Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-02-20
Gov. Hamilton's Second Message

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The Democra tic csusus had appointed an
excellent commitrce TO confer with the Gov
-rnor, Comptroller, Attorney General and
Treasurer. and report To the caucns what
proposed legislation would he truly reforma-
tory and advantageous 10 puolic interests
Gov Hamilton did not wish 10 confer with
anybody. lie wanted all the glory of proposing
sweeping measures that he did not suppose
would lie adopted. II he had really wished
their passage he would have waited, aud
sought 10 secure the support OF the Demo-
cratic majority in the Legislature. Learning
that the caucus had appointed committee 10
confer with him, he rushed his message into
The House OF Delegates. There was no need
for such haste TO anticipate the committee o.
conference. II is a strong Indication that
the whole message was for buncombe and IL
eoufrms the general impression that Gov.
Hamilton mistakes his position and the pur-
pose Of the Democratic leaders. He urges the
abolition OF the tobacco inspections, aud 1t will
certainly be done. There will not be a scin-
,illa OF opposition. The Democratic leaders
may see that its effect will be to place the
control Of the tobacco trade IN the hands OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad but they are
not enemies Of the Baltimore and Ohio
The Democratic majority in both houses are
known 10 have determined, even before The
Gnbernaturisl election, that one Fish Commits
sioner who did. his duty was all that is needed,
and they will iavor The suggestion OF Gov.
Hamilton. There will only be one Fish Con-
missioner. The salary OF the Clerk of the
Senate for keeping returns OF births. mar
riages and deaths seems useless expenditure,
since no returns are sent to him from the
counties; and AS it was one of the experiments
demanded 10y the State Board of Health, and
of which the results were not satisfactory and
under no circumstances could be MS service
able 10 The public as 10 doctors and insurance
companies, the Democratic majority long
since determined 10 re,reneh by sboIishing
the salary for recording vital statistics
The necessity OF having prompt intercourse
by telegraph between our different peual in
stiiuiious and our police department may be
questionable, and ii is certain that there will
he no opposition by the Democratic leaders
10 its abolition.
The lnspeciorship OF Mines 10 protect work
ingmen from danger OF life and limb may be
unnecessary, and there will be no opposition
TO abolishing il.
The plan Of having special department to
see that corporations do not evade their fair
share Of public burdens has worked very well,
and has Welded largely increased revenue
to the State, but Gov Hamilton Think il
clerk in the Complrollers Office, aud that
possibly as much revenue would be collected
in that way. and the Democratic leaders will
not oppose The abolition of department that
woald be warmly commended by the Gov
ernor it he bad the appointment of the com
missioner.
The having q special department 10 protect
the interests OF the public and of the State in
their relations with insurance companies has
been found the only eff lent system 10 all
other States. but rs the Insurance Commits
siuner is not appo;n'ed by the Governor alone,
the message hrsl sent 10 the Legislature calls
for the abolition Of the insus snce department.
and the iuirusing its duties to some clerk in
the COTupiroller's or some other department
The Insurance department is no tax on the
State since il supports itself and yields a
large revenue, and lhe mode suggested by his
sxcvlienc, would necessitaie the payment OF
tao or more clerical salaries and doubtful
hnsncial results, hut The Insurance Commits
sioner is not appointed by the Governor, and
the message urges It's abolition o the grou nd
mat, II We have such an Office, many per-
sons viii want il, and this demoraliZes public
sentiment The iulinaiion If Gov. Hamil-
ton that insurance men perjure themselves is
certainly gratuitous slur, that has nothing
10 sustain il, and will cause much indigha-
lion among the gentlemen thus assaled
There will be no opposition OF The Democratic
leaders 10 the suggestion of Gov. Hamilton
but II may he considered so indiscreet that the
Legislature may reject 1t; and, if they do so
Gov. Hamilton will score one for buucombe
He wants the oyster navy changed so thai
he may make the appointments, and he wants
the salaries and supplies cut down. Sill
more practical suggestions could be made,
but these are all that Gov. Hamilton felt
called on to urge. The fixing the boundary
line with Virgins 50 that three hundred
vessels now depredating could be made TO
take out license is Que ofthe points that would
have come with good grace from his Excel
lency, but there would be no buncombe in
that The service ia srduous and sometimes
dangerous, but there will be no opposition to
any reduction OF salaries that the Legislature
may see proper TO authorize.
The land office may have cost more than it
conld he managed for. Retrenchment or
abo lition has been urged by the Democratic
leaders
The Governor declares that the State print
ing has cost too much, and he recommends
that the amount of printing for the Legisla-
ture be cut down at least one-half or the
documents that are printed from two-thirds
10 nine-.enths can he dispensed with and thus
saving can he effected. The laws need not
he printed in any newspapers. If the people
want TO see The laws the newspapers will print
them any way, and there should be no money
spent by the State for the publication of the
laws. Gov Hamilton sees that this would be
heavy blow at the Democratic papers OF the
State, and supposes that certainly the Demo
cratic leaders will prevent its passage, but
they won't They can stand 1t, aud the pa
pers that arc hurt will have 10 do their own
E.-l. r a. 7 II.
may think that such publication 10 useful,
and they may wish 10 help their county pa
pers, but neither they nor the Democratic
leaders will he set back oy the enforced carry.
ing out OF the reform measure pressed BY his
excelltncy without confcienf. with the com
mittee appointed ny the eaa,Ds.
The prpsen, legislature has pn' appointed
the ukds' hutdt., ~ empiot - hHi With
out mentioning lia' Tov ,iimil,vn urges the
restriction of the number OF employees 10 the
lowest possible nnmoer, he deuounces APP
preparations TO Agricultural societies, and
there will be no opposition by the Demo-
cratic leaders TO that. They are no more TO-
teresied in such subsidies than other people
The suggestions OF his Exeellency relative
10 prompt collection Of the State revenue and
summary process against defauliers, the re-
quirement of reports TO the State OF the.in-
debiednsss Of cities, and the proprleiy of pay
ing debts will meet with general approval
hut there NAV be some objectien 10 his reques,
for an amendment Of the Constitution giving
to the Governor greater power over legislation
by allowing him TO veto parts OF Legislative
enactmvnls. lie has nothing to say in his
message about any reduction Of the Guber-
nsiorisI salary. II he had. it would be as
promptly carried out MS any other part
WHY did hr not suggest retrenehmsni in the
Adjutani-Gsnerals Office and in militia APP
propriations7
The legislative Democratic caucus which
met on Wednesday night last is understood
10 hnrn do,;dnI u, dic,,o.,-.. NTH thn snrrina