Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-01-16
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY 6.
Governors Message.


The message of Gov. Whyte is too
lengthy for publication entire in our coll
umns, but the following carefully prepa-
red synopsis from the Baltimore Sun
will give the reader clear idea of its con-
tents:
The message is confined to matters of
more or less practical interest, and the
views contained are succinctly presented.
A larger number Of topics than usual,
chiefly connected with matters of State
legislation. are passed in review, and are
treated with brevity and clearness. Re-
commentators are made in more than u
dozen instances for the amendment of ex-
listing laws, and one suggestion for an
alteration Of the State constitution in an
important particular. The amendment
alluded to is in reference to registration
of voters. All these are matters, how
ever, of purely local and State concern,
and it is to such topics only that the Go
vernon addresses himself. All allusion,
even the most distant, to questions of
| general politics or national interest is
carefully avoided, while the message is
commercially free from rhetorical and
'.glitterng generalities."
The Governor excuses himself from
any discussion of the State finances upon
the ground that by the constitution such
subjects are re.litted to the care of the
treasurer and comptroller, and that the
executive department (meaning, we sup
pose, the Govcrnor) is relieved from their
supervision" A condensed statement is
given of the receipts and disbursements
of the State treasury, and of the State
debt, from which it appears that the en-
tire interest bearing debt of the State on
September 30, 1878, was $40, al, 2l5.
so, that the excess of Indebtedness over
and above productive assets was 80 ,2l9,-
| 172 IL, and that to meet this the State
owns unprodnctige assets to the amount
of 1921 SOS, 694.51 These last consist
almost wholly of the States investments,
| with accrued interest thereon (unpaid)
in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal which,
within eight years, Judging from present
prospects, the Governor thinks will cease
to be unproductive, and begin to yield
the State some return. 1t will be high
time From the insurance bureau Qax
on foreign insurance companles) the Go
| vernon notes an increase of revenue over
the year before Of 1913, 588.67.
The condition of the State school sys-
tenn is referred to as generally satisfacto-
/ ny, the attendance showing some increase,
whereas the previous year it showed
decrease St. Johns College, the Agri-
cultural College, the State Normal School
and the Colored Normal School, are all
referred to and commended to the legis-
latiye care, with some suggestions as to
modification Of existing laws in regard
to the two former Further provision is
suggested for the establishment of high
schools in the counties, and further leg
islation in regard to the mode of appoin-
ting school commissioners in the coun-
ties. The appointment of board to Sc
lect a suitable site for building for the
State Normal School, and of a committee
to investigate the application Of the State
appropriation for colorcd schools and Of
State donations to academies generally,
is recommended.
The State Penitcntiary is referred TO
as making q more satisfactory exhibit
than at any time since its establishment.
being now self-sustaining. Provision is
suggested to be made for the transfer Of
insane conycts to the Maryland Hospi-
tai, and for the establishment Of a House
of Correction for Migrants and petty Of
tenders on Sharps island in the Chesa.
peake. The legislature is reminded, how
ever, that there is no lunatic asylum be-
longing to the State, though it has spent
over 300, 600 on the Spring Grove Asy.
lum, whose property, including realty,
was transferred to the Maryland Hospi-
tai, private corporation. but as another
appropriation is to be asked, he advises
that no action be taken until the property
is restored. Amendments to the laws foi
the punishment Of public dcfaulters, and
authorizing the Governor to pardon con
victed criminals on condition Of not re-
turning TO the State, so as to include
those who refuse to leave, are suggested;
also the need for some legislation to pre-
vent tle sltDchluB anu ihuNNSi" N"0t "
which are SO often attendant upon pub
lie executions" Uniformity ID the IN
fiction Of punshments throughout the
State is also insisted upon, and neces-
sity Of the revision Of the criminal laws
with that view. A repeal Of the act OF
1870. ch. As, increasing the number OF
magistrates in Baltimore city is advised
The Governor adverts to ''the tempta-
ton to increase business by unnecessary
and vexatious trials" Why not remove
the temptation altogether by the substi-
tuition Of salaried magistrates for the cor
rnpt and corrupting system OF eompensa-
ton fees paid BY suitors. The defects Of
the present oyster law. the fruitful source
of much trouble and complaint, arc ex-
posed, and the whole subject commended
to the special consideration Of the llegis-
lature, though it is shown that the net
revenues from that source amount 10 over
$40, 900.
Upon the subject of the controversy
between the State and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, the Governor
confines himself to brief statement Of
the actual condition of the pending liti-
CATION. He reports "the prosperity Of
the State, SO far as dependent upon the
construction and operation Of railways,
as at the height Of successful erPert-
ute,,t.n which so far as the Western Mary