The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-04-23


cudcd the declaration of principles and
measures by an eloquent appeal that the
| Democratic Conservative party of Mary
land having no other purpose to fulfill
except to secure the good government of
the State and to aid in the reformation
of affairs. expects all citizens Of the State
who share its opinions to unite cordially
in the attainment of these great objects. y
And the people did respond. The Legis
lature met and adjourned. 1t was felt
by everybody that the just expectations
of the people were not realized.
1t is not for me to say how it came, nor
do propose to attribute blame to any
one The fact of failure lies some where,
and it may be the general fault with
which everybody is somewhat IT, blame.
Chartably regarding that fault as Il gen
eral one. the fact itself Of failure is dis
tinct enough in almost every thing hoped
for by public sentiment. The important
question now for the elevated and just
consideration Of the people is not to dwell
on the past, but to see to it that their
future action brings the certain results
of their will. There is no need for dis
enlargement; steady. persistent. and con-
sidcrate effort will end in final triumph.
The abuses of years cannot he reformed
in a single effort any more than chronic
disease can be removed by a single pre-
scription.
Allow me to suggest. i'll connection
with your inquiries. that individuals i'll
one sense are not 50 much to blame at
times as the system, or the rant 81 $ys-
TEN. that affords the opportunity for the
commission of either deliberate or unin-
territorial wrong. In all well-organized
governments there are systematic rules
of conduct which are m .dc to protect the
inviting points of attack from encroach-
mentS of all kinds. Our present con>ti-
and there is hardly any thing that is left
unprotected. and especially that object
of general assault. the Trsasury. The
strctest rules of accountability are pre-
Scribed. with the most specific powers of
appropriation. Notwithstanding by some
underlined right the growth of years of
repetition. the barriers of defense and
protection have been broken down, and
our perfect system of expenditure and
| accountability, established by the con
Stitution. in some cases practically de-
stroyed. And this is especially So in re-
spect to our legislative bodies leading to
| excuses il expenditures that all good
citizens must lament and that all should
endeavor to prevent, and to which You
| have particularly directed nv attention
| for information. | will accordingly refer
| $ ,mewhat in detail to this branch of the
subject in illustration of the evil.
By the constitution, article ,, section
30. No money shall be drawn from the
Treasury of the State by an "rdCT or reSo-
| uti0n, except in accordance with an ap-
| preparation by law. and any such law shall
distinctly specify the sums appropriated,
and the object to which it shall be APP
Piled When an appropriation is made
according to law, the constitution pre-
| scribes further how it shall be drawn.
| Article i. section .: THE Comptroller
shall grant, under regulations prescribed
by law. all warrants for money to be paid
out of the Treasury in pursuance of APP
preparations by law and further, same
| article. section 8: The Treasurer shall
receive the money of the State
land shall tisburse the same for the pur
poses Of the State, according to law.
| upon warrants drawn by the Comptroller
and on check counter>igned by him. and
| not otherwise; he shall take receipts for
all money paid by him.
The summary OF these fundamental
and wise provisions is that no money can
he drawn by any order or resolution, nor
can any money be paid out Of the treas
ury except by warrant or check counter
| signed by the Comptroller. and that only
| in pursuance of an appropriation by law.
There is no law prescribing the number
If clerks and employees Of either House.
nor their compensation. 1t has been the
practice for each House. by its own sep.
arate order. to make any number and t."
| Fix whatever compensation it chose
| Upon the order of each House. and at
| times upon the order of the presiding
| ,f1icerS. generally upon the order of the
chairman of the committee on claims.
they receive their pay. There is no law
authorizing any payment upon any such
orders: there is no law authorizing tn,
| chairman of the committee on claims.
the presiding officers of the Senate on
| House, or all combined. to disburSe the
public moneys to the officers and EN-
| pluves. or upon their order. There is no
contingent fund either allowed by the
Constitution or appropriated by law to
| either House. or both Houses. or to tie
| presiding officers or either of them OF to
any committee, to disburse at their will
and pleasure. There was appropriated
the sum of 5l20. 900 to pay the legisl;,-
tive expenses of last session. The per
diem of members is fixed by the Consti-
tuition. and is therefore held by the courts
| i'll itself to be an appropriation according
to law. Under the present practice OF
discussing this appropriation the whole
und is left to the disposal of the orders
Of either House. without responsibility
or accountability to any governing au-
tlority. and only limited in their Use by
the exhaustion of the fund.- and accord
ingly this large appropriation even was
overrun by the sum of Sl3 600. This
| should not be So and it is not authorized
but forbidden by the Constitution. The
party claiming any portion of this fund
must show to the Treasury that he is ell
titled by lac to he paid out of it, and
then he receives it upon warrant or the
countersigned check of the Comptroller
| No one is entitled to draw money from
| the Treasury otherwise: no order or reso-
luton of either House or both; no order
of the presiding officers of either, or of
any committee of either House, or the
| chairman of any committee have the
power to draw upon this fund from the
| Treasury; it is by the virtue of law alone.
and there is no law giving to them this
authority. There is neither system nor
law in the disbursement of this large
fund. a law was passed in 1870 estab-