Chap. 240.—An ACT to appropriate the moneys intended to be appropriated for
the support of the work of the crop pest commission.

Approved May 14, 1903.

Whereas, by act of assembly, approved February twenty-eighth, eigh-
teen hundred and ninety-eight, and known as the amended San Jose
scale law, there was appropriated the sum of one thousand dollars to
defray the expenses of the investigation in relation to the insect pest,
known as the San Jose scale; and,

' Whereas, by act of assembly, approved March five, nineteen hundred,
known as the crop pest law, there was appropriated one thousand dol-
lars for additional support of this work, with enlarged powers and in-
creased duties; and,

Whereas, it was the clear intent of the legislature to appropriate for
this said work as thus reorganized by the act last cited the sum of two
thousand dollars in the two bills, and this intent was recognized by the
auditor of the Commonwealth, and the said sum of two thousand dol-
lars was paid by him to the said board of crop pest commissioners for
the period of two fiscal years ; but,

Whereas, by a ruling of the auditor of the Commonwealth, acting
upon the advice of the assistant attorney-general, he has held that there
was but one thousand dollars legally appropriated per annum in the
two bills above cited, and has refused since October first, nineteen hun-
dred and one, to pay other than one thousand dollars, and since Octo-
ber first, nineteen hundred and two, refused under construction of the
new Constitution to pay out any money whatever for the purposes speci-
fied in these above cited acts; therefore,

1. Be it enacted bv the general assembly of Virginia, That there is
hereby appropriated from any moneys in the State treasury not other-
wise appropriated the sum of two thousand dollars, or so much thereof
as may be necessary to defray the expenses incurred by the said board
of crop pest commissioners, and now unpaid, in the performance of
the duties devolving upon them by reason of the two acts of assembly
above cited, and the auditor of the Commonwealth is hereby directed to
draw his warrant upon the treasury of the same for this sum, or so
much thereof as may be necessary to discharge the obligations made, and
now pending settlement in the hands of the board of crop pest commis-
sioners, upon the presentation to him of properly itemized vouchers au-
thenticated by the chairman of this said board.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.