Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-16
GOV. HAMgnroNs rHuNDERBoLr

He Arratgns the Ring Rule OF HIS
Party In Maryland for MfsgOvern-
ment, Extravaganza and Improper
Expenditures of State Funds - An
$500 Superintendent of IN
Miles of Unused telegraph Line.
BALTIMORE, Aug. 12.-Governor VIM.
T. Hamilton to-day gave to the press a
FIVE column address to the people OF the
State, making several startling dis
closures about the conduct of the last
three Democratic Legislatures, and show
ing improper expenditures of State funds
aggreg ating $500, 900. After speaking in
the most bitter manner Of an oligarohy of
bosses controlling the Maryland demoo-
rsoy, meaning thereby United States
Senator Arthur P. German and his fol-
lowers, the Governor says that since 1879
in several instances the taxes and reve-
nues of the State have not been paid over
by the collection officers that
hundreds of thousands OF dollars
have been annually due from
them for years; and that looseness, dis
order, and confusion everywhere pre-
vailed. Instead OF yielding revenue, or |
even maintaining itself, the oyster and |
the tobacco services were serious charges |
upon the Treasury. The delinquent Off
GERS, many OF them well-known politi- |
CLANS, now owe the State $772, 73S.08. |
There were passed at the session of the
Legislature of 1880, 44S laws Of all kinda,
but only 81 of them were general laws,
Thirty-six of them were to take effect be-
fore the first day Of June, and, therefore,
under the law, to have a newspaper pub
location. For these $33,450 was
paid, nearly $1,000 for each law.
Twelve hundred dollars WAS paid
under tho law by the comptroller to each
county, sometimes dividing it between
two rival papers in the county of the
same party. A common practice with
some, probably with the most of the
| papers, was to have these laws printed
| at Annapolis in supplement form, costing
| 800 for each county, and then distribut-
| inglthem through the several papers, CON
sidsring this publication, and getting
their 81 900. SIN the light of economy"
says the Governor, "sll must admit that
this was indetensible. In any light
the evil and wrong were apparent
and not to be justified. The press,
unfettered and resting for substantial
support upon the general public, and free
from patronizing influences Of power, is
an acknowledged powerful factor for good
in our present civilization and political
progress. The public printing, too, ran
into large sums, costing usually $685. 200
a session at times higher, and at one
time as high as $f7, 900. The Significance
OF the above lay in the fact that the sup
plement printed at Annapolis was gotten
up by Police Commissioner Cotton, one OF
Germans henchmen.'' Continuing the
, Governor says:
"The first demand in the Democratic
platform OF 1879 is that it is the duty OF
, the General Assembly, 80 elected, to
, abolish 'all offices not necessary for tn,
4 | public SERVICE II abolished one office
that of armorer at Easton, having I
salary Of $500 year. Does this fit TIN
declaration or answer the demand mad
by Democrats This body had the subjec
, before 1t, and why rake out this shadow O
an office from the ashes, where it had lair
\ hid for years, and not grapple the big one
obtruding all around The next deman,
j, was TO reduce 'all salaries and fees sub
!, ject to its control to the limit of the com
= pensation OF other persons engaged il
n similar employments in private life.
reduced the salary OF the Adjutsn
= General $500, and reduced the pay of tn
= officers and men in the oyster service $8, 81
The next demand 80 compel the prat
- tice of economy in every detail OF Stat,
:, county, and municipal expenditures
- 1t did nothing except the following
- repealed the appropriations given to th
70 IL agricultural societies, 1880. 1t r,
y pealed the bounty laws, which began
w w the years of 1864 65 upon an expenditul
70 not to exceed "a, 200, 600, and continue
'' aud enlarged by the act of 1867, tW
years after the war, aud under all
10 which there was expended S6,o5s, 1865, il
as together with 81, 464, 1859 So of interes
I'd making an aggregate sum of Us. 522, 1884,
ae paid up to and for the year 1880. lnstes
K of suffooating this monster of expenditu
,k by a total and immediate repeal at the Vel
10 beginning Of the session, its existence vi
Id prolonged by the law to the first day
On April, thence following it's passage, thu
re notifying all for another deadly thrust
the Treasury. So that, while the pa
ment of bounties in 1879 was b.
81, 800, for the fiscal year 1850, Is yea
after the war, there was paid o
e. 1863, 575. Here ends what this legislatu
nd did as to the demands for econom
of Was it for this that the harmony of Is
:" was invokedf Was it for this tn
he solemn pledges OF economy were mad
Ir. the canvass conducted, and the popul
Tor heart of the party firedf 1t touches n
.es the excessive expenditures, for its oy
to, body indeed surpassed in prodigal g
ay penditure any, we believe, OF its predect
an sors. Its own legislative expenditure
nd including the printing and the publicati
If of the laws, &C., amounted to the sum
en- 1913, 01201. Its officers, employees, a
ton benefciaries numbered los, and the
were but Ill members of both hous,
he nearly one to member. The milea
no and per diem of members was S57,
in while the pay, &C., of these officers we
BILE $50, l04.23, and additional pay was vot
,ar to members for service on committe,
lie Clerks were voted double pay and new
,lic paper correspondents were voted allo
an anoes, and all paid promptly out of
ds, Treasury
yet In 1880, when he took charge Of t
we State House, the Governor shows IL
re temporary reforms were made by I
as Legislature, the public printing, viii
md had cost as high as 1000, was reduC
nm to $25 500. 1t modified the newspal
ult publication of the laws by limiting I
.ms allowance to be paid, so as not to exec
i've $500 for each county, where 81 ,200, a
to at one time 81, 600, had been paid.
yet reduced the number of officers and e
can ployes for the session from los, the nu
out Der for the session of 1850, to 81, besit
ros- six chsplains, and reduced the legis
.ov- tive expenses, exclusive of printing, fr
its. $133 ,070 AZ, that of the session OF Is
to $l05, SAG II. The Governor next
icsl ures up the total unnecessary expen
,lu- lures OF his party since 1879, which
less places at a low estimate of 100000.
less Referring to offices held by the seve
OF members OF the Democratic State ring,
r to says:
ome 'The office Of Tax Commissioner sho
,ply be abolished. 1t was made Offices
.ru- the sake of the office, only created
sive 1878, with salary Of $4,000 and tra'
ariff ing expenses not to exceed $500, and /
ine- added to 1t is a clerk, with salary
ugh 81, 200. 1t was useless, the duties be
will before performed by the Comptroll'
the office, and can be- and should he agt
only And 80 the office OF Insurance Conn
? Of sioner, created the same session, hav
ara the same tenure and the same mode
ates appointment, and the salary of 81 Z
free but to be paid out OF the fees of his oil
and The objection goes to all such office IN
ark ing departments, separating the Treas
rs of Department, destroying it's unity
and established and intended by the Con
tntion and mnltinlyino ntfinea and