The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-01-12
people and without impairing our


productive assets" This statement
does not harmonize with the fellow
ing paragraph in another part of the
message:
"There is above all one important
fact to he impressed, that unless there
is rigid retrenchment in expenditure
there must be resort to direct taxa
tion for the general support of the
Government; that is assuming that
the Treasury IS to discharge the con-
stitutional obligations resting upon
it, and to provide gradually for the
payment of our debt, and to have
reasonable surplus in the Treasury
for emergencies as long as we can
safely resort to the former the peo-
pie will not and ought not to tolerate
the latter.
The public debt of the State is SILL
269, S22 80. Ofthis the Defence loan
of So. 1926, 75O.66 tell due last year.
There being no money to meet it a
new loan of $4,000. 600 was placed. due
in 1899. and the balance of 1926, $50 &C
was taken out Of the Treasury. In
various ways the interest on the pub
lie debt, which was 1916. 165. 16 for the
last fiscal year, has been reduced so
that it will he 1913 5S6.3S this year
and annually hereafter 1865, 060.14.
The sterling debt of S4,047,777 IS Is
due in London in 1889. There is now
Sl9l, 190.48 in the sinking fund ap.
plicable to this debt, and a sufficient
amount cannot be accumulated to pay
it at maturity.
1t is difficult to see any good ground
for the Governors cheerful view of
the financial affairs of the State. Ac-
cOrding to his statements. there
ought to have been on January |,
1884, the sum of 81, 100000 in the
sinking fund to general account, ex-
elusive of the interest on the annual
appropriation since 1872, hut on Sep
tember 80, 1883, there WAS only $751;.
190.48 to the credit of the general
account.
The Governor points out that while
the expenses of the Government have
been largely decreased there is yet
room for further economy and re
trenchment. He opposes the practice
of inserting private appropriations in
appropriation bills intended for the
support Of the State, andsuggests that
only such Acts he printed in the
newspapers as contain within them
selves a provision to that effect. He
recommends the abolition of the
offices of Tax Commissioner, Insur-
ance Commissioner and Weighers of
Grain and Hay. The Land Office and
compulsory tobacco inspection are
also denounced and their abolition
recommended.
One Fish Commissioners could do
the work now done by two. who are
paid 81 500 each to direct the expen
diture of $500 annually. Appro-
priations to colleges, academies, &C.,
should he more carefully guarded.
The oyster service is condemned as
being without system, order or regu
lation. Under its present manage
ment it is merely piece of political
mechanism. The recommendation
is made that the present management
be abolished and the whole system
put under the control of the Cover
nor. The penitentiary is well man
aged and self-supporting, but the
House of Correction is charge on
the Treasury and needs much i'm.
provement. Over 100000 is due
from tax collectors. &c., and it is re.
commended that summary steps be
taken to enforce its payment to the
State. The Governor considers the
mortgage tax tair and just, and sug-
gests several modes of dealing with
the question. Bribery and corrup-
ton at elections prevail to great ex-
tent, and the Governor recommends
that stern measures be taken to stamp
out these evils. Several suggestions
are made to increase the purity and
freedom of elections. 1t is recon-
mended that all appointing power be
taken from the Legislature, and that
all officers not elected by the people
be appointed by the Governor. The
practice of giving bills third reading
before engrossing them in the Legis-
lature is condemned as unwise and
contrary to the Constitution. The
Governor believes that there is no
need to call Constitutional eonyen-
ton before 1887, and he is inclined to
the belief that the present Constitu-
ton, with some amendments, would
answer the general purpose.
These are the salient points of the
message, and the document is mark
ed throughout with an earnest APP
peal for retrenchment and reform.