The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-07
The Governors Message.

would make about ten columns of the AD-
vocATE. State finances is the first sub
iect treated. and about one-third of the
message is devoted to it, The Governor
alludes to the diversion of sums levied for
specific purposes, and by suggestions con-
cludes that if things are not mended there
will be an alarming deficit of 1926, 1888
next year. The Governor reaches this
conclusion by dividing up the s752. 1928
in the treasury last September, at the close
Of the fiscal year, and applying portions to
the school fund, which he says was short
$50. 35S. 40, and other portions to the in
terest on the several loans of the state. On
the face. these figures would almost i'm
press one with the idea of impending bank
ruptcv. and pave the way for a Malone re
adjustment movement in the state. The
facts and figures are only suppositious, and
no widespread alarm will result from their
presentation. Much of it the people are
already familiar with, for the Governor has
followed very closely on the line of his
speech in Baltimore last spring, when he
undertook to alarm the people and to COM
pass the defeat of Mi Heating aud TO elect
a Legislature that would adhere to carry
out his ideas of state policy.
The message in many, in fact. in most
particulars, Is reiteratioa of his commu-
nication to the Legislature two years ago.
The Governor would not have but one
Fish Commissioner, and does not perceive
the necessity of any. He would have but
one tax collector for county and make
failure in prompt collections and payments,
criminal offence. He would abolish the
Office of Tax Commissioner, though the
Office costs the state but about $4,000, and
has increased the taxable basis more than
$4,000, 600, which brings into the treas
ury about s34. 600, and much more to the
cities and counties of the state He would
abolish the Office of Insurance ComElis-
sioner, though the Office costs the state not
one cent 1t actually pays a revenue into
the treasury from the fees collected from
insurance companies, and the office il pro-
lection to the people. He would abolish
the Offices of Land Commissioner and
Weigher of Grain and Hay, aud also to
baeco inspectors, none of which changes
the people desire, especially the abolish
men. of tobacco inspection. The repeal
of the compulsory feature of the cattle
weighing law, made two years ago, Is not
alluded 10, and this Is subject upon which
the people would ike to have heard him
just how much has been lost to the state
by the repeal and how much it has bene-
ited the people would have formed inter,
esting reading. The advantages reaped by
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad would also
have been interesting.
That par. 1t the message relating to the
pay and number Of legislative employees
was forestalIed. for the legislature had al
ready reduced beth.
The Governor again alludes to the pub
LEGATION Of the laws. He SAYS it i another
subject to which public atteRiisR has been
attr;lcted. That attention hso been attract
Ell by the Governor aud his organ attack.
ing the law. They stand almost alone IN
their opposition, the press and the people
standing forn Themes, discussed subject
in The state for the past two years has been
the sgxiag Of mortgages, vet the Governor
devofes less than one of the forty-six pages
Of his message to it. Upon all subjects
treated be has most positive opinions ex-
cept this, and he simply SUGGESTS that IL
the taxation of MORTGAGES >be deemed adj
yisable, that there be an equitable distriku-
ton Of the tax between the mortgage debt
and the real estate covered BY 1t; or in
other words, divide the tax hetween the
mortgages and mortgagOr.
The message calls for new registration
bill, and the legalizing Of primaries. Some
of the suggestions on a registration law are
embodied in the odious johnson bin. allnd-
"a to in these columns last week
Upon the whole we are not pleased with
the message. While the constitution re
quires the Governor to lay such matters
before the legislature as he may deem pro
Der. we think the Governor has overdone
i. The chief recommendations, and all
those Of much Importance were made two
wears ago. and the Governor urged them
upon public attention in letter a few
months before nominations for the present
legislature were made. They. 'Tese faly
discussed in the press and nPoa the hnst-
ings. and the legislatu-e, coming fresh from
the people. know her desires in regard to
them, and win aes accordingly. The leg
islature Is largely Democratic in both
branches. and the state platform calls for
new registration and the legalizing Of prima-
ries. The people do not want inspections
abolished. and this persistent opposition by
the Executive Is dis,asteful 1t is the same
with the Establishment of the Insurance and
Tax commission offices.
Next week we shall discuss some Of the
recommendations of the message more at
length. Parts of it seem to be in answer
10 the press and the speeches on the nus
tinas last summer and fall, and some per
sonal feeling Is manifested
The mild weather of the fall and winter
was succeeded by sudden change on Fri
day last, and wintery weather has prevailed
ever since. On Saturday night and Sun
dav snow fell in the regions of the st.
Lawrence and the lakes, and South of