New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-13
AN OUTLINE OF THE ADDRESS.

TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlbUNE
BALTIMORE, Nd, Aug. 12.-GoVerhor hani,i'on
ro-dav gave for publication nVe-colulih auuio0'
20 tho oeople of the State, in which ne makes sew
s.a,osrrss about the conduct of the last three
nomocratic Legislatures. showing improper expen-
a;,,ros of State funds amounting to half million
aol,aro He speaks in the most bitter manner OF an
o,;c.rcbv of "bosses" controlling the Maryland
Dsmocracv. meaning thereby United States Senator
German and his followers. The Governor says tnat
go s7o in several instances taxes aud other rev.
onnas of the State have not been paid over by
tha collection officers. Hundreds OF
thousands of dollars were annually
due from them for years. Looseness, disorder and
confusion everywhere prevailed. Instead Oh
Welding revenue or even of maintaining ltseii' 'ne
oyster and the tobacco services were serious
charges upon the Treasury The delinquent officers
many of them we'll known politicians, now owe tne
S772 73S Os There were passed IN 1880 at the
session of the Legislature 44S laws of all klnds'
Only sixty-one of them were general laws. Thirty
six of them were to take effect before the lst OF
June and therefore, under the law TO nave news
paper publication for these. S3345O was palo,
nearly 81 900 for each law. Twelve huhureo
dollars we're awarded under the law by the Con-
troer to each county. sometimes TINS sum-
says the Governor, was divided between TWO ri'"i
newspapers in the county of the same party
take it, to keep the peace and, Therefore having
no reference to the value of the work DONE" A com
mon practice with some, probably with the most of
the newspapers was TO have these laws printed
at Annapolis in supplement form, costing
S1OO for each county, and then distributing tnem
through the several papers, considering this pub
lication and getting their net $780,
"In the light of economy all must
acknowledge" the Governor says, that this was
indefenslble in any light. The evil and wrong
l. he Ead
nnfettered and resting for substantial support on
ihe general public and FREQ from patronizng in
Auences of power is an acknowledged powerful fac
tor for good in our present civilization and political
progress"
ABUSES IN PUBLIC PRINTING.
The public printing, too. the Governor states, ran
into large sums, costing usually $2o,OOo session;
at times higher; at time as high as So"ooo'
The significance of the foregoing criticism rests IN
the fact that the supplements printed at
Annapols were prepared by Commissioner
Cotton. one of Germans henchnien. Continuing
the Governor says: "The first demand in the
Democratic platform of 1879 is that it is the duty
of the General Assembly, elected, to abolish all
Offices not necessary for the pnblic service 1t
abolished one Office that of armorer at Easton, hav-
ing a salary of $500 year. Does this ut
the declaration or answer the demand made Dy
Democratsf This body had the subject before IT,
and why take out this shadow OF an Office from the
ashes where il had lain for years. and not grapple
the big ones obtruding all aroundf The next
demand was 10 reduce all salaries and fees subject
to its control to the limit of the compensation Oh
other persons engaged in similar empoyments IN
private life 1t reduced the salary OF the Adjutan'-
General $500 and reduced the pay of officers and
men in the oyster service $3.50 The next demand
was to compel the practice of economy in
dafai of State cNuntV and munlclpai e1-
penditures II did nothing except the following:
1t repealed the appropriations given to the twelve
agricultural societies ST. $50; itrepeaedth the bounty
laws which, beginning IN the years lso4-oo'
upon an expenditure not to exceed ~, OOOoOo was
continued and enlarged by the act OF 1867, TWO
years after the war. and under all which there
was expended $6,05S,36S 49, together with
2,464 169 50 of interest, making an aggregate
sum Of IS 522, ,53S O5 paid up to and for the year
1880. Instead of suhocating this monster OF ex'
penditure by a total and immediate repeal, and at
the very beginning of the session. It's existence was
prolonged by the law to the 1st day Of April
thence following Its passage, thus notify
ing ali for another deadly thrust at the
Treasury, 50 that while the payment
of bounties in 1879 but $11 ,6O0 for the fiscal
year 1880, fifteen years after the war, there was
paid out $669,575
LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES NOT TOUCHED.
Here ends what this Legislature did as 10 the de-
mands for economy. Was it for this that the har-
mony of 1879 iDvokedf Was 1t for
this that solemn pledges of economy were made
the canvass conducted and the popular heart OF the
party fired 1t touches not the excessive expendi-
lures for its body; indeed it surpassed IN prod-
gal expenditure any, We believe, of its predecessors
It's legislative expenses inciud-
ing the printing and the publication
Of the Laws, etc., amounted to the of
$208,012 80. Its officers employees and benef-
ciaries numbered 105 and there of members of
both houses only Ill, or nearly employe to a
member. The mileage and per diem of members was
e57 767 while the pay, ETC., of these officers etc,
was S5O104 %. Money was voted to the
sfhcers etc. and additional pay to members for SER
vice on a committee. Clerks were voted double pay
and Newspaper correspondents were voted allow
ances and all were paid promptly out of the treas
uyn
In1ssO when he took charge Of the State House, the
Governor shows that temporary reforms were made
BY the Legislature. The public printing,
which had cost as high as $67OOO, was
reduced to $25, 800. 1t modified the newspaper
publication of the laws by limiting the allowance
tobs paid 80 not to exceed 5000 for each county,
whore ST. 200 and at ono time 81 900 had been paid.
reduced the number of officers and employees for the
session from 105, the number for the
session of 1885, to "a. besides six
eha plains, and reduced the Legislative
expenses exclusive OF printing from $133,O7O 40,
mat Of the session of 1880, to $105,S46 II.
UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURES.
The Governor next figures up the total
Unnecessary expenditures Of his party
nnee 1879. which he places, at 9
low estimate, at 100000. Referring to Offices
held by the several members Of the Democratic
state ring he says; "The Office of Tax Commissioner
should be abolished. 1t was made Office for the