Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-02

counties more than tho counties pay
into tho State Treasury. This CON
dition leads to tho belief that 1t In
wise for the local tax authorities to
give sincere thought and heed to their
local conditions. to a greater degree
than they have apparently been do
ing in the paBt.
Under our present system of taxa
. ton I'm the counties. our taxes are
)uEicd and expended by the boards
Of supervisors. who are giving but n
very small portion Of their time ard
talent TO these particular duties Mod
crn experience IL strcnuously tcnch-
Ing that business management should
che concentrated. rather than distrib-
utcd, and / believe that the General
Assembly can well afford to direct
i their attention at this session to-
wards tho study of Il county manage
mcnt plan under the care Of IA county
manager. with the assistance and ad-
vice Of the board OF supervisors, or
else authorize the Governor to APP
point commission OF five thorough
~ trained business men to make n
study OF this suggestion and report
TO the mex. General Assembly. Tho
commission should serve without sal
airy and be allowed compensation for
their actual expenses only In attend
ing 10 the duties Of the commission
only; and there should be appro-
Driated sum not exceeding $1,000
for this purpose.
Every official OF Virginia should.
not only voluntarily. but by legal re-
quircment, conduct the handling and
accounting for OF the finances In his
office in n businesslikc way. IL is
the plain duty OF the State. Tor tho
protection of the State and the local
tiles. to provide that this shall he
done, and that all funds shall be prop
EARLY accounted for.
Inquiry Informs me again that \
closer supervision on the part OF tho
State is absolutely essential and ne
ccsSary. aud that IL this Is done. the
result Will far moro than Justify the
expense. ]. therefore. urge that n
sufficient rotary fund be provided to
allow tho state Accountant TO have
audited. not Less than once every two
years. ut the equal and joint expense
OF tho State and localities all county
and city Offices through which funds
Of tho State, county or city pass.
In addition to his. there should be
installed by the State Accountant n
proper and Ineligible system OF
bookkeeping.
- Upon mature reflection. must say
to the General Assembly that / be-
lieve 1t Is very unwisc to pass laws
which levy tax for n specific pur-
pose. AL taxes should go into the
general State fund. and be appro-
priated out by the General Assem-
bly,. So soon as II can consistently
be done. l advise that this course be
adopted relative to the special taxes
L that are now levied. No fund should
be turned over TO any agency OF the
u State without some supervision on
tho part of the General Assembly. the
direct representatives Of the people
Highway Department.
Next to schools and health. unqucs-
fl,i
the minds OF the people OF the State
is the development OF our State and
county highway systems.
Certainly nothing could give me
greater pride during the four years
of my administration than to feel that
/ had been able to play an humble
part In the advancement of a ready
and convenient means OF transporta-
tion for our people in order that they
may better enjoy closer acquaint-
sAanceship and have an economical way
OF conveying their products to the
market.
The times In which we now live de-
mand that Virginia have q modern
highway system, and wo must fully
recognize that the day OF impossible
and badly constructed roads should
no longer be tolerated. The quick
ness of our State growth along all
lines is to DO greatly measured by
the speed which we develop In our
highway construction work. There
fore. we arc led to the conclusion that
our road program must be one that
Z calls for AZ rapid construction as may
he consistent with economical and
businessllke administration.
During the last twelve months. IL
has been my privilege to visit some
ninety OF the 100 counties In Virginia,
as well as the twenty-five cities.
have spoken before thousands OF Vir-
Ginia people and have consulted with
hundreds Of them respecting our road
development l do feel that certainly
have Il reasonable knowledge of what
the people demand.
1t is my duty. ms your Governor,
to place before you tho conclusions
F@that have been reached concerning
the needs and wishes OF our people,
so as TO secure their active support
OF really constructive road pro-
gram.
In my anxiety to test out the sug-
gestions that 1 am going TO make
relative TO tho new law that should
be written for the formation OF the
Highway Department, have consult
ed with expert roadbuilders from
other States, and with q great many
of our leading and. in my judgment.
wisc-thinking patriotic Virginia citi-
zens, all free of any known political
ambitions. That the people may know
my endeavor to seek competent ad-
vice and help in accordance with my
pre- election promise has been an hon
est one. may say that, In addition
to many other conferences, on Tues
day, January II. conferred with
thirty-two prominent business men
from all walks of life and from all
sections of Virginia. who were Sc
lected with no other thought than
their outstanding reputation as eau
tious and clear-thinking men.
After full and thorough discus
sion. the recommendations as to re-
organization OF the department which
l now make were unanimously In
dorsed by this body Of representative
citizens.
trust that I may be pardoned for
stating that. as the chief executive OF
the State, realize that the people
look to me for results; and this means
that am intensely Interested in the
formation Of this department. fur
Their realize that 1t becomes my duty
to meet this situation with no thought
other than what conceive to be to
;8the best interest of the State, and not
4 to take counsel of any fear roov