The citizen., 1911-12-08
The Governor Outlines What His
Message to the Legislature
Will Treat Upon.

1912. He said that he had no objection
to making them public at this time, as IT
would give the members of the Legisla-
ture more time to consider the ideas that
he would advance.
While the Governor declined to say
whether or not he would place any ref
erence 20 the expected passage OF the
Local Option Bill in his message, he
declared that in his opinion, SO as to
divorce the liquor issue from State poll
tics. vote upon the liquor question in
Z Baltimore City should be postponed for
some definite number of years in the
future"
The Governor may recommend the
+ following:
Elimination Of party funds in the cam
paigns and the consideration of the
question whether it would not be good
policy for the State to bear the reasonable
/ cost OF the campaigns of the two polit-
/ ical parties.
Abolition of the Liquor License Board
and the Police Examining board. the pow
( erS OF both 10 be vested in the Police
Board, which he suggests be reduced 10
/ one member, with complete reorgani-
/ zation of the Police Department.
/ The consolidation of the State Tax
/ Commissioner office with the Comp
troller's office and the further consolida-
j ton Of the State Departments and the
! reduction of the forces in all of the de
/ partm-nts He says that the aggregate
will mean saving of S25o,oOo a year TO
! the State
The Governor believes that if the
Local Option Bill passes the Legislature
/ il should be specified that vote upon
ihis question shall not be taken in Balti-
more for some definite number OF years
( in the future"
Among other things the Governor
said
Questions affecting the agricultural
! interests of the State. which Shoul be
encouraged and promoted, will also be
touched upon in this message What is
most important 10 this element of our
{ State will be the suggestion that an addi-
! tiun'u bond issue 70 bear the cost of com
| peting the States system of good roads
be authorized There should be no
delay. This work should 90 on at all
/ times "
The Governor then turned to the
/ problem which after the roads. has oc-
: cupied the greater portion OF his time
I and 10 which he has given the most stu
diouS investigation.
In order. he said. ''tomeet the heavy
! demands made upon the State Treasury
I for the State care OF the insane for the
| tuberculosis hospital and for the other
| charitable institutions which the State
helps to support and which are annually
| growing 10 be a greater financial re
sponsib'lity. l shall recommend the most
! rigid economy in the public expend-
itures; the reduction OF the number o
officials and the consolidation of the var.
ious State departments looking to the
promotion OF this purpose"
When asked exactly what he meant
to do ne gave his plans in detail. as they
! will be explained in his message.
Il shall suggest, he sad. ''the reduc
ton Of the legislative expenses by at leaS
! $50 600: the saving OF from S25 900 to
$50 COO by the reduction of the force o
officials in the various departments o
the State government.
The message will propose that The
State Automobile Commissioner ofhc,
! be consolidated with the Good Roads
| Commission, Just as is done in Massa
chusetis and other States.
Also the consolidation OF the lmmi
grafton Bureau with the Bureau OF Sta
tislics and Information or with the Mary
land Agricultural College
likewise the consolidation of til,
Liquor License Commissioners with tn,
Police Commissioners and the reduction
ofthe number OF Police Commissioner.
from three To one, win the other change.
which could be effected in reorganiza
ton OF that department.
-,
place their duties in the hands of the
Police Commissioner.
Reduce the number of coroner
wherever it is practicable.
Retired police officers should be as
signed whenever possible, to do tn,
clerical work Of the department which
now requires tie time OF the other mem
bers III Tor active service
abolish lhe Live Stock Sanitation
Board and place It's duties in the hand
OF lhe State Veterinarian.
Consolidate the State Tax Commits
sioner's office with that OF the Stat;
Comptroller.
Reduce The oyster police force ant
the expenses OF The service.
Reduction, wherever possible. of til,
expense for counsel lor the various board
oil The State government
The offices of Fish Commissioners
for both the Eastern and Western Shore
should De abolished and The duties giver
10 either the Shell Fish Commission o
the Oyster Navy.
Il snail also suggest reduction in th'
boards which are the trustees oi In,
various State Institutions and the consld
Grafton OF the question as TO whether
would not be wise to eliminate all of III,
boards, except one central, paid, non
partisan board to consist OF three mem
bers each from the two political parties
which would nave control OF all of tht
State institutions aud have under theI
direction department for making bull
purchases for all.
In this connection also | shall recon
mend the repeal OF all special and priv
iieged appropTIatians-tha Is. thoS,
made upon the old statutes aud whicl
must be paid each year by the Stale
These are usually made 10 the charitdbl,
institutions.
Il shall recommend the repeal OF th'
law providing Tor a discount on ali Q
The state. cIly and county taxes. Like
WIS s;.ali urge taal . Di! Dc passei
requitias that interest 5c pad by tn'
banks upon the coanty deposits; anC
also ia al State deposits br made upol
bids latt are offered ov respon,.og,
banks and that the one offering tne hign
i