Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-01-08
GOV. PRATT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE.

L
The Message of the Executive is almos
entirely devoted to the financial condition
of the State. lis length compels US to lay
: it before our readers in an abridged form
j The Governor thus commences the sub
ject of finance:
'The financial condition of the State well
merited the prominent position assigned to
its consideration by my immediate prede-
cessor in each of his annual messages to the
/ Legislature. With an anxious desire on his
part to arrest the 'doaOnward tendency" OIL
the public credit, it was his painful duty
year after year, to announce to the Leglsla-
ture the entire inadequacy of the existing
laws, if fully executed, TO meet the current
demands upon the treasury; and to point
out the fatal error in the past legislation Of
the State, by which the Executive Branch
of the Government had been deprived of the
power originally vested in it to execute the
laws which had been passed. In his last
Message he made known to the Legislature
as the effect of the combined causes above
assigned, (the inadequacy of the tax laws
and the want Of power in the Executive to
enforce Them that the arrears of interest
had progressively increased from $500, 500
on the 1st Dec. 1912, to S1,171,S72 81 on
the lst Dec. 1S43, and to $l,450,961 81
on the LIST Dec. 1914; and that in seven
counties of the State the tax laws were not
enforced.
IL have, gentlemen, to discharge the more
pleasing duty of informing you, that collec-
tors of the State tax have been appointed,
and that the direct tax is now being collect
ed in every portion Of the State, except in
Calvert county, where the collector has
been unable to obtain the assessment books
from the tax commissioners.
II have still greater pleasure in announc-
ing to you the fact that, during the fiscal
year, there has been received, and applied
to the extinguishment of arrears of interest,
sum greater than the accruing interest for
that period.
"Alhough | have labored assidLously,
and for the time successfully, to produce
this desirable result, it is my duty to inform
you; that thIs success cannot be attributed
to any actual power with which the Execu-
tive is clothed, to enforce the due execution
Of the revenue laws of the State.
He shows that the revenue system, being
wholly under the control of county autho-
rites, which are irresponsible to the State
authorities, renders the Executive arm pow
erless; and suggests that the power of ap-
pointing these officers be restored to the
State authorities.
''The annual interest on the public debt
is S655,42l 20; and there has been paid
during the fiscal year ending on the lst of
December, 1915, in liquidation Of arrears
of interest, the sum of S7l0,7S4 81. The
gratifying result is consequently exhibited
that the arrears of interest on the public
debt (instead of increasing, as in previous
years, at the rate Of about three hundred
thousand dollars per year, have been actu-
ally diminished during the past fiscal year
| by the sum of $55,363 81. The arrears
of interest, as shown by the report of the
Treasurer to the last Legislature, amounted,
on the lst of December, 1914, to the sum
of S1,432, 154 81, and on the lst of De-
cember, 1915, the entire interest due TO the
creditors of the State was $1,376,S9l 90
| 1t is not, it cannot be expected, that you
will provide Gor the immediate payment OF
this arrearage Of interest; but some adjust
ment of this balance is essential as a prell-
minary to the resumption Of payment by
the State. as it would be manilestly unjust,
and therefore inadmissible to provide for
the future payment of the accruing interest,
leaving unliquidated and unsatisfed the in
terest which is nov due"
'The Sinking Fund on the lst December,
1914, amounted to $1,276,3O6 70, and on
the 1st of December, 1915, to $l,4O4,O3O
I2S. 1t is progressively increasing by the
quarterly REIMBURSEMENT of the interest &C
crung on it; and its operation has demon
strated its adequacy to secure the citizen
and creditor of the State by redeeming the
principal of the public debt within the peri
DDS limited in the appropriation laws.
''The public creditor, with the certain
assurance Of the future prompt payment OF
the accruing interest, will, ! am persuaded,
be we'll satisfied to fund the arrearage of in
terest upon such terms as will comport with
the ability of the State, and at any rate of
interest you may deem equitable and just.
"The entire debt of the State, bearing in
terest, amounts to the sum of $ll,996,7S4
I9S.
"Under the operation of the law which
authorizes the payment of taxes in coupons
or certificates of interest, the public creditor