ANNUAL REPORTS. 1898. REPORT OF TREASURER. To the Virginia State Bar Association: 'I submit herewith, as required by Article II of the By-Laws, a report of the transactions of this office from July 1, 1897, to July 1, 1898. In my last annual report receipts for this year, including the balance in the treasury at the beginning thereof, were estimated at $2,534.10, and the expenditures for the year were estimated at $1,875 00. My accounts show that the actual receipts, including said balance, have been $2,729.40, while the actual expenditures have been $1,903.54; in other words, the actual receipts have been $295.30 more than the estimate, and the actual expenditures have been $28.54 in excess of the estimate. I began the year with a balance of $534.10, and ended it with a balance of $825.86 in the treasury-the largest balance the Association has ever had to its credit at the end of any year. Our financial history is summarized in the following table: At the semi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee, held on January 14, 1898, I was instructed to notify those members who owed as much as fifteen dollars to the Association that their names would be stricken from the roll on July 1, 1898, unless their dues were settled prior to that time. Payments have been made by a number of delinquents in response to urgent appeals, and I now report that, as of July 1, 1899— This is a large sum, but is less than the amount outstanding on July 1, 1897, when the total delinquency was $910. I now have the honor to submit a summarized statement of my transactions for the year ending June 30, 1898: I. Receipts and Disbursements. As will appear from the accounts filed herewith (which have been examined and certified by the Auditing Committee), the total receipts for the current year have been $2,729.40, as follows: Balance on hand as per last report..... Admission fees, annual dues for current year, and dues collected from delinquent members.. Cash from sale of reports... Total receipts as above. And the total expenses have been... .$ 534 10 2,185 00 10 30 2,729 40 1,903 54 $ 825 86 Leaving in the treasury a balance of.. The expenditures are classified as follows: Annual dinner and other expenses at the Hot Springs of Virginia Printing, wrapping, stamping, and mailing reports of Ninth An nual Meeting and extra copies of addresses and papers. 618 82 Stamps and envelopes for correspondence 96 05 Expenses of committees... 17 50 Incidentals, printing circulars, express, telegrams, &c.. 118 80 $1,903 54 II. Outstanding Obligations. There are at present no outstanding obligations of the Association. III. Resources and Probable Expenses. The resources of the Association for the coming year are estimated at $2,825.86, as follows: Balance now in treasury.. Annual dues from 400 members at $5 each. Total estimated resources as above.. .$ 825 86 2,000 00 $2,825 86 The probable expenses of the Association for the coming year are estimated at $1,925, as follows: Salary of Secretary and Treasurer. Stenographer at this meeting... Annual dinner at this meeting, including incidentals. Incidental expenses.. $ 300 00 75 00 700 00 650 00 200 00 $1,925 00 I have one suggestion to make: In order to increase the usefulness of this Association we should, if possible, increase its revenues. The accounts of the past year show a surplus, which we should endeavor to enlarge, if possible. On the other hand, the efficiency of the various committees would be promoted by funds for the payment of the expenses of semi-annual meetings. Our standing committees should meet at least twice a year, and if it were understood that the necessary travelling expenses of the members of these committees would be paid by the Association there would be little difficulty in getting a quoruin to attend the mid-winter meeting. In addition to this, the Association should also have an office of its own, in the city of Richmond, for the convenient lodgment of its records and such volumes as are donated to it by Bar Associations and others from time to time. This literature has rapidly increased within the last two years, and now forms a valuable nucleus for a library of peculiar interest. These are suggestions of a few benefits that would accrue to us from an ample treasury, and I think we should endeavor in every way to augment our income. I therefore recommend that we charge an admission fee of five dollars to all applicants, in addition to the regular annual dues. This will require an amendment of our Constitution, and I hope it will be the pleasure of the Association to take favorable action upon the same without delay. It is customary to charge an initiation fee in all organizations, and there appears to be no reason for us to allow this wise custom to be 66 more honored in the breach, than the observance." It is my duty to add that the annual dues for the current year, beginning July 1, 1898, should now be paid. Respectfully submitted, EUGENE C. MASSIE, |