The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-02-05
WOULD ABOLISH WAR;
HOUSES.

A letter from Albert 8. J. Owens states
attorney of Baltimore, recommending the
abolition of the state tobacco warehouse
business as now conducted by the sta'e
was received Friday by Governor War
field Accompanying the letter was
COPY of testimony taken before the grand
Jury last Septem Der, when the affairs OF
the warehouses were investigated. Mr..
Owens letter IS as follows:
Il transmit to you herewith, under the
authority conferred by an order of court,
copy of which is thereto attached, a
copy of the testimony given before the
Grand Jury at the time of the investiga-
ton by that body of the affairs of the
State Tobacco Warehouses.
"The testimony shows, in my judgment
an entire absence of the observance of
business principles in the administration
of the affairs these institutions. In the
case of one warehouse three men appear
on the payrolls as holding positions which
the never, in fact, held, and drawing pay
for the performance of duties which they
never in fact performed. In explanation
of this condition of affairs, the inspector
assigned to that warehouse says these
men were engaged as solicitors securing
consignments of tobacco from farmers;
but it is to be observed in this connec-
ton that the law does not provide for ap-
pointment of such persons, and it appears
that said alleged solicitors made no re-
ports to the warehouse and were free
from all direction and control.
1T will further appear from the testi-
mony that the present system under
which these wareh ouses are conducted is
radically defective. For instance, there
is chief inspector of tobacco, who has
charge of all of the warehouses, deputy
inspector for each warehouse, deputy
assistant clerk for each deputy; that this
force is not needed is shown by the fact
that some of the deputy inspectors do not
report for duty oftener that once week.
and sometimes twice month.
The law provides for the appoint
ment of chief clerk to the chief inspec-
tor. The evidence shows that the chief
clerk does not himself perform the work
of the office which he holds.
From the printed report Of the Grand
Jury, which also he: eWith transmit, it
will be seen that the warehouses, as at
present conducted, return to the state a
revenue strikin ely disproportionate both
to the volume of business transacted and
to the value of the property used for this
purpose; and that almost the entire re-
ceipts of the warehouses are absorbed.
Should it be deemed desirable to continue
in any form the State Tobacco Ware
houses, it is manifest that the whole law
needs revision The present statutes are,
so far as bu sness methods are concern.
ed, substantially the same as when the
state first undertook the conduct of these
warehouses. but during that period
methods of carrying on of business by
private and corporate co ncerns have
radically changed and improved, SO that
many things useful and appropriate in
their day have become archaic.
'In my opinion, no better Illustration
of this could be presented than is to be
found in the further maintenance on the
part of the state of these tobacco ware
houses.
Estate control of ordinary business af
fairs savors of the proprietary rather than
of the republican form of government.
1t seems to me, therefore, and l submit it
with all Difference, that the time has ar
rived when conformity with advanced
business methods imperatively demands
the abolition of the state tobacco ware
house system.
The briefs of counsel in the case of
Moore vs. the State al Md, 467, etc }
contain most valuable reference to the
history of these institutions"
The grand jury, in its report, said that
the inspection of tobacco at the state