Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-01-11
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

tufesi containing some 1ndlcioHS TecOmmen-
datons and suggestions, and concluding with
brief reference only TO federal affairs con-
gratulatory upon 'rhe re-establishment OF
! constitutional government in every State in
the Union,' and expressive of the hope that
TINS viii temper the bitterness of party spirit
ana renew 10 every section of the country that
cordial understanding which is so essential 10
our happiness and progress as a nation. The
message naturally begins with II reference TO
the report of the comptroller and the exhibit
made by that officer of the finances Of the
State. The receipts of tue Slate treasurer
from all sources for the year ending September
80 were -, 100 1913 u.s. to be added to "A bal
ance in the treasury on September 30, 1876. Of
S4Ol, 434 49, The expenditures during the
same period have been So, l79, Sl3 76 leaving
balance IN the treasury on September 80,
1877, OF S330,8l4 90 Deductng from the
total expenditures the sum paid for interest on
the public debt, redemption of the overdue
sterling bonds, and the support of public
schools, academies and colleges amounting in
the aggregate to Sl.5l3.795 &C, there will be
left balance of 1866, 0ls lc, o! which $780,
1856 IA was expended in donations, special
appropriations, construction of public build
ings pensions, charitable and reformatory in
situations, &C., and $296 1921 96 were used TO
detray the expenses of the State government.
The results Of the new assessment are re.
ferred t0 and the opinion is expressed that MS
we are without the advantages in Maryland Of
great system OF manufacturing corporations
from which revenue can be derived, it is
likely that the present system of levying taxes
upon both real and personal property will for
some years be confined. At the same time
the difficulty of providing system of equal
and just taxation is recognized, and the ad-
vantages ofan annual correction of assessments
by competent authority over the present sys-
TEN of making new assessment every ten years
are pointed out. II is stated that a law EN-
bodying the Governors views upon this Sub
ject will be submitted to the Legislature early
in the session. Upon the subject of revival
of the obsolete mortgage-tax, the Governor
sustains the exemption of mortgages from
taxation by the last legislature upon the
ground, first, that it is double tax, which
falls upon the borrower, the party least able
to pay (; second, that by keeping up the tax
we drive capital out of the State to seek in
vestment elsewhere, and make real estate prac-
tically worthless as borrowing security.
Upon the subject Of the pending litigation
between the State and the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company the Governor furnishes n
succnct statement of the proceedings insti-
tuted in the several courts, The points sought
10 be established in the different suits, and the
results thus far arrived at. He contends that
the Legislature cannot reasonably be supposed
TO have intended by its exemption of the road
from taxation that the assets in excess of the
capital required to build the road from Balli-
more to the Ohio river should be exempted
from all taxation by the State, and holds that
the rights secured to the State by the contract
OF the charter of one-fifth OF the gross earnings
of the passenger traffic on the Washington
Branch ought not to be modified or abandoned
until the company agrees to contribute its tar
proportion of taxes.
The Governor states however that the COM
pany has expressed informally its desire o ad-
just all its differences with the State, and adds
the expression OF his own wish that such IA
result should be reached during the present
session. The Governor indicates rs in his
judgment the proper basis OF such settlement
the mutual surrender by Stale and company of
the right secured 10 the former by original
contract relative to the Washington Branch,
and of the immunity from taxation claimed by
the latter under its general charter, the com
pany in future TO contribute fair proportion
of taxes 10 the support of the government Of
the State
AS was TO be expected, the Governor reviews
at length the railroad strike Of last summer,
and upon the subject of the labor troubles gen.
orally, which led to the strike, and the remedy
for them, makes the following very sensible
observations
Undoubtedly the extraordinary depression
which has existed for the past four years In all
branches>oi business compelled the great rail-
way lines to make reductions in their expend-
lures, and thus the numbers of unemployed
have been constantly added 10. The want and
suffering produced by such condition of the
working classes is always an evil greatly to be
deplored, but one, unfortunately, that cannot
be reached by Immediate leoi,ation The
great and only remedy far unem,Loved labor
Is The revival Of business and tha cnconrage-
ment of indiciops nautical svs,em nv which
il will no bronobt abon, THO no,;cv NJ ,be
present nationaI adminis,ra,ion tn,vsrd Tho
Sonthern states hae nndouhtedIv hean Of such
a character no TO insnire confSence md revive
prosperity. and like wisdom bronoh, 10 hear
upon the financial question would bring forth
c,n;tal rsna,y on,a,inr;sa nra - ,Ie,nan
10 the dormant ;ndnstrv Of no connirs
uNo pelitical p;nlforms can he nf any nse IN
the workinqman' or finnish him will work
In a free connIrv nkn on,s Tho rela,;ons If
canitol and lahor ,,nst ol,rars ,dins, ,han.
selves. and are regnl,,ea Inv cond;,inns which
polilicians canno, control rho enros, rasJ 40
nrosneritv far ali classes ia ,hronch ;,s,
and aconomicai oaminie,ra,;on ~ eho e.
yovarnnent ana an hnnys, a;snos;,;n ~ ~
revenuen
Tn. fatal disbursements hr tho Co.. ua
nav subsistence & of ,roons caiIod ON, far
The snnnression 81 Tho ria,s a,,o,,n,aS -
Sa5 oon pf ,yhioh Soo heo 3" a s' III W
stores now in nsse,s;o 1 ~ 'hs S, M
Governor asks for m call nsanis;n e., 49,.
loans elTec,ed nv him far ihe ahoro ,,,rnos ss'
In ve,v ~ ~ ax,a.;an", ~ ~, Pu'posss'
ana ,ha 80 20 ;l"; ,en'. " Iasl summer,
eficiencv Of an n,i,;,;, ' " SUI y. . "uu
mends az oon.on;a,;a W. So a"o ...o,n-
pniCorms and aop;n,nnn,s 81 ~ , .o' a.'
o,an,s o,,a s,',i y, ~ "e" teer
e"'Si ""' 'VS'u'"'o" VI Tue ioTmer annual