The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-01-13


The Governors Message.
Governor Hamilton's message was read in
the Legislature, on the 9th instant. 1t is
very long document, the Governor having
apparently fully performed his constitutional
duty of making the Legislature acquainted
with the condition of the State and recon-.
mending such measures as he judges necessa-
~ and eXpedent.
The Governor gives summary of the re-
port ofthe Comptroller, from which itappears
that the total receipts into the Treasury for
the fiscal year ending September Both, 1881,
including balance on hand Of S513,026,
We're $2,509,667, and the disbursements
s1,757 400, leaving balance in the treasury,
on the Both of September, 1881, of S752 1913.
The Governor goes into an array of figures to
show that the financial policy of the State is
wrong. According 10 his calculations there
should not be cent in the treasury but If
the proper amounts were credited to the
sinking fund there would be considerable
deficit in the States strong box. The Coy
ernor appears to have taken up his contro-
versy with Comptroller Heating at about the
same point where he left it last fall. Ii would,
perhaps, be safer in the long run to adhere
to the Democratic doctrine of "strict CON
struction" of the Constitution in all things,
but we have no doubt the policy pursued for
years by the sovral Comptrollers has kept State
taxes lower than they would otherwise have
been. The Governor urges upon the Legis
iature with great force the most rigid ccono.
my, and makes about forty distinct recon-
mendations which the Baltimore San has Ia
ken the trouble to condense, az follows:
TO reduce the number tax collectors in the
State from 81 to24.
To make tax collectors defacatona criminal
oifense.
To appoint non-paid commission to revise
the tax collection system and to report to the
next General Assembly
To reduce the fish commissioners from two to
one.
To stop paying the Secretary of the Senate
81, 900 year for recording vital statistics.
To abolish the Office Of superintendent of the
House of Correction telegraph though no sal
airy is paid.
To abolish the Office of tax commissioner and
salary of $4,000, with $500 for travelling expen-
ses.
~ To abolish the office Of insurance commits
4 aAouer, who is paid by fees
~ To abolish the office of commissioner of the
land Office (saary 81 500 and restore he records
to he custody Of the Clerk of the Court of APP
peals.
TO abolish the weighers OF grain and hay and
lease the scales
To reduce legislative expenses and the num-
Der of employees.
To stop paying extra compensation to clerks
and emp Dyes
To have ali bills &c, perfected and signed by
titn mud ,,f I
fore adjournment
To ecouomize in the matter fprintug.
To repeal the act authorizing the publication
of laws in newspapers.
To dissolve the oyster navy, sell the old
steamer, or substitute for ii u swift tug or from
four 10 six steamers, and sell or transfer the
eight sloops TO the counties interested in pro-
tecting their own oyster preserves.
For a Maryland and Virginia oyster law for
the Potomac river
To modify the Maryland oyster dredging and
longing laws.
To put stamp tax, per gallon or bushel, on
Maryland dredged oysters
To abolish the present compulsory features
of Maryland tobacco inspection by State off.
GERS.
To reduce the number of directors of the
House of Correction from Is to or Z, TO serve
for two years and be appointed by the Cover
nor.
To secure an equitable distribution OF taxes
between mortgage debt and real estate.
To stop the contingent fund of the Executive
end make instead specific appropriations.
For new registration and election laws.
To legalize primary elections.
For more perfect provisions to count the
votes in elections
To prevent and punish election bribery.
To punish lobbying.
To elect the State treasurer by the people.
70 give the appointments Of police commits
eioners to the Governor.
To take away all appointing power from the
Legislature.
TO deprive the Judiciary of all appointing
power
To abolish the "dual or tripartlte" appoint.
ing power of the Governor, comptroller and
treasurer, Us now practiccd by them in the
boards of public works and State fishery force
To revise the Chesapeake and Ohio canal re-
pair loan act of1S7S, so as to define more Ger
tainly the objects of this loan, or prohibit the
further issue of bonds under it.
Requiring town, city and county authorities
TO report their Indebtedness to the Governor
To extend the veto power of the Governor to
distinct and independent items of expenditure
in any appropriation bill.
To make it the official duty Of the Secretary
of State to attend to all matters connected with
correspondence with foreign and sister States
respecting inquiries about our industries, pro.
auctions, resources, &c.
Authorizing an unpaid commission to give
this subject some special attention.
The Governor concludes by assuring the
Legislature that it will be always most graft
flying to him to cooperate with them in every
measure calculated to promote the interests
of the people and to secure to them pure,
good and economic government. He has
laid out work enough to keep them busy
until the end of the session, if they take hold
of it. Some of his recommendations are of
doubtful expedency while Others are calcu.
lated to bring about q more economical ad
ministration Of the State government and a
corresponding reduction of taxes. To &C
complish this object, which all DESIRE Gov
ernor Hamilton should be prepared to yield
his views upon some points No good can
come to the State from faction fight between
the executive and the legislative departments
of the State Having made his recommends
tions, he has done his whole duty, and the
responsibility for the character of the lcgisa
ton will rest upon the representatives of the
people themselves,
THE COUNTY PAPER We cheerfnlly but
modestly endorse the following from our es
teemed cotemporary, the Baltimore Sun:
A county paper properly conducted de-
servpa the cordial and nrnct ioo1 sup,,nrt nf he