The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-02-21
Bubble affairs.
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR HAMILTON.


On the 18th instant Hon. VIM. I. Hamil.
tom Governor Of Maryland sent the following
message to the legislature:
Gentlemen Of The House Of he House Of Del
e1dfes Of Maryland FL consider It proper At
this time TO call your attention To some ques
tons which more or less have attracted
public interest. Ny predecessor, in his last
message, recommended the repeal Of existing
laws for the inspection of tobacco, the weigh.
ing Of grain and the repeal Of the compulsory
features oflhe laws for weighing cattle. In
the general views presented by him most
heartily concur. According to my own con.
victlons, sound policy dictates the abrogaiion
OF the laws for the inspection oftobaceo, the
weighing of grain, hay and cattle by the
State, and | recommend their repeal.
The doctrine of State Intervention in the
private business transactions of the citizen is
upon general principles founded IN error, and
sheuld never be resorted to without an impe-
rious necessity. But more particularly com
pulsory inspections and compulsory weighing
that Is, compelling the planter, the farmer
and the grazier or feeder 10 have his tobacco,
grain, hay and cattle inspected or weighed
under State supervision, at designated places
should no longer be tolerated by enlight.
ened legislation. II is an infringement Of
right and a restriction upon free traffic that
no just or rational policy can justify.
go, si,aa1A I.f q A.. l. a IL
places, call your attention TO the large sala.
ries given at the tobacco warehouses, aud es.
peeially at the cattle scales, where the chief
weigher gets $4,000 year. BY the act Of
1874, chapter 32s, the wegher of live stock is
authorized to employ clerks and assistants,
without limit as TO number, and with eompen-
sation not to exceed 81 200 There are now
three clerks at salary Of $1,000, three
weighers at salary Of $1,000, one weigher
and two gate keepers at salary of $500 each;
and the fact is that there is but one day 5 ser
vice generally required in a week. Public
justice requires these large salaries to be re-
duced. By abolishing these places you have
at your disposal most valuable warehouse
property, with large and valuable body oi
real estate at the cattle scales, and above oil
you dispense with the services of a large mum.
Der of Offices, and destroy To that extent the
demoralzing influences of official and politica
patronage. The revenue derived from lobac.
co inspections for the past year was SlOl,
Ols.S5, aud Of this the sum Of SsI ,2s4. A
was spent upon officials and employees.
| hear il urged, in defense Of these instiiu
tons, that there should be some disinlerestet
person appointed by the State to stand be
tween the seller and the buyer. The SAINT
reason would fill every store and place o
traffic in the State with oihee-holders. Hap
PLY in the progress of free institutions free
dom of individual or personal thought, actor
and enterprise is supplanting paternal gov
ernment. Whatever the citizen can do 70
himself should not be done by the State for
him.
In dealing with these great industries tn
rule Of our conduct should be to free then
from restrictions, embarrassments and impo
silions, keeping them clear from partisan oh
jects or political patronage.
by the act Of 1874, chapter l50, the Goy
ernor is authorized to appoint two fish com
missioners, each TO receive salary of 81 500
In my Judgment but one is required for III
service, and therefore recommend an amend
ment of the act so as to provide for one only
BY the act of 1866, chapter lO2, the secre
tary OF the Senate gets an annual salary o
81 900 for experimenting aud receiving tn
returns of the births, deaths and marriages 1
be recorded by the clerks Of the counties an
Of the city. This salary has been paid eve
since, and for no adequate service. Nothin
in the State has been the subject Of severe
criticism and complaint, and tho act shoul
be promptly repealed. The Office Of seeretar
is foreign to any such dnty, aud the record
of the clerks Of the city and counties are sufl
cient for all the purposes of the Law, wilhou
useless transmission Of them TO the clerk {
the Senate.
By the act Of 1878, chapter 232, section
provides for a superintendent of the line {
telegraph from Baltimore TO the House
Correction, to supervise the construction ,
the same, and the operations Of the line alts
il is constructed, at an annual salary {
$500. This is without limitation as to tim
both in respect to the appointment and III
salary, and, there being no occasion for an
such salaried officer, recommend its repea
by the act Of 1878, chapter I57, sections
and 4, there is to be a mine inspector al
pointed by the Governor, who Is TO receive a
annual salary Of 81, 500 By reference to u
late report Of the mines commissioners 70
will observe that it recommends the sbolitio
ofthis Office, and to which call your after
ton. II it be not abolished, as recommend
ed, ] submit to You that the salary is too higl
and should be reduced.
BY the act Of 1873, chapter I7s, the offiC
OF tax commissioner was created, the eomm
soner to be appointed by the Governo
comptroller and treasurer for four years, !
an annual salary Of ~, 500, and travelling es
penses not to exceed $500. The duties
this Office have relasipn to the revenues Of N
State. regard its establishment as a seps
rate department not only entirely uncalle
for, but as most Objectionable innovation
By the constitution, article 9, section 2, Ii
comptroller "shall have the general superil
tendence Of the fiscal affairs Of the State; b
shall digest and prepare plans for the i'm
provement and management Of the revenu
and expenditures ofthe State, saperiniend an
enforce the prompt collection of all taxes an
revenue &c. The duties imposed upon ,h
comptroller are specific and exclusive, and
was 50 iatended by the constitution for III
most obvious reasons The people rstaine,
ia their own hands the choice Of this Office
on account Of his important functions in rela
ton TO taxation and revenue, and, MOTTO hat
him long beyond their control, limited hi
term to two years.
Ihis act gives 70 the tax commissioner III
assessment Of the stock ofinccrpomted inst
sntons liable to assessment, and in the follow
ing express terms transfers duties aD,
powers 1.-THE tax commissioner shall have
all the powers and perform all the duties Il
reference thereto which have heretofore de
volved by law upon the comptroller Her.
Is manifest subtraction from the powers o
hN III