Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-13

just measure of reform that the wisdom
of this Legislature may advise AS tine
goes on, and experieeCe affords no more
thorough knowledge than now possess,
and the wishes and requirements of the
people present themselves, il will be my
duty and my pleasure 10 lay before you
such suggestions as In nay judgment
would best serve the interest OF the
Commonwealth. But there are some
subjects to which / will refer briefly
because public attention is already
awakened in regard to them; and be
cause a part at least OF the responsibility
must rest upon my shoulders.
SUGGESTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE
First. Let me urge upon you the I'm
poltance of making the best possible use
of the limited time allowed for your de
liberations by tlfe Constitution of our
State. You have but ninety days In
which to deal with vast number of i'm
portent questions, demanding your ser
ious consideration. And you cannot
waste single day, without doing iDjus
tice to those whose commission you bear
| do not presume to outline these duties,
for they lie within your province rather
thon mine. L especially suggest that
you clear away promptly whatever there
is that might interfere in the slightest
with active and efficient legislation. Give
your time and labor to the people whose
servants you are. Devolving upon you
is the unusual duty OF selecting two gen
tlemen TO represent the State in the
councils of the nation. That you will
choose wisely and with a single eye 10
the Importance OF the service To be rem
dered, cannot doubt But it is wise
that yonr selection should be made
promptly, fearing that delay might pos
sibly impede your progress in other di-
rections. 1t is proper that remind you of
of the fact certain amendments to
the Constitution were ratified by the
people at the recent election; and that
you will be called upon to give effect to
some of them by appropriate legislation.
How far you may deem it your duty
TO revise the tax laws of the State, you
can best determine for yourselves; but it
Is clear that the tax laws of the State
need revision. Public sentiment has
been awakened on this subject, and the
dominant political party of the State in
convention assembled, In July last, de-
clared itself, and thereby committed the
majority of this General Assembly, to
the enactment of just and proper as
sessment law.
EQUAL TAXATION.
Since the last general assessment,
which was in 1876, the wealth of the
State has largely increased with it's
growing population and resources,
and it is but reasonable to suppose that
If our present svstem of taxation were
reformed, the burdens would be more
justly distributed. And the injunction
of the Constitution, THAT every per-
son in the State ought to contribute his
proportion of the public taxes for the
support of the government, according to
his actual worth in real and personal
property would be more faithfully OBJ
served. Pardon me for calling your
attention briefly to one other important
subject of legislation, which may be con-
sidered by you during the session. re-
fer to the Worlds Columbian Exposition,
which is likely to be the most important
event In the history of this country dur
ing my administration. The practical
good that may be accomplished by the
success of the Exposition can scarcely be
estimated at this time. l speak not of
the more sentiment that is awakened by
the thought that 1t Is the design to cels-
brate an event which gave to the word
a new continent, and TO us, in the full
ness of time, a country and home great
and happy, beyond the dreams of those
whose eyes first looked out upon our
shores But rather refer now in the
practical thought of the day, to the
material advantages to be derived from q
proper exhibit of our productions, in
contrast with those of other States and
countries. We are citizens of a great
commonwealth there is not one EN-
braced within the boardsrs of this country
that can better afford to place on exhi-
bition the resources with which the
Almighty has blessed her.
THE WORLDS COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION.
Not only will our sister states partici-
pate in this celebration, but many of the
most important foreign countries will be
represented. Large sums of money have
already been appropriated and can we
of Maryland afford TO be absent when
interest and patriotism unite in demand
ing our presence. / cannot close this
address without Offering my congratu
lations to all parties, upon securing an
election system which has met with such
general approval from all sections of the
State; and although in the nature of an
experiment, and may possibly need some
Improvement, the good resulting from
IL, is now established, and it only re-
mains for this General Assembly TO i'm
prove its provisions if possible, and to
extend the system to the nine counties
Of the State which are now excepted.