The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

to the Legislature on Thursday of last week and
read in the Senate and House. After giving the
figures of the Comptroller's report, which show
that the gross outstanding debt of the State has
been reduced in the past two years by nearly
100000, he states that by rigid adherence to the
present policy of the treasury Office and apply
ing the revenues derived from direct taxation to
the interest and sinking funds of the respective
loans for which the Legislature has made provis.
ion, the way becomes clear to the extinction of
the defense redemption, Deaf and Dumb Asylum,
Maryland Hospital and treasury relief loans, ag-
gregating 81, 1000. Taxes levied for the pay
ment of these debts cannot, he says, be applied
to any other purpose and there are not sufficient
productive securities to Offset the remaining por-
ton of the debt. "The question of the time Of
its ultimate extinction" adds the Governor, sis
clouded with uncertainty" The prompttude with
which the State has paid her annual interest, he
says, "and the premium attendant upon the sale
and negotiation of her bonds, attests the high
standard her credit has attained in the markets
of the world and the faith of capitalists in her
financial integrity" The Governor suggests the
wisdom of continuing the refunding process at a
lower rate of interest, and expresses the opinion
that if the amount thus saved is turned into the
general sinking fund, together with call addition
al revenues that must come with the rapid exten.
sion and growth of our many and varied inter-
ests," fund will eventually be produced which
will equal the States indebtedness. The necessi-
ty for economy in legislative expenses is urged,
and the hope expressed that the compensation Of
employees will not "exceed the amount demonstra-
bly, needed for the performance of public duties
The attention of the Legislature is called to the
fact that the taxable basis of the State is less
than it was decade ago, and the opinion is ex-
pressed that if the Legislature should make pro.
vision for taking the immediate sense of the peo-
pie upon a new constitution, such vote ought to
preccde another assessment of property; but il
the question of convention is not submitted al
an early date a new and immediate assessment
should be ordered, "under a law broad enough in
its letter and spirit to enable the assessors tc
reach all manner of property, that the burdens Of
| taxation may be more equally distributed and
substantial equality and uniformity of taxation
may prevail throughout the State" The Gov
ernor estimates that there "are at least 5000, 0O0
000 of capital secured by mortgages in this State
upon which no taxes are levied, and further in
vestments in mortgages are being made, which
curtail State revenues" The discrimination,
he thinks, "not only imposes additional burdens
| upon the landed interest and the working classes
of the State, but presents possibilities of further
reductions of our present meagic basis of taxa
ton"
With regard to the proposed call for a constitu.
tional convention, the Governor holds that the
to popular vote at any time, that the people are
in favor of material alterations in the constitu.
ton, and that if there is need for changes "there
is no reason why such changes should be delayed
until 1882" The alterations suggested are a re-
vision of the present system oftaxation, the aboli
ton of uniform registration, the granting to the
Governor of the power of yetoing particular items
in an appropriation bill, the creation of sepa-
rate Court of Appeals, and the re adjustment OF
constitutional provisions in relation to the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal, which the Governor thinks
"cannot be properly improved and made effective
as q means of internal commerce until it is sold
free from the liens of the State and bought by par
ties able to improve it and extend its operations.
With reference to the question of the city ex-
tension the Governor says: at is evident that
the provision in the existing constitution which
is supposed to declare in effect that part of a
county shall be separated from the remainder OF
said county without the consent of majority oil
the legal voters residing within the part intended
to be separated from such remainder is unreason-
able, and ought not to remain constitutional
provision. 1t makes the wishes Of the people in
a section of a county, or perhaps even in neigh
borhood, paramount to the proper authority OF
the people of the whole State, exercised by their
General Assembly. In its existing form, it oper-
ates as limitation upon the growth and pros
perity of the city of Baltimore" By submitting
the question of holding constitutional conven-
ton at the congressional elections to be held in
the autumn of 1885, the Governor thinks full
vote would be insured and the expense of a spec
ial election could be avoided. If the convention
is ordered by popular vote, it should, in the Gov
ernors opinion, assemble in Annapolis on the
first Wednesday of January, 1887.
The State inspection of tobacco is the next
subject taken up, and the fact is pointed out that
it is not source of revenue. The Governor con-
tents himself with merely stating this fact, with
out making any recommendations on the subject.
The oyster question, the Governor thinks, has
not yet been satisfactorily solved, and "much re-
mains for the study of the Legislature, both of a
practical and scientific character" The total
number of men engaged in the catching of oysters
is stated to be 26,072 and with those employed in
the canning houses give a total of over 40,0OO
persons who depend for livelihood for them
seves and families upon the oyster industry.
About 100000 bushels of oysters were caught
last season, aggregating in value at the low figure
of % cents per bushel the sum of S2,255, 900.
Among the additional recommendations of the
message are the repeal of all fish laws and the
enactment of one general SYSTEM the enlargement
of the powers of the State board of health, and
increase of the funds at its disposal the granting
of additional powers of the State veterinarian to
prevent the spread of contagious diseases in catte
the adoption of more stringent regulations to pre-
vent the adulteration of food and the sale of dis
eased meats; the abolition of the color line in
making appropriations for school purposes, and
the furnishing of text books free of charge; the
revision of the Maryland code; the restoration to
the courts of exclusive jurisdiction of all offenses
for which confinement in the penitentiary is or
may be the penalty provision for employing va
grants upon the public streets and roads, and for
relieving the present overcrowded condition of the
House of Correction the building of another
State Insane Asylum, to be located on the Eastern
Shore increase of land office fees and the crea-
ton of a bureau of immigration in conjunction
with the Office of Land Commissioner.
The message is clear and interesting exposition
of State affairs, and many of the Governors re-
commentators will doubtless receive the careful
consideration of the Legislature.