Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-01-04
The Governors Message.

The message of Governor Hamilton, trans.
mitted Wednesday to the Maryland Legis-
lature, covers sixty-seveh book pages, and
is devoted mainly TO the financial condition
Of the State and questions which have from
Time TO time arisen in connection Herewith.
II have been elaborate, particular and tedi.
Gus" says the Governor, sand have made
myself. perhaps, the subject of just crit-
cism for recapitulating many suggestions
and views heretofore suggested and urged
My justification is that nothing is said in a
spirit Of contention, or to contrast opposing
views or antagonize contrary opinions, but
moved alone in everything by earnest con
victions of what is sound, rational and
wise policy" The favorable financial con
dtion OF the State, as derived from the Ia
bles Of the comptroller, and set forth in the
message, is attributed by the Governor main.
ly To restraints in legislative appropriations
To different objects, and in general pro.
gressive economy practice in legislation and
in administration. at is only necessary
he adds, ITO improve upon the progress al
ready nude 10 put our financial affairs upon
the most solid basis, whom we can look for
the certain and early extinction of the nub.
lie debt without further impositions upon
the people and without mpsiring our pro.
dnctive assets" The receipts Of the treas.
nry during the fiscal year ended September
30, 1888, amounted to $2,097,376 SO, which,
with balance in the treasury from the pre-
oeding year OF $63s, SOC 63, made total OF
$2,i35,SS3 81. The disbursements amounted
To $i,753,699 90, leaving balance of $685..
1873 SO The disbursements included 1871
COL 90 TO interest on the public debt; $46s,.
$40 II to public schools, and $8l0,l27 SO To
salaries, colleges aud academies, public in
situations and other miscellaneous eypendi.
lures. The excess OF receipts over disburse.
nienis during the fiscal year was $343, 1876.
~. During the preceding fiscal year the
receipts We're $l,92i,4Sl AZ, disbursements
x,O3S, lib l3--an excess OF disbursements
over receipts of xll3,69l GO. II Is noted,
however, that 1889 was the legislative year,
and the expenses Of the session amounted
To xl3l SAG II: also that there was trans
ierred from the treasury proper 10 the sink
ing fund $l7l9S2 81, making aggregate OF
x303 629 2S, so that but for these two items
the receipts would have exceeded the dis
bursements by SlS9,D37 G9, or il the sink.
ing fund item be omitted, $5S,290 81. This,
the Governor urges, is too close margin
for any year, and had il not been for the
economy practiced by the Legislature in
1882, in retrenohipg its own expenses To the
extent Of $72,473 ~ US compared with those
OF the Legislature of 1880, there would have
been an absolute deficit Of receipts TO meet
the disbursements of the year. For the is.
cal year 1883 there were no Legislative aud
attendant expenses, and not a dollar was
carried out of the treasury proper to the
credit of the sinking fund hence the larger
balance this year. The balance in the treas
ury September 30, 1882, was 1888 SOC 63 /;
September 30,siSS3, $685., 1888 81, which con.
trasts iavoTably with the embarrassed con
dition OF the treasury in 1878. when the
state was obliged 10 make temporary loan
OF $l25,OO0 aud u permanent loan Of $780,
900 TO supply the needs OF the treasury
The State direct tax is iSE cents on the
500 OF property, and II yielded the treasury
during the fiscal year 1883 $067,6lS II. or
this tar ten cents is levied for the public
schools and 81 cents for the benefit of the
bounty, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, hospital
and treasury relief loans The Governor
again calls attention ia this connection to
the constitutional provision recurring the
imposition Of tax sufficient 10 pay the in
terest upon any loan that may be contracted
by the Sta c, and also TO discharge the prin-
clpal thereof within fifteen years from the
time Of contracting il. The public debt at
the end Of the fiscal year amounted TO $ii,-
209, b22 80. The bounty loan OF &a326,7 50.
06 fell due in 1888, but there was no acou.
mutation OF the sinking fund securities from
the tax levied for its extinction, and the act
of 1882, chapter $50, was accordingly pass.
ei, providing for lis redemption by the crea.
ton OF q new loan for $3.000000 al a65 per