The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-01-08
WHAT SHALL THE STATE DO IN
IT'S PRESENT FINANCIAL
SITUATION?

The Dig, ONefSHduo"llS PioolSi'
which the State of Maryland has to
face, and face promptly, is the great
deficit in its finances. The State is
in debt from million and half to
two millions of dollars and the bitter
dav of reckoning can be no longer
postponed. The situation is so dis
graceful, and withal so disheartening,
that we almost hesitate to allot the
blame before we discuss the remedy.
But, in all justice, there should be no
mistake about where this wretched
condition comes from and there should
be no scruples in reminding the poll
tical powers, which are now compelled
to wrestle with this problem, that
they are themselves responsible for
it's existence. 1t may not be good
form to even cry 81 told you So" but
the Editor of the WING must be per-
mitted to recall the many clashes he
had in the last Senate over this very
subject, how again and again he pro-
tested against the waste, extravaganza
and folly of his political opponents,
warning them Of their political peril
when the day of reckoning should
come; only to be met with the cynical
political rejoinder, Bah. the next
election is two years off and the people
will forget" Well, the people did not
forget, even the political cynics could
not forget-simply because the debts
would not down, wild cat financing
would no longer get things by.
Under this very trying, very alarm
ing situation our political opponents
(always resourceful) FASTENED to drop
their cynical air and tone and did the
converts" act. After hurriedly ac-
know.edging that they had erred and
gone astray', they made loud profess
sions of how sincerely and thoroughly
they had been converted and how
henceforth they would most consist
emily walk in the straight and mar
row way" We are not now going TO
question the honesty of this CONVEX
sion or the sincerity of their new pro-
LESSONS. But we are saying that all
this new "stuff" must not blind any
body to the fact that it is certainly up
to them to get us out of this ugly
mess, because they certainly go MS
into it.
"The present deficit in the State
Treasury need never have existed If
the proper care and good sense had
been shown by the members of the
last two sessions of the General As
sembly. Instead of trying to enact
laws at Annapolis to conserve the
States resources it seemed to be the
policy of the last two sessions of the
General Assembly to create new Of
fees and to squander the pubic
monies in paying high salaried off
Gals to do needless work. The rank
est extravaganza in the cost of the
Legislature, and the almost criml-
nal increase in the office holding
crowd in Maryland for the past two
sessions is really responsible for the
present condition of the State Trea-
sury."
This is a statement of the case
which We believe no one will attempt
to deny. In the light of such state
ment 1t seems only right and proper
that the political powers which Great
ed the condition should be held respon-
sible for its cure.
We, however, are unwilling to stop
there. strong as is the temptation to
stop. And we are unwilling, because
as sore as We feel at the political
bunch which has brought the State
into such a condition, the State is in
it, and it is our State. If crowd of
political buccaneers have come near
to wrecking it, it is none the less the
duty of the whole citizenry to do AL
that in US lies to help save it. We
don't want anybody to forget the De-
mocratic politicians who have brought
us. as State, to such a sorry plight.
On the other hand, remembering the
gravity of the situation that con-
fronts US, We have no sympathy with
the political strategy that would re-
fuse to "help out" with the avowed
purpose of putting the Democrats in
hole" What We have to remember
chiefly just at present is that the
State of Maryland is iii a hole. We
want to get her out. We want her
debts paid, her name redeemed, her
feet planted on sound, safe, healthy
financial ground.
To that end we must counsel togc-
Their and pull together. We, of course,
can hardly be expected to do that un-
less our Democratic friends show
themselves sincerely determined to
cleave to their platform pledges and
honestly bent on a sound and business
like solution of the States financial
problem.
1. One of the first ond best evil
dences they can give of such an hon
est determination will be in the atti-
tude of the incoming Administration
toward retrenchment and economy.
"The thing which Mr.. Harrington
wants to do when he assumes the
reins of government is to start IN
at once to cut down these unnece5-
sary expenses of the Legislature,
and to insist upon the annulment of
the laws creating the vast number
of new office holders. and cut down
the paw roll of the State. Here is
where the real reform should start.
There is no doubt that at least n
hundred or more useless office hold
ers in Maryland could be done awav
with and their officers consolidated
with others so as to make saving
of at least two hundred thousand if