The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-11-02

! The Dosition of State Comptroller
il a very responsible one, anu one
which REQUIRES ability OF hlgh oruer
i'm the management OF large matters
| involving many millions or dollars oI
the people's money. 1t requires
knowledge of men, firmnesS, decision
and absolute fearlessness In the
cause of right In addition to being
the manager of the States hnanclal
affairs. the Comptroller is, by virtue
of his office, one OF the three members
of the Board of Public Works, the
Governor and the State Treasurer De
ing the other two
For the past two years the State or
MARYLAND has been fortunate in nav
ing i'm this responsible position Hugh
A. McMullen, Of Allegany county-a
man who had large business eXper-
fence before entering this, the only
nublic office which he has ever leld-
The record of his management or the
States finances is not surpassed Ill
tho history of the State, and he mas
shown the order of ability for when
large CORPORATIONS gladly pay many
times the modest salary which Mary
land pays her Comptroller. Against
his personal inclinatiOns, Mr.. McMul-
len has consented to be candidate
for reelection.
Mr.. McMullen's salary as COmptrol-
Ter is s. 800 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 scrup-
ulous management, and absolutely
business-like methods. He has never
paid out a dollar not SpeclhcallY au-
thoriZed by the laws of the State. lie
has entered suits to recover over
$4,000 in excess fees received ny
0fficehOlders, and which, 1T IS alleged
has been improperly withheld from
the State Treasury in cases similar
to that detailed below.
Speaking of Mr. McNullin's conduct
of the office The Baltimore Sun or
October i. 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 condition.
There is a comfortable balance in the
Treasury, after the dedicated funds
are accounted for, and. what is more
there was an excess or re-
GENTS over disbursements during the
year ended September 80 OF more thah
S176, 900. Maryland's income in other
/, or(@, is greater than its eXpend1-
lures. and that is as it should be.
"Comptroller McMullen is to be
upon this condition
and upon the part he has played IN
bringing it. about. The excess OF re
,eirts over disbursements has result
I'd from variety of causes-trom Il
prompt collection Of moneys due the
State, from careful scrutiny OF DlllS
against the State. from
general business-like handling OF the
controllers office: but most OF al
rom the fact that through the CO.
,Deration Of the Comptroller and the
nance committee OF the two houses
If the Legislature a preliminary ana
Unofficial budget system was put into
Effect at the last session OF the Gen /
1ral Assembly, the consequence OF
which was that no appropriations
we're made for which the money was
lot provided 49,.
The satisfactory condition OF the |,
States purse has made possible an
,ther reform. which is not mentioned
n the Controllers report, but when
9 a matter of general knowledge. Al
rariOus times in the past the SLOW
,avment of State appropriations 10
state-aided institutions has necessl-
atnd the borrowing of money and the
,avment of interest thereon by these
institutions. Mr.. McMullen has mace
+ a practice to pay these approprla-
ions promptly and in bus1ness-like
q ehion with the result that these IN
;+i+utions have not molly not had to a0r-
,ow money to tide them over until
he State appropriation became avail
,hlo but with the money in hand any
reaching them systematic
NV. have been enabled to purchase
heir supplies and make expenditures
or other purposes wisely ana econo-
nica1ly There has been much quiet
.nmmendation of the Comptroller lot
III action i'm this regard.
The Republicans have nominated AZ
heir candidate against Mr.. McMullen'
William o. Atwood, OF Baltimore
;ity -. nro
MIR. Atwood il a surveyor by pro
,aeeion and has never been Identified
with any business activities requiring |
.hn abilities necessary to the proper !.
discharge of the duties deVolVlng up !
nm the COMPTROLLER of the State Treas
ury.
affiliation frequently, which IL Oh small
interest; but IL il of interest 10 note
what has been his attitude toward the
fee system 80 properly denounced
ID vicious.
In 1909 the Republicans or Baltl-
more City Nominated Mr. Atwood d.