The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-12-22
Report Of State Auditor Ash.

IG6DOIb vi 0Ic1JO NAA-OA ASIA
State auditor Ash in his annual report
to the board of Public Work 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
nualy because of the abuse of the privl-
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 legis-
lature, should be introduced and support
ed solidly bv the counties. The official
says the passage of the bill will result in
enormous 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 de-
feat 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 Tor all State and county Off
as remiSs in its duty in not passing legis-
lation creating such a uniform system, for
which there is crying need.
He says he would suggest that a law be
passed by which the State should provide
certain account books for certain Offices,
which should remain in the office when
the incumbents go 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 his criticism of many of
the county offices for their methods OF
bookkeeping is praise for the court Offices
of Baltimore city which the officials says.
are kept with care and accuracy
As he did last year, Auditor Ash critl-
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, Mr..
Ash points out, should be abolished and
sheriffs should be placed on stated sal
ary 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 re-
ceiving from SIC, 1000 to $40, 900 more dur
ing his term than the laws say he Shall
nave.
Mr.. Ash says he examined the accounts
of the Offices in the several counties
wherever 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
| sheriff are turning over sums of any size
| to the State.
In Howard county in the clerks office
out of the total of S. oS6 rs only $500 was
turned over to the State. The Hartford
] county clerks office turned over $I22 50.
| In Anne Arundel county the State balance
was $I,o5o IS. In Queen Anne's there
was no State balance. blu; in Garrett the
/ State treasurer received S2,822.2I.
The balance in Allegany county was
| 1907 26 Washington county clerk re-
turned balance OF $T,I57 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 was
! S54 OF and in Cecil there was no balance,
except the sum OF 81 % IN the office of
the register of wills and balance due TO
the State of $9o.S9 in the sheriff's office.
| Charles county gave no balance, but
Prince Georges return was $I,744 II. In
! Baltimore county, the banner county of
the 20, the State was paid $4,000 from
the clerks Office, and besides the adj
ditional sum of $2,Ie7 was kept beside
the cash for salaries and expenses. The
register of wills in Baltimore county gave
the States balance Of S2.73e 81. Calvert,
Carroll, St. Mary's gave no balances.
The Baltimore city clerks office paid the
State OF balance of sos, 1874. Fl. and besides
this tie auditor holds that the sheriffs
office is due TO the State, IS. o9o I6, be-
sides the $4,o25.S9 which was paid.