AGO 1949-51 No. 172.

• Case Date: December 05, 1949
• Court: Washington

Washington Attorney General Opinions 1949. AGO 1949-51 No. 172. December 5, 1949[Orig. Op. Page 1]PRIVATEVETERANS' BONUS - EXPENDITURES.Auditor authorized to issue warrants for all necessary administration expenses in advance of sale of bonus bonds.Honorable Cliff Yelle State Auditor Legislative Building Olympia, WashingtonCite as: AGO 1949-51 No. 172Dear Sir: We have your letter of November 29, 1949, in which you ask the following question: "Chapter 180, Laws of 1949, which was recently declared constitutional by the State Supreme Court, provides for payment of a bonus to veterans to be financed by the sale of bonds in the maximum amount of $80,000,000.00. However, certain problems have arisen in regard to administration of the Act. A number of employees are now on our payroll, and in addition thereto, it becomes necessary for us to purchase certain equipment and supplies in anticipation of taking care of these payments when applications for the bonus have been processed. "However, at present there is no money in the War Veteran's Compensation Fund in the State Treasury, with which to redeem these warrants. Will you therefore kindly advise us if the State Auditor is authorized, under § 6 of the Act, to issue warrants in payment of such funds as he may find necessary, in anticipation of the sale of the bonds and the subsequent redemption of the warrants so issued." The conclusions reached may be summarized as follows: [Orig. Op. Page 2] The State Auditor may issue warrants for all necessary expenses incurred by him in the administration of the act. Such warrants may be issued in anticipation of the sale of bonds therein authorized. ANALYSIS Chapter 180, Laws of 1949, provides for the payment of a bonus to the veterans of World War II, specifying the persons who are entitled to receive the bonus, determining the legal machinery for the sale and disposal of the bonds issued to secure the money necessary to pay the bonus, and defining the duties of certain state officials in relation to the payments to veterans, the sale of the bonds, and the collection of taxes to retire them. § 3 of the act establishes in the state treasury a fund entitled the "War Veterans' Compensation Fund." Section 4 of the act provides in part that: "* * * The State Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to procure such printing, office supplies and...