The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-10-27
Who For Comptroller!

The position of State Comptroller
is a very responsible one, and one
which requires ability OF high or
der in the management of large mat
ters involving many millions of dol
lars of the peoples money. 1t re-
uures a knowledge of men, firm
ness. decision and absolute fearless
ness in the cause of right. In addl-
tion to being the manager of the
States financial affairs, the Comp
troller is. by virtue, of his Office, one
OF the three members of the Board
of Public Works, the Governor and
the State Treasurer being the other
two.
For the past two years the State
of Maryland has been fortunate in
having in this responsible position
Hugh A. McMulleil, of Allegany coun-
ty-a man who had large business
experience before entering this, the
only public office which ne has ever
held The record of his manage
ment of the States finances is not
surpassed in the history of the State,
and he has shown the order of abili-
ty for which large corporations glad
IN pay many times the modest sal
AIRY which Maryland pays her Comp
trolIer Against mis- perSonel incl1-
nations, Mr.. McMUlien has consented
to be candidate for reelection.
Mr.. MCMullen's salary as Comp
troIler is $4,000 a year. In each OF
the two years he has held the office
he has saved the State many times
that amount by his intelligent and
=crupulous manag cement, and abso--
lutely business-like methods. Botai
small and large matters have receiv-
ed his careful scrutiny, and he has
pared down expenses in all depart
ments under his jurisdiction. He has
never paid out a dollar not specifical-.
ly authorized by the laws of the
State. He has entered suits to re-.
ceived by oGiceholders, and which, it
IS alleged has been improperly with
held from the State Treasury in cases
similar to that detailed below.
Speaking of Mr.. McMullen's con-
duct of the office. The Baltimore Sun
of Oct 6, 1917, said editorially:
The annual report of the State
Comptroller, printed elsewhere in
The Sun today, shows the finances
Of the State to be in excellent eondi-
ton. There is d comfortable bal
ance in the Treasury, after the dedi-
Gated funds are accounted for, and,
what is more significant, there was
an excess of receipts over dlsburse-
ments during the year ended Sep
.enber 80 of more than S176 6,0oO.
Iaryland's income in other words,
IS greater than its expenditures, and
hat is as it should be.
Comptroller McMullen is to be
congratulated upon this condition.
and upon the part h ehas played in
bringing it about. The excess of re-
ceipts ever disbursements has result
ted from a variety of causes-from
a prompt collection of moneys due
The State, from careful scrutiny OF
bills presented against the state,
from a general businesslike handling
Of the Comptroller's office; but most
of all from the fact that through the
cooperation OF the Comptroller and.
he finance committee of the two
houses of tie Legislature prelimizf
nary and IL icial h1ifl 60 sSz's - !
y as put into effect at the last ses-9
sion of the General Assembly. the
consequence of which was that no
appropriations were made for which
the money was not provided.
The satisfactory condition of the
States purse has mad epossible an
other reform, which is not mention
ed in the Comptroller's report, but
which is a matter of general know
ledge. At various times in the past
the slow payment of State approprIa-
tions to State-aided institutions mas
necessitated the borrowing OF money
and the payment of interest thereon
by these institutions. Mr.. McMullen
has made it a practice to pay these
appropriations promptly and in busl-
ness-like fashion, with the result
that these institutions have not only
not had to borrow money to tlde
them over until the State approprla-
lion became available, but with the
money in hand any payments reach
ing them Systematically, have been
enabled to purchase their supplies
ad make expenditures for other pur-
poses wisely and economically. There
| has been much quiet commentator
of the Comptroller for his action in
this regard"
The Republicans have nominated
as their candidate against Mr.. Nc
/ Mullen. William o. Atwood, of Bal
! timore city.
! Mr.. Atwood is surveyor by pro
! fession and has never been identlfleo
| with any business activities requ1r-