Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-06-09

in reply thereto. You state that the
public press persists in holding Gov.
Hamilton responsible for the violent ut
terances Of his home organ the Mail, and
further on you say, that the Gov. IS
exceedingly late in making the dis
covery that there is a subsidized press
in Maryland, that in all the years that
elapsed from 1864 TO 1879 nothing was
heard from him on this Subject, sc.
Now think that the Gov. himself has
had very little TO say upon the subject OF
public printing. In his late letter TO
Messrs. Gill and others, be scarcely
touched upon it and in his speech, de-
lisered at the large reform meeting
at The Maryland Institute, 26th of May,
be did not mention it. II he be held
responsible, however, for the utterances
of the Null, considered as his home or
gan, ! adduce the following facts in re-
ply. In 1874, SAT 900 was paid TO the
public press; $1,000 to two newspa-
pers in Baltimore, and 81 500 to each
county, and as MIR. Geo. Cotton could
afford 10 and did print the laws Tor most
Of The county editors for 500 each,
81, 800 81 all, presume the Baltimore
papers could afford 10 do their own
printing for $500 each. The account
then would stand thus; Sl00x23-s2, 300
1 Plus $S00--S3, 100---the actual cost Of
printing. s4700-3, 100 leaves Si3,-
900 clear profit to the papers for the
work Of distribution. Truly, quite a
subsidy. The Mail at that time ''de-
nounced against The system as scandal
Gus and demoralizing, and for this, at
/ the next meeting of the Legislature, it
was deprived OF the public printing -
It's acton had the effect, however, OF
bringing down the Comptroller from his
lofty pedestal Of SAT 900 to S31 ,791.
aud OF giving only 81 303 10 the city
papers, and 8 300 to each county, Gar
relt county having been added since
The amount now paid is about S33 600.
agree with you that "the people are
a. much entitled 10 have these laws
published IN a form accessible 10 them
a. the Clerks, Registers, Magistrates,
LAWYERS, Sc, but think they might
be made thus accessible at a much les,
cost And does their publication in the
newspapers make them accessible to all
For example, probably not over ono.
fourth Of the reading community 10 the
county take the Beacon, and rs il y
only this favored class that get thru
extra sheet Of the laws. how about the
remainder who. though as much emit
He'd, de- not receive them 1T all Il
I ga.-f tars
or impaftiaiily 10 this mode Of distribu.
lion. ior one member OF the community
Is a. much entitled 20 print o. them 81
! another. ia Connecticut, and SONS
other States, the laws are published if
+ pamphlet form aud distributed 10 th,
/ people The same might be done IL
Md.ata cost 10 the State OF not nor,
, than from 80 600, or $40 900 Al most
and the lave, -Ts---A.A - sT,a ana c0nvu
j. IN felFreacc. Gov. Hamilton ia
lis efforts for reform IL but carving on
The principles enumerated IN the plat.
form which nominated him and the
pledges he made 10 the people in his
address OF acceptance aud 10 his csn.
vases before The people. upon the good
laiih OF which he was selected by the
largest majority ever received by any
candidate tor Governor since the an
/ iganchisement Of tho colored race. II
/ Is Isue that the Tubsldg OF the press is
not specifically mentioned m that plat
form or address OF acceptance. but in
/ the platform occur such sentences "A
these Sec. Rad, Il shall be the duty
ot the general assembly 10 tighten the
burdens OF taxation ia the State, by
ab0lishing all Offices not necessary for
the public service by reducing ali sal.
aries and fees subject to H. control 10
the limit OF compensation OF persons
engaged 10 similar employmenls 10 pri-
vaie life by compelling the practice OF
economy in every detail Of State. coun.
4 ~ aud municipal expenditures. And
! from hes address OF acceptance quote.
j Speaking 81 the decentralization OF the
/ public service. lie says: Prompt and
eficacious efforts should be taken 70
correct them II the executive, it
shall be considered one among my high.
est duties TO cooperate with every
laudabe effort to this end. The most
rigid economy should be practiced IN
every department Of the public service.
The peoples money, paid into the Trea-
sury Tor the support OF the State and
municipal government, is the product
OF their toll aud most sacredIy should It
be applied to its honest purposes. can
only expless my determination to CO.
operate in all measures likely to pro-
mote The public good, and in any mea.
sure that may redress wrong or cor
rect an abuse When elected TO the
highest office in the gift OF the people,
1t became his duty as guardian Of the
public interest not only 10 see that
the laws be faithfully executed as en-
joined by the Constitution, but also TO
make such recommendation with re-
gard TO their saiutafy improvement and
the correction of abuses as seemed to
him just and expedient. He therefore
made his recommendation to the egis-
lature, but the majority Of that body, as
il in contempt OF kls suggestions, not
only disregarded them in the main, but
in arraying themselves against him and
his measures OF reform, plunged into