The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-02-20
MORE THAN ENOUGH.

There is only $50, COO difference be-
tween the original amount proposed to
be appropriated by the legislature and
the amount finally agreed upon, the
latter being $4,000. Now, as this
sum Is far in excess of that needed, the
inquiry, what becomes of the balance?
natural. The Emmittsburg Chronicle
has undertaken to answer this question.
The Washington Herald, commenting
upon the Chronicles computation says:
''The Maryland legislature has dur
ing the past few years devised plan
for the recOmpense of needy statesmen
and the promotion of party welfare
the welfare of the party of the majority
that in some respects is an interest
ing political experiment, though it is
viewed in quite another and less favor
able light by large proportion of the
press and public. .. We refer to the ap-
preparation of a lump sum for legisla-
tive expenses far in excess of those eX-
penses, the difference constituting a
fund which the legislators are expected
to place ''where it will do the most
good politically. At the present ses-
sion 1t was proposed to appropriate
$500, 900 in this way, but former Gov.
Warfield made so vigorous an onslaught
on the scheme that the amount was
reluctantly cut to $4,000 But even
this sum is much more than is necessary
to paysthe legitimate expenses of the
legislative session, making the most ex-
travagant allowances for the varied
wants Of a modern statesman. The
Emmitsburg Chronicle has done some
figuring with the idea of finding out
how much of this appropriation goes to
actual and necessary expenses and how
much to political uses. 1t says:
Allowing $57,940 for the per diem
OF all the senators and delegates, or
$40, 4O5 for the per diem referred to
plus the compensation of the forty-four
employees, we have remaining 500, 595.
In our endeavor to spend the lump APP
preparation literally let us assume that
the 10l delegates and the 81 senators
travel 800 miles, and allow each one
mileage at the rate of 10 cents mile |
we then find that we have spent Sc, 400 |
more, which, being likewise deducted,
leaves S84, 1876. If, in addition to this, !
we give each senator and delegate 500 /
worth OF postage, making $40, 800, we /
find, after deducting this amount, that
there is still ST, 1876 in the treasury.
But having desire to keep the State /
house clean, we viii appropriate SIG, 900 |
Tor the purpose, and we then find that /
we still have left $50, 1915 to be applied /
on that miscellaneous expense account. /
If we engross $4,000 worth of bills, |
and it would seem that this is about as
many as can come up during one ses- /
sion we have balance of S45, 395 to be .
placed where it will do the most good |
This balance of $4,000 or more is /
frankly fund for the promotion of the /
political fortunes of legislators and the .
maintenance Of the supremacy of their
party. Probably the real sum actually
devoted to this purpose is much larger .
than that computed by the Emmitsburg
Chronicle. Be that as it may, the fact !
is that the Legislature annually distri-
butes large sum Of money, to quote |
the Baltimore Sun, for encouraging
activity in the Democratic party, giving
it away in gratuities to politicians who |
have not earned it or performed any
public service in return for it," All |
sorts of political hacks are given jobs
of various sorts about the capitol, the /
cleaning of which, as our contemporary
intimates, costs an extraordinary sum;
and the members of the Legislature are,
we believe, paid certain proportion of
the slush fund in cash.