The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-04
EXTRAVAGANT APPROPRIA-
+ TIONS BY THE LEGISLA-
TURE.

The expenses and eXtravagant appro-
'riations Of the Legislature Of this State
as been for many years Just cause for
urpriSe and establishment
Maryland is a small State, and its nat
,ral situation, condition and resources
re such, that a large number of the
-oundes can pay a very small share Of
he taxes, and a few counties with Balti-
nore City. pay very large share. Such
Conditions of themselves ought to make
NE Legislature very conservative in
appropriating public money.
A few years ago upon the payment by
he Baltimore and Ohio Railroad of a
arge sum of money in the compromise
IF a debt, it was announced by the State
Treasurer. that after another year there
would be no State taxes to pay. But if
he taxpayers will examine their tax
bills they Will find that they are still pay
ng the same amount of State taxes.
Not only that, but it appears that ex-
ravagance has taken a fresh and
stronger hold on the Legislature than
ever before. Ithas just now been an
bounced by the President OF the Senate
that at this session already seventy-two
employees have been employed by the
Senate alone, and the employment Of
more indicated.
What can they find to do, and how
10 they keep out OF each others way2
There are only twenty-eight Senators
n that body.
Besides these the House has many more
employees than the Senate, We cannot
imagine how they can place such an
<.arny of employees, unless they put a
lot Of them out upon the roof to look for
leaks. The trouble is that the leaks are
in the Chambers and if the leaks are
stopped the work must be done in the
Chambers They leak at the top, bot
tom and sides.
! This number Of employees would be
ridiculous, if it did not cost the tax
payers so much money.
How many employees will be ap-
pointed when we increase the represen-
tation Of Baltimore City, is an important
question, for she gets more than half of
the apportionment now.
But bad as this is. and it can't be
worse, that is not by any means TO com
pare with the other waste of public
money.
The Legislature has been for years
making regular. standing appropriations
Of over one million and half OF dollars
10 our own State institutions. and any
humber of outside and private institu-
lions.
There should be no standing appropri-
ations except to the institutions of the
State, and any other or outside institu-
ion ought TO show a strong claim on the
State. and also show by a strict report
and itemized statement Of what it does
,or the State with the peoples money.
that it gets. We are satisfied that very
large sum can be saved to the taxpayers
If the least attention is given to these
reckless appropriations Of public money.
Too much OF the peoples money is
peing appropriated to outside institu-
lions OF all kinds.
But reckless and extravagant as the
appropriations have been. we are now
asked to appropriate six hundred thou
land dollars to take care Of the State s
Insane. This is vast sum of money for
he State to appropriate at this time
shen we are facing a defcit-or at least
tquestion Of a deficit. There is a great
,ieal being said through the press and
otherwise, as to the bad treatment of the
Insane in the counties of the State. This
must all be largely discounted. This
seems to be period of fads in our
State.
We believe that the insane Of this
state, as a rule. are well taken care Of
As well in fact, as in any other State in
The Union. The treatment Of the insane
our county almhouses has been crit
.cised most unjustly.
n The insane in our county are well
reated and cared for in every way, and
! i've do not need any Stats institution to
.are for them, and no criticism from any
,ody as to their treatment either. All
of the other counties, or at least all but
very few, give their insane proper care,
and attention, just the same as we do.
md the few that-may not, can easily do
z BY very little effort.
This appropriation Of six hundred
thousand dollars, we fear is only another