The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-04
Specimens OF Democratic Economy.

Comptroller Woolford prepared a new
tax bill which he formally requested the
Legislature to pass on the ground that the
taxes were at present inadequate to defray
the expenses Of government. This bill of
the Comptrollers was, on examination found
to be so crude in many of its provisions,
that the Legislature refused to pass it;
but We do not know that they were averse
to its passage on any other than technical
grounds. The Comptroller's bill had the
merit Of increasing the taxes in order to
supply deficiencies.
Looking toward measures of economy
we find among the proceedings of the
House the following, offered by Mr.. Rooms
of Frederick, one of the Republican mem
bers of the House:
Ordered, That the Committee on Claims
be instructed to inquire and report to this
House within five days the number of
officers and attaches employed in and
about the House, what their position and
duties are, when they were appointed, and
whether it is possible to comply with the
order passed by the House to limit their
pay, to commence on the day of their ap-
pontment. The order was adopted, but it
has already been shown that to pass an
order is by no means to ensure action under
it. Two calls of the House have failed to
obtain any information as to the nature of
the duties performed by the Secretary of
the Senate under the act of 1865 in regard
to vital statistics, which is imperative, but
under which he draws salary of 1000
per annum. An order similar to the one
NJ
the Senate some time ago, but no return
under the call has yet been made. MIR.
Rooms offered another order resembling an
order passed some time ago making the per
diem of the Sergeant-at-A Arms the same
as the Sergeant of the Senate. Mr.. Rooms
stated that he had ascertained that the per
diem of the Sergeant of the Senate was $40,
and that the Sergeant of the House had an
assistant making the cost of the office the
same as in the Senate already. He did not
think the duties were sufficiently arduous
to be paid at such high rate. As the
actual duties Of the Sergeant alarms, as
far as can be ascertainsd by constant OBJ
servation, are to set up the mace on the
clerks desk and to announce the presence
of messengers from the Senate when they
enter the chamber of the House. Mr..
Rooms view was entertained by many
HtmUeTS, anu Ou d yea duu udy Solc Iue
order resembling the previous order was
adopted. The chief clerk only gets So per
diem, and his duties are of the most ex-
haustive and laborious character.
The desire for cutting down expenses in
order to keep down taxes is still further
manifested in the following extract from
proceedings of the Senate in the action of
that body on the Baltimore Police Bill, and
fixing the per diem of the Sheriff of the
city for attending Court:
Mr.. Blake called up the House bill (Mr.
Joyce's) to amend chapter 2S7, 1870, relat-
ing to police force of Baltimore, reported
with amendments, which were adopted,
and the bill passed-yeas 1G, nays 0. AS
amended and passed, the pay of captains
is raised to $50 per week; also the pay of
the Chief Detective and clerk to the
Marshal, at salary of 81. 200 per annnm.
Senate bill to amend section 179. article
4, Public Local Laws, Baltimore city. fix
ing the per diem of the Sheriff of Balti-
more at 81 for attendance on the City
Court was read second time and ordered
engrossed.