Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-10-12
Assails q. o. p. Planks.

Gov. Harrington has given out a state
ment in which he replies to the references
made in the Republican platform to the
Chase report upon the State finances, the
conduct Of the Comptroller's office, the
general financial condition of the State,
the appointment Of members of the Legis-
lature to office by the Governor during the
Legislative term for which they were elected
and the alleged practice Of the State Treas
urer of depositine public funds according
to political or personal advantages. The
Governor said:
Chairman TAFT, prior to the extra
session, INDUCED in certain statements,
whose falsity was known to everyone else.
But these statements met with such uni
versal condemnation from the press and
public, regardless Of party. that will not
feel called upon to notice them. When o
great political party gives approval to the
same. further silence might be misunder-
stood by the people.
CALLS REPORT FALSE.
The statement made that any Chase
report was expurgated or suppressed is
absolutely false. The original of the Chase
reports, made by order of the Comptroller,
for himself or for the Goodnow Commission,
are and have been on file in the office of the
Comptroller and the Governor and have been
open to inspection at any time. These re-
ports are precisely as filed. and there is
nothing in them whatsoever, nor in any an
notations concerning them, that anyone
would desire to suppress and practically
nothing in them that was not publicly an
nounced and proclaimed by me in my
campaign for Governor from one end Of the
State to the other.
AT the time Of the announcement of
my candidacy for the nomination for Gov
ernor gave out full statement Of the
condition Of the States treasury, showing
that on account of the overappropriation
Of $l,555,000 by the Legislature Of 1914
there would be a deficit in the State Treas
ury, of an equal amount, and declared my
self in favor Of the establishment of a
budget system in Maryland.
Early in the spring of 1915 | employed
Mr. Chase to examine the books of the
Comptrollers Office and to advise in regard
to certain changes which we were contem-
plating in the Comptroller's report and to
make any suggestions he might think ad-
visable along the line Of budget. This
report was filed in my office on June Fl,
1915. At my request Mr.. Chase brought
this report up to the end of our fiscal year,
September 80, 1915. This report was pub
lished by Mr.. Chase and a copy OF it placed
upon the desk Of each Senator and men,
Der of the House Of Delegates of the Leg
islature of 1915.
ALL REPORTS PRESERVED.
During the session of the Legislature
the Goodnow Commission at various times
sent me reports and with these reports were
enclosed some recommendations or reports
which Mr.. Chase had made for them. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Chase's plan. all Of these
reports were given to the newspapers, and,
Furthermore, upon the request of the SEN
ate, all of the reports and recommendations
Of the Goodnow Commission, including
all the Chase reports, were forwarded to
the Senate and the House of Delegates
and were afterward returned by them to
the Governors Office for safe keeping, the
reports always being at the command Of
the Legislature and open to public inspec-
ton.
Practically all Of the recommendation
were known to the press and the members
Of the Legislature and most of the recon-
mendations had been included in my mes
sage to the General Assembly and were
enacted into laws. There were practically
but two points Of difference. The Good
now Commission recommended the consoli-
dalton Of the Office of the Commissioner OF
Motor Vehicles with the State Roads Com
mission and the adjustment of the State
Auditors Office and placing his work d.
rectly under the control of the Comptroller
Il did not agree with these recommended
tons at that time and do not now, and |
have no fear but that my position on the two
points in question has been fully justified
and now meets with full public approval
as It met with the approval Of the Lesis-
lature at that time.
TELLS Or CONTROLLERS REPORT.
THE Comptroller publishes annual re-
ports and the Governor has the Comptrol-
ler's and Treasurer's books annually exam
ined by experts, as required by law. Gov
ernor Goldsborough had this done when |
was Comptroller by those whom he con-
sidered competent experts. but il may be
excusable here to remark, as my late op-
ponent is reputed to be the brains be-
hind Republican leadership now. that al
though entrusted by Governor Goldsbo-
rough with the expenditure of 100000
and required to report annually. he failed
to comply with the law and only gave us
a preliminary report after the Legislature
Of 1915 was well under way.
I'VE desired very much to have this re-
port during my campaign in 1915. but there
was none to be had.
CALLS DEPoSI CHARGE BUNcoMBE
THE charge that the Treasurer places
his deposits in the different banks for
political advantage or personal favoritism
is pure buncombe The new heralded leader
Of the Republican party. Mr. Weller, my
late opponent, placed his $6.000.000 de-
posits Of road money. which was voted by
a Democratic Legislature. where he and
the Governor thought the most good was