The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-02-07

were made that as soon as the legis-
lature assembled an investigation
would be ordered into the number
and salaries of the employees holding
their offices under the State, with |
view to the reduction of large sala-
ries and the reduction Of sinecures I;
that action would be taken for re-
form in the inspection laws; that
new registration and election laws
would be enacted. and the like. The
legislature has been in session four
weeks, yet not only have none of
these promises been redeemed, but
no initiative steps have been taken
by the political leaders looking to
the accomplishment of the results
held up to the voters during the
campaign. If there is any possible
escape from reform legislation during
the session, the managers, who are
masters of the situation, will surely
take advantage of it. On the very
first day of the session an attempt
was made to effect a reform in the
printing for the two houses. Yet the
majority declined to wait until an in
quiry could be made into change of
the existing system, and rushed to
the election of State printer on the
second day of the session. An effort
of the Republican members to pre-
vent the payment of the per diem
and mileage of the horde of officers
of the last session who came to the
present legislature, but who perform
ed no work to entitle them to com.
pensation, was successfully resisted
by the Democratic majority. An
other inquiry from the Republican
side, calling on the chairman of the
Committee on Claims to report to the
House the number of employees, their
salaries and the manner of work they
perform was met with determined
opposition from those of the MAORI
ty who are in sympathy with the
managers, but they did not prove
themselves sufficiently strong to pre-
vent the adoption of the order. A
favorable report from the Judiciary
Committee for the abolition of the
office of tax commissioner was too
much of reform for the majority,
and that matter was laid over until
the latter part of the session. 1t will
thus be seen that step by step every
matter tending to reform is being
contested by those loudest in their
professions during the campaign, land
it is, therefore too much to expect
that the managers will consent to
any abolition Of Offices or reductions
of high salaries, unless they are bull
dozed into it by the Governor. There
is lurking suspicion, too. that the
leaders DO not intend to take any
steps looking to the adoption of Coy.
Ia railtan's measures until they as.
certain whether he proposes to con-
suit their wishes in regard to his ap-
! pointments. They have made prom.
ises during the campaign which they
would not like to see fulfilled, and,
unless the Executive yields, his cher
ished plans will meet with decided
opposition from them. There is no
question but that the Governor is in
earnest in his desire to correct exist
ing abuses, and his solicitude is made
manifest by the numerous interviews
he has had with members, in which
he has urged them to vote for reform
measures pending in the Legislature.
But the managers are at present
stronger than the Governor, and it is
evident that both houses of the Gen
eral Assembly are under their con-
troll. Only the greatest firmness and
determination on the part of the Ex-
ecutive not to yield an inch will
avail to cOnsummate the reforms
which Governor Hamilton has fixed
his heart upon. There is considera.
bic speculation whether the mama
gers will precipitate conflict by OPP
posing such of the Governors APP
polntments as do not strike them as
likely to subserve their purposes.
There are numerous candidates for
the various offices, and the Governor
has an abundance of material from
which to make his selections. But
the leaders have their fayorites, who,
they think, should be rewarded, and
a disposition not to regard their rec
concentrations may lead to unpleas-
antness. The leaders, however, think
that no cause exists to apprehend
trouble from this source.