The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-09
Review of Governor Hamilton's Policy.

In reviewing the positions OF the Governor
as set forth in this document, and subsequent
ones, I desire to do so in spirit OF honest
iuouiry. es an advocate of retrenehment and
reform 1t is proper to premise that the writer
was an original Hamilton man. Hispreterenees
were expressed for him at the time OF the Sc.
lection of Governors Whyte and Carroll, and
his faith in him as a safe and judicious leader
was shaken only when he refused to await the
result of a conference with legislative com
nittee chosen especially to confer with him
upon the various subjects, which, after con-
sultation, might be deemed proper for leglsia-
tive action. In his haste to forestall pubic
opinion upon the subject he sent to the House
Of Delegates a special message containing
number of specifications of subjects, which, IN
his opinion required retrenchment and reform.
Some of these specifications we're proper IN
themselves, but others were retrograde move
mems. instead of advances in the direction
of retrenchment. But Gov. Hamilton would
listen to no suggestions looking to any moditl-
cation of his views upon the various SUBJECTS
embraced in his special message: concurrent
action with him depended solely upon com
plete subverviency to his imperlous Will. NO
wonder that he found himself IN minority
among the representatives OF the people at
Annapolis, and that most of his proposed
measures failed. The entente cordidte be
tween the Governor and the majority IN the
Legislature was thus early broken, and he at
TEMPTED to carry with high hand measures
which did not commend themselves to aceep-
lance. He at once assumed towards the Leg
islature an autoeratic demeanor, and was
met. as might have been expected, with de-
fiance. Nevertheless, some OF hls recommen.
dations received legislative sanction, and
others might have been passed under more
malicious and conciliatoTy course of action
But Gov. Hamilton is no leader has dogmau-
cal methods serve to repel all those who are
unwilling to submit themselves unreseryedly
to his control He made the GORGEOUS blum
I der Of surprising that whatever measure ne
recommended ought to pass because 1t ema-
mated from him. No concessions whatever
would he make to opposing opinions. de
could not comprehend the idea that other
men should claim TO exercise The night OF PR.
waite Judgment. His iaitering majority turned
/ his head. and he conceived the notion that he
was sole leader OF the Democratic party, the
| keeper Of all its principles, and the oHly one
| who had knowledge Of the wants ofthe people
! and the necessities Of the hour. Ii never oc-
cured to him that the Legislature was more
! direct reflex Of public sentimeE:-that three
| or four delegates from each county would he
/ ant 10 know more OF the wants and desires Of
I the people than he, coming Rs be did from q
/ section remote from business AID political
centres. Il was enough, he thought, 10 carry
/ !, through. that any measure should have
! emanated from him. Not contsRt WITH the
exercise of the functions Of The Executive
/ merely he assumed 10 control those OF the
/ Legislative branch Of the government also.
/ And this refusal os the Legislature 20 follow
1 bIindly the course which be pointed out b
& 4 st.,T Of for
/ made in the platform Of the party IN 1872.
