The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-02-11
STATE LIBRARIAN.


Previous to Miss Shaffer's appointment
considerable influence was brought t.
bear. upon Gov. Crothers to retain the
then present incumbent as State Libra
rian on account Of her unusual abilitie.
and qualifications for the position and the
claim made that to make a change would
prove detrimental to the service re.
quired. THE fitnessl of the present in.
cumbent is clearlyishown in the following
Perhaps no official position in the gift
OF the State is more difficult to fill than
that Of State Librarian. First, because
the Office is filed by woman, andss more
is always expected of woman than a
man. Again, because the position in it's
self is difficult one
"The present incumbent, Miss Lynn
Shaffer. ahas filled the position of State
Librarian for nearly two years, and that
she has more than met requirements and
has filed the Office capabiy and efficiently,
is attested by all who lpatronize the State
Library, and who have occasion to meet
her sin her..'oficial capacity. 1t was not
an easy thing for Miss Shaffer to step into
this position that had been1previously
filled by woman of rare attainments, an
experienced librarian and one whose
familiarity with the State Library COW
cred period of many years. 1t was not
easy for one to whom the Office was al
together new and untried to take the
reins, yet Miss Shaffer did this to her own
credit.and to the credit of the State
That she is living up to...the letter of
the law by not dealing out the States
stationery promiscuously to everybody
who have no claim upon it, is to her
credit, and she should be honored and
commended for doing her duty as she
sees It. The law regarding the dispensing
of stationery is explicit, and if the woman
in Office responsible to the State for all in
her keeping, is the true, conscientious
custodian tshe shouldi be commended by
every citizen and taxpayer Of the State"
In Miss Skaters Report, recently is
sued, are embodied Recommendations
which if carried out will further the
Governors policy of economy in the ex-
penditure.of State funds
There are printed and bound at least
200 each of the Senate and House Journals
and Documents, more than is necessary,
costing the State several hundred dollars
that could be saved. | would suggest for
your consideration, the passage of law;
providing for the publication. by the State
Librarian, of all the Acts of Assembly re-
quired for free distribution, as we'll as
Others required for the Attorneys and
Others desiring to purchase same. feel
confident that with such law, the Site
could save the entire expense incurred in
the printing and binding of the 1900
volumes now required for free distribu-
ton among the officers of the State and
the State Libraries; the amount thus
saved the State will be $1,000 and the price
required of those purchasing, will be
much less than they now pay.
Heretofore, there was distributed to the
Members of the Legislature twenty-five
dollars in money and stationery. The
section of the Code dealing with this
matter is as follows:
II shall not be lawful for the State Libra
rian to furnish to any Member of Office of the
General Assembly an amount of stationery
I1s,rv ia
dollars; or any member may. at his election.
take such amount either in stationery or
money 7"
There being grave doubt. which was ex-
pressed to me by several persons during
the latter part of the last Legislature, re-
quested the opinion of the Attorney
General. in order that we might be set
straight His opinion is as follows:
II beg TO say that the matter is controlled
by Art 40, Sec. 2. and by Art o. Sec 6. of the
ode of Pubic General Laws 1901
These sections are both assertions of the
same limitation which the Legislature has
fastened npon the power Of the tate Librai.
ian, with respect to the subject in question:"
From the above. it viii be seen that
where stationery to the value of twenty
FIVE dollars, or whatever amount has been
furnished the member. must be deducted
f. m the twenty-five dollars in cash men
toned in the aforegoing section.
The custom which has heretofore
existed. of each House of the Legislature
appointing a clerk to assist in the work of
furnishing the supplies, is unnecessary.
The Library force is sufficient to take care
OF this work. as one Of the force has to be
piesc i at the delivery of each order. 1t
is an additional expense of about $1,000
besides being great annoyance to the
Library force.
Why Kidney Disease Is Dangerous.
Kidney disease is danoerons hecausa 1,