Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-07-23

record and having authority for the deter
mination Of disputes as to titles. etc.
The Office Of State Fire Marshal Posi-
bly, that Office was of some account when
created; today il is worth nothing to the
people Of the State. And it cost in the
last fiscal year $8.9829S. The State ap-
propriates $4,000 annually. 1t may be
stated that every one in touch with the
Office knows that the men employed in it
have little or nothing to do. The work
which they do could be left undone with
out loss to anyone. and when they have
worked as hard at it as they know how they
are not kept half busy.
There are two boiler inspectors. They
are paid $500 each. They collect fees
for their inspections. which are credited
on their salary accounts. Should these
fees not be sufficient to meet the salaries,
the State pays the difference. In the fis-
cal year ended September 80. 1914. the
State paid $l.53712 to make up the deficit
in the salaries Of the two men. Probably
both should 60 The regulations of the
insurance companies have been so ad-
vanced in late years that a greater degree
OF safety is had from the companies than
is likely to be had from the State inspec-
tors. especially as the latter are required
to examine each boiler but once a year.
The Automobile Commissioner should be
abolished, not because there is no work
done in the Office, but because it is silly
to have that work constitute a separate
department Of the State with all the con-
sequent overhead expenses. The work
could be handled easily and more cheaply
as division Of the State Roads Commits
sion. And that is where the work logically
belongs. for the functions Of the Automo-
bile Commissioner as to speed regulations
frequently Intervene with those of the
State Roads Commission and the net re-
ceipts of the Commissioner Office DO to
the Roads Commission as a part Of the
maintenance fund.
II will suffice to say that the State Board
Of Aid and Charities is practically valueless.
that 1t is extremely doubtful whether it
could be developed to point Of real SER
vice and that 1t should be abolished and
the money spent by it saved. The Secre-
retary's salary is $500. There are two
stenographers. one at $500 and one at
$500. The board spent $500 last fiscal
year it has $500 for the current year.
The State Auditors salary is $500.
The Auditor is given $1,000 to pay assist
ants and the stenoerapher and to pay Office
rent. travelling expenses, etc. His total
allowance, therefore. is S6.50O for himself
and deputies and $1,000 for other ex-
penses. or $l3.500 in all. Probably Sill
500 of that could be saved and the work
done more thoroughly if the Bank Com
missioner had charge.
In the fiscal year ending September 80.
1914, the State Of Maryland spent approx
mately $l25.000 for the conservation and
development Of its natural resources in
seafoods and game. There has been much
discussion in the State in recent years OF
the question Of conservation and develop
ment. Is there a citizen who can recall
having heard anyone express the belief
that Maryland is handling the question
with any degree Of efficiencyY The two
Fish Commissioners for the Eastern
Shore and one for the Western Shore
show an expenditure for the last fiscal
year Of Sl0.865; the State Game Warden
1921; the measurer's and inspectors OF
oysters. $12, 791; the Shell Fish Commits
sion. $2O.SOO, and the Oyster Navy, $751;
900. And yet the cry comes constantly
from Informed men that the State is in
danger Of serious depletion of its natural
food resources.
There is the State Bureau of Immigra-
ton. II has been receiving an annual
appropriation Of $4,000; it has Sis, 900
for the current fiscal year. The business
OF the bureau is to advertise the agricultu-
raj resources Of the State so that more
farmers and more labor may be attracted
and the farming community thereby up
builded. In what measure has this bureau
succeeded Possibly an analysis of its
financial statement for the year ending
April 80, 1914. will indicate something. II
that year the bureau spent $40, 349.97, Of
which $5,844-more than so per cent
went for salaries. That would indicate
that a good deal Of the bureaus advertis
ing was done by word Of mouth-which is
a primitive method, to say the least But
there are no signs today that the board i,
doing anything especially valuable for the
State. There is no reason to expect it to
What may one reasonably expect of q
small department that is all heads
president of the board. superintendent
commissioner and a secretary The
immigration Bureau could be made usefu
il it were consolidated with some of tn,
other agencies affecting the States agri
cultural interests and its appropriation
applied. not to salaries and rent and board
meeting expenses and office expenses
but TO the business of intelligently placing
the States advantages before those inter.
ested
AS to the State Live Stock Sanitar,