Let us inquire into this matter and SEE
whether i be true, as the Governor alleges
1 that the Legislature did fail 10 carry out the
plaiform The platform must not be con
{ founded with the Governors special messag,
/ 10 the House of Delegates, because they are
very different things. The second resoiallof
Z of the platform, which was all that related 81
State policy, declared that
1T viii be the duty % the next General
I Assembly TO tighten the burden Of taxation y
this State BY abolishirg all offices oct neces
sary for the public service, BY reducing 81
salaries and fees subject to It's control, TO tn,
limit Of the compensation OF persons engaged
in similar employment IN private lie, by CON
pelling the practice cf economy I'D every DC
tail Of State, Comfy and Municipal exPend'
ture. and by enforcing The observance Of th'
State, or person holding property therein
ought 10 contribute bis proportion q pasiii
taxes for the support OF the government &C
cording to his actual werih in resl or persoan
property
Before proceeding with this inquiry rs 4
the Legislature, let Us inquire whether 'u'
I Governor himself, its aecaser, is not Hlnena
Bile TO a like charge. Il Is consended by bn
friends that be has rigidiy carried OCT tbs
: pistiorn and honestly endeavored TO rcdeea
every pledge therein made. Ihis eAaphaii
calg deny. He has been grossl5 dereiici il
one Of its most importan; and biadIng tea
tares, the constitutional rule that every mai
/ ought TO contribute his proportion 2ipabhe tax
for the support Of the government according
to bis actual worth in real or personal proper
ty. In attempting 10 play the role OF Arisi'de
( the Just. GOV. Hamilson's course oaght 1,
be above suspicion. IL is not however. an
crediblv informed BY Que who has made At
/ examination Of the records Of Washington
county. that Gov. Hamilton pays taxes 81
/ So. 0si0 only, while be Is Teputed 20 BE- woTti
/ in real and personal properly Al least $500
600 In what does the sequesiered portion
of his estate consist The tongue Of common
report saws mortgages. And yet, neither y
/ his regular or special messages, nor IN b.
ssbombshell, - does he say one word 10 recon
meudaiion OF the taxation Of mortgages
/ With what truth, then, can il be said that b,
has rigidly carried out the platform 81 hi
party, Of mas fulfilled his duty under the Cun
stitulion BY recommending that every MAJ
should De taxed according 10 his actual worti
in real or personal property ! w,ll iarthe
strip this haunting iackdaw OF his borroSet
reform plumage by showing that several
( his recommendation Of so called retrenchmeu
IA
| 70 deplete the treasury Of the State and {,
opeEais TO the detriment Of the interests Of q
! citizens. The repeal Of the compulsory weigh
ing of cattle vas Que Of the Governor meas
/ ureS. aud il passed the Legislature IN defer
ence 10 his recommendation. What will b
/ the effect of that measure? Il will keep sruu
the treasury 81 least SEC, 600 which mlgh
have accrued from that source alone DARN.
| III term OF Office II the State Scales had no
been interfered with. Three responsible
ana experienced cattle dealers have assured
the writer that they were ready TO give bone
TO the State that they would pay annually ioi
their use the SUN OF $4,000. This is one o
Gov. Hamilton measures OF reFenchment
I equivalent to the throwing away OF 1900 o
the States revenue during one guberuaioria
term The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad anf
the Northern Central Railroad are both build
y
as they are completed the State scales vii
be of no service, aHd no Feyenne will be deFi
we'd from that source. Besides, the loeal
market afforded to the farmers Of Baltimore
Hartford and Howard counties for their hay
will be broken up, for these companies vii
furnish hay purchased in the west and trans
| norted over their own roads, aad the loca
farmers NAV hunt a market for their hay else
where. Unless the Legislature restores the
law as it stood before the meeting Of the las
Legislature, which 1t is more than probable
| will be done, all revenue from that source
must shortly cease. As the scales are now
regulated, with the weighing Of sheep and hogs
totally abolished, aud the weighing Of cattle
not compulsory, they viii pay into the State
treasury for the current fiscal year nearly 50,
600 With the scales restored as they wefe
I before they were disturbed by the present iaE
at Gov. Hamilton's suggestion, they would
pay into the treasury at least $50, 600 during a
! pabernatorial term, and thus help to tighten
the burden of taxation imposed upon reaI
estate.
Upon this point we desire to add to what
our correspondent states, that the fees for
weighing do not come from the pockets Of the
people Of Maryland, or out of the public
purse Of the taxpayers, but from the pockets
/ of the droEers and dealers, nearly all OF whom
| do not reside ip the State, and they want
/ State inspection to continue, because it Is
| beneficial to their interests. Taey have never
| complained, or petitioned for the abolition o.
| the scales. Why, then, should Gov. Hamil'
ton desire TO break it up FED JOrkEAL.l