The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-18
Gov. HamiltOn's Bombshell.

Gov. HamiltOn's BOmbshell.
The Baltimore papers Monday con-
tanned GOV. Hamilton's address to
the several thousand memorialists of
his party, who recently called upon
him tor his views on State matters.
The address is too long for publica
ton in our columns, but we give be-
low fair summary of the paper:
With individuals the Governor in
the outset declares that he has moth
ing to do. 1t is not for him to seek
to make or unmake candidates. 1t
is only with the concerns of govern
ment that he undertakes to deal. at
is with measures of public policy, of
legislation, and with methods, of ad-
ministration and of party manage
ment." AT the conclusion of the war
"public sentiment was consolidated
against the Republican party" Be-
ginning with their access into power
| in 1857 the Democrats were, he says,
for number of years engaged in re-
moving from the statute books "the
exceptional and oppressive measures
imposed upon the people" during the
war. While intent upon this 'many
of the details of our own State and
party management escaped critical
| observation" and the framework of
party organization became "the in
strument of compact and thorough
| ~ organized personal power" Reg
istration, primary meetings and cleo
| tons were during this period fashion,
ed into machinery for registering the
| eottcts Of this personal DOlOer. EUeTy
sort Of abuse .fOurished in the public
administration. Offices were multi
piled, the sinking fund obliterated,
and every species of extravaganza and
corruption exhibited itself unblush-
ingly. The scandals of the legisla-
tive session of 1880 are referred to by
the Governor in some detail. OF the
448 laws passed in that year but 81 of
them were general laws. OF these,
SO being made to take effect before
the 1st of June, were required to be
published in newspapers. This cost
S33, $50, or nearly 81 900 for each law,
the money being distributed among
the press IN such aO0y as to SeTVe per-
sonGt interest or "to keep the peace"
but with no reference to the value of
the work done, This, however, was
among the mildest of the corrupting
and extravagant acts of the Legisla-
ture. The public became discomfort
ed. To such dangerous height did
this discomfort rise that it became
clear that nothing but reform and
amendment could protect the party
from ruin. The convention of 1879
made declarations and promises en-
bracing what the honest members of
the party thought necessary for its
salvation. But, as has been said al
ready, the acts of the Legislature of
1880 did not correspond with the ex-
pectations created by the declarations
of the convention of the preceding
year. The Legislature of 1882 did
better. ut gives me pleasure" says
the Governor, ''tO state that some
thing was done, but not enough. A
fair registration law, law putting
primary meetings under legal sane
ton, law dividing Baltimore into
voting precincts, the abolition of a
number of sineCure and other Offices,
putting public printing out to con-
tract and reducing its cost, large
abridgement of the expenses of the
; I-eefi.iature-theSe are some of the
fruits of the session of 1882. But
: they fall short of a0Kat the reforming
sentiment demands. The primary
, election law needs improvement.
Bribery, violence and fraud at the
polls need to be better guarded against
as also the assessment of office-hold-
J ers and the existence and practices
of lobbyists. ITO get rid of the gnats
and flies as we'll as of the hornets and
leeches," the Governor urges upon
the party the propriety of lessening
the amount of patronage it has to be-
, stow. Among the Offices which the
Governor thinks may be abolished
without loss to the efficiency of the
public service are the following: The
office of tax commissioner. "a made
office" created in 1878; the Office of
insurance commissioner, the land Of
flee, one of the offices of fish commits
sioner, the offices of weighers of grain
and weighers of hay. The oyster
service requires radical revision
much more the tobacco service. Com
PuioOIy luSpSCllOl ouOulu DS dUOlISll-
ed, and the "malign touch of ma
chine politics" be removed from the
conduct of the warehousing system.
The canal service also demands the
application of "the exact principles of
civil service REFORM" The Legisla-
ture should cease to appoint to office;
should make laws and not seek to
execute or administer them; much
less should "that trinity of political
power" the board of public works,
consisting ofthe Governor, comptroll-
er and treasurer. possess the power
of appointing to Office. ut is the pat
ent device of political managers for
personal aims and ends. and as such
has produced its legitimate fruit of
disorder, inefficiency, discomfort and
distrust." Nor should the Judiciary
be 6awdened with the appointment of
school commissioners. Evils are men,
toned in the conduct of legislation
| which need correction-such as keep
| ino. hooly tho rranoral onnr0nriot i0n