The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-14
SATURDAY, JAN. IA. 1882.
The Governors Message.


Gov. Hamilton's message, is a
exhaustive review of what he regard
as existing abuses and defects in tn
legislation and administration of tn
State, with suggestions as to hoy
they should be remedied. The frs
portion of the message is natural,
DEVOTED to consideration of tn
State finances, and the Goyerno
goes over good deal of the grount
which has been the subject of recen
and animated controversy between
him and COMPTROLLER Heating. TIL,
Governor disclaims any Esprit O
criticism" or intent TO reflect upor
the past" yet the argumentative ton,
of this part of the message indicate:
that the heat of controversy at least
has not entirely passed from hi.
mind. According to the comptroll
er's statement the total of receipts o.
the State treasury during the fisca
year ended Sept 80. 1881, is 81, $685.
641.09, which, added to the balance
of S5l3.026.36 in the treasury Sept
81, 1880, gives an aggregate of 50 ,5O9,-
667.44. Deducting disbursements,
$1,757. 469.15. the balance, Sept. 80,
1881, was $752,198.29. This balance
the Governor argues, is merely NOM
inal, and 'in fact" he says, "there
should not be one cent there. 1t
does not belong to the treasury prop
er, but to the loan creditors, and
should haye been carried to their
account by investments for the sink.
ing fund" The Governor complains
that not only this balance, but large
sums besides, the proceeds of taxes
levied and collected for sundry spec
flied loans, have for a series of years
been diverted to other purposes, and
that there is actually due to-day by
the treasury to these loans the sum
OF 81 .465, 1868, including the balance
referred to Of 1852, 1893. 20. All this
forms part, as stated, of the contro-
versy between the Governor and
the treasury officials, with which the
public during the last legislature cam
vass became familiar.
The Governor claims that the actual
surplus of ordinary or usual receipts
for the past year over ordinary ex-
penditures and after payment of BAL
ance of interest upon the public debt
not otherwise provided for is only
$2,OS9.56. and that if the school fund
received all that was collected for it.
instead of a surplus there would be
deficit of S3l ,269.14. This being the
case in an "off.year," when there was
no legislative session, the Governor
urges that if the expenses for the
present Legislature remain the same
as fer the last session, the deficiency
FOR the current year will be 1926, $780,
63. Hence he urges the especial
necessity of economy and a general
reduction of expenses. Those of the
he holds, should not ex-
coed $125,000. The Governor recon-
mends certain notifications in the
act of 1880. chapter 232, providing
for a new So, 600. 900 loan for the pay.
ment of the bounty defense loan,
which natures July /, 1888, and also
he repeal of the act of 1872, chapter
'66, for the issue of a per cent. cur
ency loan in exchange for the five
per cent, sterling loan. The Cover
Tor explains at length the operation
md value of the sinking funds, and
Irges that sound policy. as well as
rood faith. requires that they should
lot be suffered to be diverted or be-
ONE impaired, bat should be sedu.
Ously kept up and scrupulously an
lied.
Eighty.four tax collectors for the @
tate are considered to be too many /,
)r the service, and the reduction of |;
lis number to twenty-four, or one a
n each county and the city of Baltl- 4
lore, is recommended. More string. q
ut measures against delinquent coli +
'ctOrs are also recommended, and 81
le appointment OF an unpaid com. v
ission for the revision of the whole o
x and collection system of the n
ate, to report to the next LegisIa- cl
ire. Instead of two fish commits. u
Dners The Governor thinks oneq quite et
and has doubts whether Ell
q outlay for the service has any 81
equate results. The salary paid fu
e secretary of the Senate as super &c
tendent of vital statistics is declared kI
be for no service at all, aud the act W
owing it should be repealed. A fo
nilar recommendation is made in TO
gard to the Office Of superintendent ne