Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-16
The Governors Message.
From the Baltimore san.

{
of bis four years term, presents a satisfac-
'ory exhibit Of the finances of the State
Tho balance in the treasury at the close Of the
last fiscal year, Sept. 30, 1879, was $780,
| 2Us 90, against balance OF $204 l65 70 at
The close of the preceding year, and of 1897
98l ID on Sept. 3d. 1877. The receipts of
| The treasury (including halance) for the past
year were So, 800 .492 25, against a total Of
disbursements amounting to SI,77l, 2e3 26,
smaller amount than for seven years past
less by STA 1906 sc Than the expenditures of
| 1878, and less by 1902, 527 40 than the ex-
| peudiiures of 1876. --s.--......---s.-
The treasury relief loan of $500, 900, nego-
tiated 10 1878, has been in great part, The
message states, repaid to the State by the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Campany in the
settlement Of the amount agreed upon for ar
rears of "capiatiOn tax " so called, upon the |
| Washington Branch The bonds Of the com
| pany TO the amount of 1896 900 have also
been delivered 10 the State in pursuance OF
The same settlement, and a ten per cent divi- I
| dendis paid upon the States interest $780, |
000) in the Washington Branch Stocks and
bonds owned by the State, heretofore classed |
as productive, have ceased to pay dividends
or interest, amounting in the aggregate 10 ST.
l57 l26 90 Nearly the whole of this sum-
or 81 200. 600, is represented by mortgage
"" tut bueIutuhbHh huu lluc-HdttT OdOhl
Company, on which the interest OF $50, 900 |
wear has CEASED to be paid, and the Governor
recommends the subject 10 the attention OF
the Legislature The total funded debl of the |
State is 81 |, 259 6O7 50, and the excess over |
interesl-bearng securities held by The State |
is 81 674.2 80 ls. A portion of this debt, |
known as The Defense Loan, which bears in.
ieresi nj per ceut, will fall due in 1888 !
The Governor recommends that steps be taken
! 10 refund the amount of the loan at per cent
The Total taxable basis OF the State for 1879 !
is put ~ S509. 2l3. 89l, showing an increase
Of Sl2.33l. 464 over that of 1871 The
Governor suggests that, rs under the present
system OF looking TO county ,reasurers and |
ind the collectors Of Baltimore city, the date |
! OF the receipt OF taxes by the State is always
uncertain and indefinite, the dues often fail |
ing when there is mrst need OF them. some
other provisions should be made Prompt
payment would afford full reliet, and il can
not be denied that the lien Of The State for !
taxes due by the citizens should have prefer.
rnce over all other claims. The Governor
links that it would be proper to make !
charge upon each municipality and county
equal TO the usual levy of the State and COM
pei these sums 10 be paid into The state treasury
by the local authorities within specified and |
reasonable time. whether collected or not
This system is in force in Massachusetts and |
elsewhere, aud works well, and its enforce |
ment here would slimul aIe local officers TO |
greater activity in the collection Of county |
revenues, The tax commissioners Office is |
represented as having fully justified it's crea-
zion, aud the Attorney General is highly and |
deservedy complimented for bis zeal, indus |
try and success in the service Of the public !
The various points decided by the Court of |
Appeals in The appeal tax cases. arising under |
the act cf 1876, are severally passed in review.
Apart from this review of the actual BUSH |
ursS condition OF the State. the message con- |
tains several recommendations in favor of |
changes and Improvements to be entered upon |
hereafter. the present system of tobacco |
nspe lions and the management OF the tobacco |
warehouses come in for considerable degree |
Of criticism aud condemnation. Two dis |
,nei lines Of policy are suggested, rather than
specifically urged and recommended. By leas-
log he war houses 10 private parties it is
, shown that they may be made a source OF |
revenue to the Stale instead OF burden By |
abandoning the system Of compulsory inspec- |
ton altogether, the interests OF the producers
would not suffer, and the interests of trade
be greatly promoted. Similar considerations
would apply 10 the State cattle scales, which
yield revenue, it is true, but are serious
4 hindrance 10 The city of Baltimore ever be-
coming The hourish'ng cattle market It's geo.
4 AS well as railroad connections, peculiarly
! fit 10 be.
/ Several Of the Recommendations in former
4 messages are repeated. A,mare-E brouph d.
{. gauizaiion of the public ystem, espe,
l cially with view TO moN superyis- !
Nton provH>toBfor the paper ~ and the 1
esiablshment of workshops INJECTION
with the House Of CORRECTION Dsbeci6ally
recommended Allusion is made TO the OBJ
structon Of Justice caused by the action of
one OF the associate judges Of Baltimore coun-
/ ~, and the affection of the Legislature in
! vited 10 the matter with view to removing a
conflict OF opinion and authority which is
| calculated to bring the law into contempt. A
deficiency OF 81 ,667 81 for the last two years
in ne fund applicable 10 the support of the
| oyster navy, u deficiency which tails directly
! upon the Stale treasury, gives point to a re-
newal of the recommendations of former
messages in favor of a reduction Of the saIa-
! res OF the force IL is suggested that the
soops be turned over TO the counties inter-
esjed in the protection of their rivers, and
| that the steamer alone be retained BY the
| State to prevent the depreda,ions Of foreign
and unlicensed dredgers. new registration
OF voters throughout the State is urged, par
dcularly in view of the condition OF The reg
istration lists in this city, and after some
minor recommendations and statements 10 re-
gard TO the unsettled claim Of the architect for
| the Stale House repairs the great seal, the
| peni,entary, the disputed Virginia boundary
| line, &c, the message concludes with a sum-
mary of what the Governor considers TO
have been the main features and results of his
administration. Among these the message
enumeraies the settlement Of important ques-
tions Of taxation b. The Court OF Appeals
the definite ad justment OF the disputed rela-
lions and accounts between the State and its
I great railroad corporation, the Baltimore and
! Ohio Railroad Company; The maintenance of
The peace and Of the supremacy Of law in the
face OF popular tumull during the period OF
,he great strike" aud the vindcaiion OF
the freedom Of the suffrage and the fairness
of elections, in spite of the bitterness Of par
~ spirit lin the administration Of our
I finances, says the Governor, mo extrava-
gance has been committed IN any department,
/ and the credit Of The State has been enhanced
/ by the limits which have been placed upon
/ the expenditure of the revenue" The growth
OF the reform sentiment is recognized in the
! limitations sought TO be put upon the power
Of Executive patronage and in the general
demand that the obsolete laws Of compul-
sorry inspection in reference 10 staple articles
( ct irade should be blotted from the statute
( book, aud that the business interests of the
! community shall be separated ms far as posi-.
/ tile from all interference OF the government"
! all OF which Is but another recognition and
indication of the universally aud strength
OF the reform sentiment OF the State, which
/ looks for and demands expression through
the action OF the present Legislature. In these
| respects il is anticipated that the views and
recommendations Of the incoming will not be
I found to differ from those Of the outgoing
Governor, aud il is to he hoped tina, the Legis-
lature will not be found slow 10 respond TO
either
The Maryland Legislature adjourned over
nom Friday last until Monday. II has
done nothing Of importance except the work