Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-10-08

palmer and more specific declaration of
party principles enunciated in any plat
form in the whole history of the politics
OF our State. This platform meets with
my approval in all its details. and upon
every plank ] am prepared to stand. That
there are mistakes to be corrected, that
there are improvements to be made, that
there are reforms to be inaugurated will
not be denied. but with all this, the Demo-
cratic party of our State can be proud of
its record. Maryland to-day stands in the
very forefront Of all the States of this
country for her advanced and progressive
legislation. Whoever writes the history of
our party in Maryland writes the history of
our State. No party has ever been more
faithful in the performance of its promises
to the people.
The good roads act
The Public Service Commission.
The Statewide primary act
The act providing for peoples counsel
before the Public Service Commission.
The State Tax Commission for .he equali-
cation of taxes
The motor vehicle law
The corrupt practices act.
The workmens compensation law.
The full crew law.
The eight hour law.
The child labor law
These and many others now firmly es-
tablished laws of our State, every one of
them the product Of Democratic Leais-
lature, and every one of Democrotc origin,
attest with wonderful fidelity the good faith
Of the Democratic party of our State in the
redemption of its campaign or platform
promises and pledges.
There is little left now to be done in
Maryland in the way of advanced or radi-
cal legislation, but so rapidly have been
these reforms and so strongly recommend
ed has been the commission form of gov
eminent that there have been some COM
missions created where doubtless others
could have taken over the work, or some
departments created where other depart
ments already in existence could have
rendered the necessary service, 90 that ii
has become necessary for survey to be
made by expert and responsible parties in
order to obtain the necessary information,
that we may ecOnomize in the admins
tration of our State government without
lessening the efficiency of the public ser
vice.
And while it is true that the last Leg
islature Of Maryland appropriated much
more money than the conditions of the
Safe treasury justified. all these expenses
and appropriations. except the expenses
Of the Legislature itself. could not have
become effective without the sanction of a
Republican Governor. and all of them re-
ceived the Executives approval. The
Legislative expenses themselves, while
exorbitant, are but drop in the bucket
as compared with the amount of the ap-
propriations by the Legislature. Both of
the last two Legislatures of Maryland as
whole. with all their shortcomings, made
excellent records, and this was admitted
after the adjournment Of the Legislature
by practically all the daily newspapers of
the State.
But in this rapid development in the
building Of our armories and of the many
buildings necessary TO take care Of the
insane and Of those afflicted with tubercu-
losis, in providing more advanced plans for
the care Of our criminals, almost in a
thousand different ways. the demands upon
our Treasury have become so great that the
condition Of the Treasury itself has called
halt and called our attention fOrcibly to
the absolute necessity of a radical change
in the whole fiscal policy Of our State.
The crying need Of our State is the
establishment Of a proper budget system
which will strike at the very root Of the
evil Of the manner Of our past appropria-
tons. All continuing appropriations should
be done away with, and all special bills
appropriating money should be abolished,
and proper budget dealing scientifically
with all these questions should be substi-
tuted for our present fiscal condition, and
am confident that the most excellent and
competent commission appointed by the
Democratic State Convention to devise a
budget system for our State. and in con-
nection Herewith at the same time to rec
ommend a plan for the reduction Of the |
expenses Of the State government without
the impairment Of the efficiency Of service
will measure up in its report to the fullest
Continued on third paeel