Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-01-28
STATE POLICE
RETURN LARGE
SUM TO STATE
BIENNIAL REPORT SHOWS FINES,
COSTS. VALUE OF STOLEN
PROPERTY RECOVERED
AND OTHER ITEMS.
NUMBER OF ARRESTS INCREASES

Charieston-That the people OF West
Virginia receive very large financial
return from the money devoted to
maintenance OF the state police, in
addition to the efficient work Of the
state troopers in protecting life and
property and catching law breakers. is
demonstrated in the biennial report
recently submitted to Governor Z. +.
Morgan by the Department OF Public
Safety. very considerable proper
ton OF the expense Of the force is
counterbalanced by the fines and costs
imposed in cases resulting from ar.
rests made by the troopers while other
credits are due on stolen property
returned. contraband confiscated and
similar items.
During the two years ending June
80. 1924. the fines and costs assessed
amounted to sS5s. 7s03s
Appropriations Reduced
Appropriations for the two years
were 100000 for the year ending
June 30. 1928 and $3.50 900 for the sue.
ceeding year After deducting amounts
returned to the treasury in the way
of unexpended appropriations. how.
ever, the net appropriations for the
two years totalled only s7s4.416 Value
of motor equipment. clothing. horses.
etc. In the departments property &C.
count amounted to s91 .120
Value OF stolen goods returned to
owners was given at SAC. $50 for the
period while the cost price of automo
biles confiscated while they were be.
ing used in whisky.running Is esti-
mated at s66.sS3
Another return to the state which Il
is difficult to estimate correctly is that
of the labor of persons convicted who
were given prison sentences as well as
fines These perform various kinds
of manual labor for the state In this
connection II may be said that not all
persons convicted and sentenced to
pay fines do actually pay the money.
the sentences, instead being worked
out
AS to liquor of all kinds which has
been seized and destroyed. there IL no
actual direct return TO the state
These beverages. totaled a value OF
s12f,217 at consumers prices. How
ever. II may be noted that. had the
state police not made the seizures. the
liquor would have undoubtedly been
sold. as IL was, the money was not
so spent by the citizens but was avail
able for other and more useful things
West Virginia thus secured a decided
indirect financial benefit from this
activity
More Money Needed.
The immediate effect of the action
Of the 1923 legislature in cutting the
Department OF Public Safety appro.
priation from 100000 to $3.50. 900 was
that the number OF men in the force
had to be reduced considerably While
the law creating the department au.
thorized strength If 284 officers and
men. the actual number drawing pay
on June 30, 1924. was LAG, a number
pronounced entirely insufficient for
the work by the superintendent
A still worse condition has been
brought about by the allowance OF
only 100000 for the current fiscal
year According to the report OF the
number Of men will have to be fur.
Their cut to approximately 100 or
deficit of about $4,000 will result be- /
fore the end of June.
One heavy expense which might be
lessened is that of rentals for detach. T
ment and company headquarters, for
the training school and for detach.
ment posts This amounts to about
$4,000 year. Were permanent quar-.
tiers provided for the troopers the re. I
sulting cost, divided over the years.
would be less than the present rental
burden. In mentioning the training
school, 1t might be well to list as an
asset the value OF the training. given
the officers and enlisted men, this i
representing cost OF $19.62l In 1928
and 1924 AS the difference between
a state police officer and a local ap-
pointive officer is largely one OF train
ing, this item Is a definite business as.
set SO long as the men composing the
force remain in the employ OF the
state
The greatest return OF all that the
West Virginia State Police have given Il
is courteous and efficient service In