The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-02-21

oe'' s /" sons'ning lorelgn 70 our
y''s" u e'a'e government which 10 IN
s".ss y De p'ain anu s'inplei ana 70 pc con-
e,nn,o,s. 'n s 'ae ,s"e'' possible onclais ana
,hsn -. =, 49, .a,,n sas oonuus'eo icr more
90 - s'"'a .s ~,'aOu' any suen ouic'a' ap'
nrovs@sn,s ~ ~ass 'A' 'u'elaA' nm
,ra.,.a ha.sr .sss "s'et' oIi r9''' '0u'
,o,, ;,n..s,.s '''N '''N "H''' - ''s'
Rvac, ~ 1870 .L.. ,oe .,..
dena,,r,.n, o..a,sa a., ~ 80 ''0Y
miss;op.r n ho an,o,r,.a H. ~ 1s,.,Ss- 80
trea.urer aoa co,rn,roIlas s's,rO
wears ana 10 raea;,,a - - ~ :. - -V-i
s.. 500. 10 he mid ~, a. -. saesarL;-eg :
True. |, viii (. obssrvad M. da..-..s.:. 80,
Obliged to snnnort i,.slr ~, - ,ta ~. -
Office. and ;s tberefore ,s ", ~ o,,ar,,o -
the treasury; still the obiec,in,. .annlics,ls -
the Office Of tax commissioner n rssnoc, Il
the creation Of unpeeessarv and ;,aenand.n,
departments and 10 The mode of an,o;n,,,.n,
apply with equal force 10 tbis In tbe crsa.
ton Of such establishments we are denart.
ing from plain. simple. frugal government.
we are multiplying ofice.holders and neees.
sarily ofiee-seekers. iunueuratinv ali kinds of
sinister influences. and conceptratino a eel.
fish, personal power thai in the end in The
nature of things, will bring wrong. imnosit;on
and a ll.grounded dseontentt 10 tbe neanle.
The only important or useful tbinr n con.
nection with this law is The proyision for nm
agent to be resident for suit. and that there
be assets here for recourss. As 10 the sworn
statement or elaborate figures of these com.
panies they amount TO very little. for they ara
good or bad, without respect 10 them: and de.
pending upon their investments, of course the
intelligent commissioner Is not to be held re
sponsible for their correctness and security.
BY the act Of 1874, chapter 1871, the State
fishery force, commonly known as the oyster
navy, as at present existing, was created.
Inc Governor, the treasurer, comptroller,
commissioner Of the land Office and clerk Of
the Court Of Appeals are the commissioners
of this force, aud have the supervision Of il
and the appointments to places in il.
IL is generally regarded that this service is
"a signal failure The laws cannot be carried
into execution with effect, and the expendi.
lures are lavish, The disbursements for com
pensation to officers and employees for the last
year was $50, ,64l 60, beside thesnm Of So, 187in
addition for supplies and provisions, and the
expenses exceeded the ereVenues by SI2, ,342. 81,
which was paid out of the treasury. There
is an evident necessity for change and refor.
nation here. first, the salaries are entirely
too high, and out Of all proportion to the
compensation paid for similar service ia pri
vate employment. The commander Of III,
steamer gets 81, 500; his first officer and en-
giueer each get 81, 200, and the second Officer
$500, and all get rations in addition. Each
deputy commander Of the sloops gets 81 200
and the subordinate officers $500. Thes,
salaries should be largely reduced, and tn,
number Of officers should also be reduced
} These large salaries, together with the exteu
l siye influence likely to belong to them, max,
these places great objects for partisans, AM
the service is liable TO be made nursery 70
them, and no doubt is often perverted to ih
promotion of partisan or personal schemes
A reduction Of these salaries down to the pa,
Of like men in private enterprises will NOR,
: likely secure the services Of such who are &C
eustomed to such mode Of life, and who woul,
therefore more likely give it sole attention.
Again, the mode sf appointment 10 this ser
vice, submit, is objectionable. There is di
3 vided responsibility which is liable to impai
D its efficiency, and beside, II is putting upoi
important officers in the government the dis
r charge of duties not entirely consistent Wit
8 the character and objects Of their Offices.
r recommend change in this respect. Again
4 there should be penalties for the violation q
= the oyster laws that their enforcement woul
S insure due execution, or the laws should b
: repealed. am advised that the present pen
/ allies have not only failed in securing the OF
4 servanee Of the laws, but in their results hay
put largo charges upon certain Of the countie.
. There are differences of opinion as to the OF
4 ganization and application Of this force. nc
4 only that il may be made self.sustainipe, b.
4 that its revenues may accrue to the State, an
T that the beds be protected for ourselves an
4 for future generations. The whole subie,
e demands your careful consideration and rev
e sion. The comptroller, equally with all, take
y n deep interest in the subject. and makes su,
|. gestions which commend to your attention
2 The land Office has, L believe, survived 4
+ usefulness, and is no longer. IN NV iudemen
a required for any State purpose. There shoul
4 be an amendment to the constitution abolisl
a ing the Office aud RENTING lis common en-,
n rent duties and the custody Of the records
+. the clerk of the Court of Appeals. To be mai,
!. like his other do,;e.. ont az tho f..ss oe of;c,
. The revenae from, ~. Office Ear ,ba n.s, vs,
was 81 o52 "a. willis, Tho eo.t or !. n n
g treasury wa. s.. 7.a5o. 81 Far The vsar 1s,
!. the r.yenue was sa.o a. and ,he o., oe
vas "a I7aas In con,,s., r;,h' ~. rr;,
4 10 tho war and far Inc yrar ended ssn,e,rbe
!. lssa ia r.vsnns -. g o-- % ~ Too,,l
r e,a NJ charse ,,,,oo n. ,,...nr. avo.n, =
. The animal sslarx os ,he cnn,,u;s.;ar.- ,sh;cl
/. hv ,hn l,,r,,;,u,;no ~ tssn' ,v., ev.T :, 300,
, r. ,ba -, 81 ,s7a ohaa,a. "a m ~ H.,
r.cara 49,. ~ $780, ,a.a ,~.n,s.rr.