The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1915-07-31
ABOUT STATE ECON
OMY AND EFFICIENCY
ARTICLE |.

the States business affairs is not to
muck k-rake the individuals now hold
ing office, whether they be Democratic
or Republicans. In the main, they are
decent fellows and not responsible for
the slowly gathered conditions which
have resulted in such waste that the
demand for economy and efficiency"
is on the lips of every citizen.
The object of the investigation is to
ascertain the facts which have caused
the waste; or. at least, those facts
that are especially significant or prom
inent; and having ascertained them,
to present them to the candidates for
public Office and to the public in gen.
eral. so that there may be basis for
intelligent discussion of the means by
which Economy and efficiency" may
be instituted
The citizens may grasp conditions
more easily if he will picture a pyra-
mid. The base of the pyramid is the
waste resulting from overlapping and
duplication of expenditures in the var
ious State departments. This waste
is less obvious and less striking than
that resulting from other causes. but
it is unuuestionably the greatest. the
most serious and the most difficult to
remedy. The apeX of the pyramid is
useless offices. Between the base and
the apex is found the waste resulting
from loose methods, etc.
State Wharfnger Does Nothing
To begin at the apex and work down
to the base, here is one State office
that has no duties whatsoever. The
salary, a very small one, is absolute
h.. !
finger. The incumbent is John r. Bal
ley, of Baltimore, and his salary is
$3.50 year.
The important thing about this in
stance is not so much the actual waste
81 900 for the four-year term, for the
abSurdity of the Governor appointing
and the State paying a man who has
not even the semblance of duty is al
most funny enough to be worth 81 900
every four years to the people, assum-
ing they knew what was happening,
and so had an opportunity to laugh.
The vital thing is that it symbolizes
the conditions confronting the citizens
of the State. Years ago the State
Wnarfinger was an office of some i'm
portance.
1t would seem that when tn coffee
became in fact, extinct. the Governor
of the State, who appoints. would have
declined to fill it. That would have
been the rational thing-the thing
that certainly would have been done in
any private business concern. But no.
The Office was an office and it could be
used to reward some one, and it was
no business Of the Governor, as poll
teal morals have obtained in this
State draStica,lV to abolish an office
which had no work.
Bear that in mind, and bear in mind.
too. that most of the other public men
in the State have felt much as the
Governors felt. and YOU will have the
key to most that is to follow.
Vaccine Agent Useless.
The next office of the sort-very
close to the apeX-is the State Vac
cine Agent. He is paid a salary of
$500 year. and his duties are to pur-
chase and distribute each year $4,000
worth Of vaccines, for the use of the
health authorities. DR.. ". +. Zinn
holds the position.
Now it happens that the State of
Maryland is singuarly fortunate in
having State Health Department
which is under the direction of such
ment as DR.. William H. Welch and DR..
John S. Fulton, the latter being the
secretary and executive.
1t would be possible for the depart
ment to purchase and distribute the
vaccine supplies in a much more bus-
ness-like and thorough manner than
single physician may do, giving, as he
does but a stint of his time to the
work. And the department would not
need even an extra clerk to handle the
work. That means, in brief, that if
the Office of the State Vaccine Agent
were abolished and the duties given to
the department the State would save
the salary of $500 year and would
have the work done in more efficient
manner
The State Board of Health has fav-
ored transferring this work to it and
is perfectly willing to take charge of
the purchase and distribution of the
vlccine. without receiving the salary
now paid the agent. Therefore, no
reason can be given for continuing
this totally useless office. 1t is plain
waste
Here's Where $4,000 Goes.
There is the Land Commissioner
an Office utterly unnecessary. Many
years ago 1t was important. being
court of record and having authority
for the determination of disputes as
to titles, etc. 1t is now almost entire
ly an office of custody, having charge
of old and records, the maps and rec
ords of the Shell-fsh Commission, etc.
The other duties of the office are to
make copies of patents and plats.
This office costs the State approx
mattel y $4,000 year in salaries. The
Land Commissioner, John j. Hanson,
of Baltimore, is paid salary of 81, 800
as Commissioner and salary of 5000
as custodian of the maps. etc, of the
Shellfish Commission. In addition to
the S2,lO0 thus obtained the Commits
sloner receives one-quarter of the fees
charged for making copies of patents
and plats, although, of course, the
actual work is done by clerks, who are
paid directly by the State, as will be