Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-30
Taxpayers Memorial to the Legisla-
ture of Maryland.

BY vote of IS yeas 10 2. nays the House
OF Delegates Thursday, at Annapolis, gave
permission, al one O'Clock, to Judge VIM.
NJ. Merrick to read the following memorial TO
The Legislature lie took the Speakers desk
aud read MS follows:
The committee appointed by the taxpayers
convention, which assembled in Baltimore on
Inc l2th OF August, 1879, in pursuance of the
resolutions passed by that body, in which
eight of the counties Of The State were repre-
senied, respectfully ask leave of the General
Assembly Of Maryland 10 invite their a,ten-
ton 10 somesubjects of public interest which,
10 Their Judgment, require the healing power
OF legislative reform
The time seems emnently propitious for
recurring 10 that simplicity Of administration
and economy in public expenditure which en-
deared democratic institutions 10 our fore
fathers and reconciled those who doubted its
success TO the form OF government under
which, in spite of drawbacks, errors and civil
calamities, we have prospered Tor now an
hundred years as no other people have ever
prospeIed. In no other State of the Union
has the 4'lrit Of liberal conservatism been
more strongly marked Than among the people
OF Mary land, and since, while keeping rsre
with the period of progress of the aye, we
nave been spared many OF the misfortunes
lies, u yertheless, TO some extent. we drew
largely upon the resources of the future for
the development Of public Enterprise until the
smart Of necessity, caused by the obligation.
o. preserving the plighied faith and credit OF
The Stat" NJ any sacrifice led the people TO
sngrait upon the organic law that wise pro-
vision against mourning further debt without
providing at the same time Ly taXstion for
It's redemption within period OF fifteen years
THIS committee beg leave, as the first and
most Important Of its Suggestions 10 submit
to this General Assembly the paramount duly
OF providing by more exact legislation for
Tue riga enforcement OF the constitutional &c.
qnirement that the taxes for The dischsrge of
the interest, and lOr the gradual extinction
OF the principal of State debts be applied 10
those purposes aud to none Others The
temptation to borrow from those funds 10
meet temporAr! emergencies Of The treasury
Is al al Times great, aud tor the ease and con
Venleuee OF those who administer the finances
OF the Stale many spccious Arguments can be
urged which may makr the temptation over
poWc'iug. bHl u was precisely the knowl-
edge Of those inducements which nrtnatea
the trainers Of the constitution in so framing
that Instrument as to deprive even the Legis.
ltiure OF The right to divert The appointed An.
phealion OF the fruits Of direct taxation. Had
those provisions OF The constitution Lren ad-
heteu TO from the beginning man, OF the
iSise sno"ings OF the treasury department.
which have been pointed out by the two latest
reports Of the comptroller would have been
prevented, and the Legislature Leeu win.
held from making many Of the lavish apnro.
prialions which in past years were made I'm.
der mistaken idea that our resource. at
command warranted them What II those
tunds might Thereby lie idle in the treasury
Tor short season, and what II Their. pisbt
be difficulty or embarrassment in ptovidipc
tor other immediate wants? Those funds
thus pledged, should always be held sacred
TO the faith pllghled to the public creditor
Aud the Strengthened condition Of the treas
ury, blessing and not curse, would th.n
stay ia time the hand OF legislative extravA.
ganer 10 view OF these, and the many
eogeni arguments VI enlarged staiesmanship
which II would be beyond the proyinee al
this committee 10 eniold. ihey would rsspeet.
fully submit 10 his Geaeral Assembly IA. nro-
prieiy Of requiring The treasurer to spportion
the direct taxes at shor intervals quarterly
or haf-yearly, as received to The credit Of
the several funds for which They have been
levied, aud, under penalties, II need he. to
prohibit their application to any other than
The eonstitaiionaily dedicated purpose.
Next this committee ask leave TO urge UPON
the consideration OF the General Assembly The
proprieiy OF Welding to the expression OF pub
lie opinion reiterated now through many wears
In every form, and the reasons and grounds
tor which are nowhere more forchly set forth
than IN the message Of Gov. Carroll At the
opening u your present. session npon the sub
lect Of the tobacco Inspections The commit.
tee OF taxpayers, with absolute unAnlinitg
resolved that the laws relating TO Inc iaspec.
tion OF tobacco should be repealed 10 relieve
the producers and the stated what has become
burden 10 the producers aud frprosrh 10