Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-30

and in accord with the well-known public
sentiment, this committee have prepared
the draft Of law providing for private in
spection, at the owners option, and for leas-
ing the State warehouses by the board Of pub
| lie works for the purposes OF private inspec-
ton, and limiting the charges TO be made by
the lessees. They respectfully submit here
| with copy of that draft. ~
They also are of opinion that the laws
compelling the weighing of live stock and Of
hay and straw by State officers are needless,
oppressive and expensive requirements, en-
failing unnecessary burdens upon certain
classes of citizens; they are fragments Of a
fast disappearing system of public interfer-
ence with private commerce, which is best
regulated when left to regulate itself by the
dictates OF enlightened se.finterest and un-
der the spur of private competition. Besides,
the Offices of weighers OF hay and straw of
live stock and inspectors Of tobacco, tend to
swell the too large crowd of those who are
interested in guiding and controlling cleo
tons for their own advancement, to the det-
riment OF the public welfare and to the op-
preston OF the taxpaying citizens. This COM
mittee submit herewith the draft OF q bill for
the repeal Of the laws regulating those sub.
jects.
In obedience to q resolution Of the tax-pay-
ers' convention we also submit the draft Of
| bill providing for the trial of petit larceny
and other minor crimes before justices of the
peace, with the right of appeal by The party
charged, and also by the State, to the circuit
courts. We entertain the opinion that a very
great saving of expense 10 the State would
| be effected by the adoption of such a law
that it is wise, just and humane in itself, and,
after the most careful consideration we have
| been unable to discover any constitutional
objection to such a law, though we are aware
that scruples upon that score have at times
been entertained and expressed To them we
reply that the courts will readily solve the
| doubt it there be involved reasonable one,
and il in practice the law fail to answer the
expectations of the public another Legislature
can repeal il.
| This committee have also considered the
act Of the last Legislature creating the Office
OF tax commissioner and assigning 10 him GER
tain duties germane to the Office Of comptro-
Ter under the constitution and the laws here
tofore existing. What part of the increased
basis Of taxation may be due to the active oil
igence of the incumbent Of that Office, what
| part 10 the amended tax laws, and what part
results from the recent exposition OF the tax
ing power by the Court of Appeals, need not
| be inquired for, because, however, this may
he, we venture TO submit that it would not
unduly burden the comptroller to remit TO
him all the duties which are now performed
! ny iHc lax COMMISSIONED. IL appears from
the report Of the comptroller that he was able,
to spare from the existing clerical force in his
office clerk for the tax commissioner. And
we venture the further suggestion that the
relief from labors connected with the execu-
ton OF the bounty law, now exhausted, and
the pension law, now repealed, leave to a
comptroller duties largely diminished as COM
pared with the demands upon his attention in
past years.
Believing that no new Office should be Gre
ated, nor any suffered TO remain which can
reasonably be dispensed with, we feel our
selves constrained 10 invoke from this Legis-
lature the application of these maxims TO the
officer in question They further submit for
consideration the draft Of bill for the repea
Of the ACT of 1865, chapter 1871, which act
allows charges TO be made against the coun-
ties by clerks for sundry Office expenses. The
act in question seems to be clearly repuguaut
to section IS of article of the constitul lion;
neverthe less ii has been, and while it remains
on the siatute-book will continue to be, the
pretext for unwarrantable charges against the
counties, aud is the occasion of much waste
full expenditure of the peoples money.
This committee further respectfully ask the
General Assembly TO consider the expediency
Of providing at this session for the sale of all
the unproductive assets of the State, including
therein the interest of the State in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal and in the Susquehanna
and Tide-Water Canal. These assets amount
nOminally TO about $25, zoo, 600. According
10 the opinion expressed 10 the message of
Governor Carroll sale of these would realize
enough to extinguish all of the public debt
which is not already amply provided against
by productive securities paying interest regu-
larlg The preszni period of reviying entar-
ptsts would seen propilioGs for Riding the
STATE OF these useless. not TO say dangerous,
encumbrauces 20 her financial administration
Popular opinion for long years chung TO The
hope that the States interest ia he canals
would be Of value TO the State and might be-
come sources OF great profit. But The course
OF trade, and especially as Influenced by the
great improvements eheapness and facility of
railroad transportation, has diasipated all rea-
sonable expectation, il ii have not extingui.h-
ed every hope OF benefit 10 the treasury by the
retention Of control over an interest ia either
OF those great works OF improvement Even
were there chance Of profit 10 the State
while II retains interest or control in their
management, sound stAiesmanShip forbids
that the State should be a party TO any private
, enterprises. But experience has shove every
where that State cannot we'll and wisely be
engaged In enterprises Of privates traffic. The
State should look 10 taxation alone TO defray
the expenses Of Its administration. Iis ma
NHiANty bt As ~ UOhaiOte. anu
all temptations 10 extravaganza and all OPP
pOrtuniiy for favOritism or corruption should
be eliminated from its government. These
considerations 10 more enlarged form and
with great weight OF authority have at differ
ent times been urged upon the Legislature.
The time WAS not ripe for their adoption
I The new departure which has been taken in
favor oi more rigid economy and greater pur-
{ ily ia the practica! working " republican a.
siiluuOns seems propiiious fUr a renewed ex
animation OF his great subject. There is
! little doubt that he trainers OF our constitu-
1 ton were ont, restrained h., III. embarrasE-
ments which at tic inc lhsi instrument was
adopted Surrounded Il,rir action from max
4 ing 1t an cooperative guy OF She STATE 10 d.
vest itself Of ali property interests Of a pri-
vaie nature. By the third section Of the
4 twelfth article they conferred the power in
/ question upon the board OF public works,
subJeciing the manner OF its exercise only to
! the supervising assent Of the General Assem-
bly,. Now that the cry Of relief from burden
I some taxation comes up from every Preside in
j the Stale II would seem proper that this Leg
/ isature should carry out It's spirit and mani
fest design OF the constitution and should
provide for II sale Of these works upon rea-
sonable terms, subject to the approval Of the
next General Assembly. Most earnestly do
We commend ihe matter in all its bearings 10
1 your most careful deliberation
; Other topics Of economic reform might find
an appropriate place in this memorial, but
that We have the qualification 10 know that
you, the representatives of the people, have
already or are about TO search out abuses.
and TO apply the actual eautery to many sores
I upon the body politic. In conclusion, we beg
leave 80 submit that, with a view to no con-
sidera'ious other than the general good OF all
men Of all political parties, and with a just
pride ia and with an ardent love tor our State,
we have ventured to present this our respect
/ ful mer4 orial on behalf OF the iax-pAying cit
J lists oi Maryland.
WV. ". MgRRicK. Chairman.
losEPH X. RoRERrs.
CHARLES ABERr.
DAVID Fowler.
Jons II. MITCHELL
/ January 81, 1880.