the bills OF widest application "n!cl'
have been introduced at this sesS.on
Of legislature Is one emantns tro"'
AState Treasurer W. s. Johnson on'Se'
Tho bill. presented In the house OF deIe-
gates by James A Strotner OF "e'Ch'
Mcdowell county, provides that III '',,
future all payments on state bills SNAIL
not be made as now through any one
OF the 2tS state repositories, pu' o'-
rectly TO the state treasurer's onice.
Treasurer Jornson. IN discussing the
b!H points out that legislation or 'n!s
kind will do much 10 increase the
helency OF tho state treasury. Az
present" he says, THE taxpayer ma!
make his payment TO any bank IN west
Virginia that Is clRssed as state de-
posItory. A voucher given MIN -
turned into the state treasurer AZ !e'S-
ure, As result We seldom Know ~"
all money is distributed. We want the
payments made directly 10 the treas
ury from where II Will be at length dis
trihuted 70 the state repositories N
.ouitablA amounts Where under the
present system one bank may nave
three times the amount OF money paid
In from the states debtors whom Il
serves, this system Will give 10 each
OF the repositories every penny PAID
IN BY residents OF the district which
they serve"
The bill Is for the greater par; iden-
teal with the amended depository law
proposed at the last session OF !eGis-
lature in 1919. It failed TO pass at
that time because the passage OF the
bill would have neceSSitated a radical
change in the accounting departments
OF both State Auditor John s. Darsts
office and the office OF Treasurer John
son In the middle OF their respective
terms.
Concentration OF FUNDS.
The proposed legislation developed
from q senate investigation at the for
mer session wh!cn showed that the
states money was most ineQuitably
distributed partly as the result OF the
practice OF banks discounting state
checks and notes and partly because OF
alleged concentration OF the states
funds In Kanawha county banks. which
at that time were. Il IS said, credited
with 50 percent % the states deposits.
The proposed legislation which Is eN-
pected TO correct these troubles as well
as greatly simplify and concentrate the
states financial accounting was again
discussed prior TO the opening or this
term OF legislature. Treasurer Johnson
took the matter up with number OF
the trsasuTsrs OF other states. Letters
on Ale In answer 70 his queries all In
dictate a favorable attitude r. w.
Archer, treasurer OF Ohio. writes: Il
would not want 10 be the treasurer OF
n state under such obsolete depository
laws and such de-centraiized treas
ury system as your state has" Treas
urer D. B. Cropsy OF Nebraska stated
that In mis- opinion. West Virginia was
far behind the times. while James Jack
son, treasurer OF ssachusetcs. added
this statement: TN my opinion no
corporation. and least OF all n state.
can be properly controlled as 20 it,
finances unless the central paying Of
fee and the central disbursing office be
the same. The state treasurer should
undoubtedly receive all money directly
and then d!shurse his funds 70 the
state repositories as equally as pos
SIble."
To Be Reported Ont.
Since the bill Is the first one re-
terred 20 the house committee on pr!-
waite corporations and joint stock COM
panics. u is expected that It will be
reported out among the Hrst bills at
INV ''''S eV~S'p'' pA ''~'S'NNuEc. tiu'-
cations At this time seem 70 favor the
passing Of the bin. although some op-
position IS expected from those who
are not IN favor OF changing the pres
Ene system OF state auditing. or VINO
do not favor the ~Sr7csed tightening
OF the state auditors load.
As further protection 70 the state.
the state treasurer viii. x the leglSla-
tion be passed. be required 70 post a
bond Of half million dollars rather
than s25.cno as now. This provision
contained in a ccrollary 20 the regular
measure has been incorporated in a
bill and referred to the house commit