Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-12-29
REPORT OF STATE A AUDITOR ASH

suits in that position. He is said to be
willing to do this.
REPORT OF STATE A UDITOR ASH
State Auditor Ash in his annual report
to the Board of Public Works makes some
suggestions relative to retrenchment in the
expenses of the State government, and
how to increase the revenue of the State.
In his report Mr.. Ash charges that the
State is losing thousands Of dollars an
nually because of the abuse of the privi-
lege accorded to women in issuing traders
licenses to them. He recommends that
the license be discontinued by the next
legislature.
Further, Mr.. Ash urges that the Traders
License Bill, defeated at the last legisla-
ture, should be introduced and supported
solidly by the counties. The official says
the passage of the bill will result in enor-
nous revenues to the State each year.
Mr. Ash says that the bill was defeated
through sentiment from Baltimore city and
that the counties should not permit its
defeat again. Further in the report the
official asks that Governor Crothers make
the recommendations that he has men
toned in his legislative message.
Additional recommendations are also
urged by the State Auditor. OF these is
one for thorough and uniform system Of
bookkeeping for all State and county Offices.
Mr.. Ash says he regards the State as re-
miss in its duty in not passing legislation
creating such uniform system, for Which
there is a crying need.
He says he would suggest that law be
passed by which the State should provide
certain account books for certain offices,
which should remain in the Office when
the incumbents 60 out as books of record.
Many officers, he said, now regard the
books as their personal property, and take
them with them when they leave the Office.
Among other recommendations made by
the official is one to end the law which
permits outgoing officials to consume six
months additional time in which to wind
up their business By this means, says
Mr.. Ash many officials make collections
of fees which do not belong to them and
which should be collected by their sue
cessors who are already in office.
Coupled with this criticism of many of
the county Offices for their methods Of
bookkeeping is praise for the court Offices
of Baltimore city which. the official says,
are kept with care and accuracy.
AS he did last year, Auditor Ash criti
cises many of the Circuit Court judges,
who. he says, fail to carry out the spirit of
the law to continually inspect the Offices
which are connected with their courts.
Many of the offices need legislation. the
official says, particularly is this the case in
the Office of sheriff. The fee system, MIR.
Ash points out, should be abolished and
sheriffs should be placed on stated salary
and the counties should assume the care
of the several jails.
In the case of the sheriffs. the official
points out that the Baltimore official is
receiving from $4,000 to $4,000 more
during his term than the laws say he shall
have.
Mr.. Ash says he examined the accounts
of the Offices 1.-THE several counties wher-
ever the records were available.
According to his financial report few Of
the Offices in the counties such as the Cir
cult Court clerks, register of wills and
sheriffs are turning over sums of any size
to the State.
In Howard county in the clerks Office
out of the total of $5,0S6.28 only $500
was turned over to the State. The Hartford
county clerks Office turned over $122.54
In Anne Arundel county the State balance
was S,050.35. In Queen Anne's there
was no State balance, but in Garrett the
State treasurer received $2,822.2l
The balance IN Allegany county was
$99726. Washington county clerk re-
turned balance of $l,157.5S. Several Of
the Offices Of the register of wills in West.
ern Maryland counties returned small bal.
ances to the State, but this condition was
entirely absent on the Eastern Shore and
in Southern Maryland. In Frederick the
State balance from the clerks Office wa:
$54.02 and in Cecil there was no balance
except the sum of $4.03 in the Office Of
the register of wills and a balance due t.
the State of $90.S9 in the sheriff's office.
Charles county gave no balance, but
Prince Georges return was $l,7441l. Ir
Baltimore county, the banner county Of
the 23, the State was paid $4,000 from
the clerks Office, and besides the additional
sum Of $2,l97 was kept beside the casl
for aala riae and axna0oae Th.a raa;s.a. 81