Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-11-02
Who For Comptroller -?

The position of State Comptroller IS
very responsible one, and one which re-
quires ability of high order in the man.
agement of large matters involving many
millions of dollars of the peoples money
1t requires a knowledge of men, firmness,
decision and absolute fearlessness in the
cause of right. In addition to being the
manager of the States financial 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 being the other two
For the past two years the State of Mary
land has been fortunate in having in this
responsible position Hugh A. McMullen, of
Allegany county-a man who had large
business experience before entering this,
the only public Office which he has ever
held. The record of his MANAGEMENT of
the States finances is not surpassed in the
history of the State, and he has shown
the order of ability for which large corpora
tons gladly pay many times the modest
salary which Maryland pays her Comp
troller, Against his personal inclination,
Mr.. McMullen has consented to be can
didate for reelection.
Mr.. McMullens salary as Comptroller is
$4,000 year. In each of the two years
he has held the office he has saved the
State many times that amount by his in
telligent and scrupulous management, and
absolutely busness-like methods. Both
small and large matters have received his
careful scrutiny, and he has pared down
expenses in all departments under his
Jurisdiction. He has never paid out dol
lar not specifically authorized by the laws
of the State He has entered suits to re-
cover over $4,000 in excess fees received
by officeholders, and which, it is alleged,
has been improperly withheld from the
State Treasury in cases similar to that de-
tailed below.
Speaking of Mr.. McMullen's conduct Of
the Office The Baltimore Sun Of October 9,
1917, said editorially:
THE annual report of the State Comp
troller, printed elsewhere in The Sun today,
shows the finances of the State to be in
excellent condition. There is comfortable
balance in the Treasury. after the dedi-
Gated funds are accounted for, and, what
is more significant, there was an excess Of
receipts over disbursements during the
year ended September 80 of more than
$4,000. Maryland's income, in Other
words. is greater than its expenditures. and
that is as II should be.
Comptroller McMullen is to be congratu-
lated upon this condition and upon the
part he has played in bringing it about
The excess of receipts over disbursements
has resulted from variety of causes
from prompt collection of moneys due
the State, from careful scrutiny of bills
presented against the State. from general
business-like handling of the Comptroler's
office but most of all from the fact that
through the cooperation Of the Comptrol-
Ter and the finance committee of the two
houses Of the Legislature q preliminary
and unofficial budget system was put into
effect at the last session 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 made possible another REFORM
which Is not mentioned in the Comptroller's
report, but which is matter Of general
knowledge. At various times in the past
the slow payment Of State appropriations
to State aided institutions has necessitated
the borrowing of money and the payment
of interest thereon by these institutions.
Mr.. McMullen has made il a practice to
pay these appropriations promptly and in
these institutions have not only not had to
borrow money to tide them over until the
State appropriation became available. but
with the money in hand any payments
reaching them systematically. have been
enabled to purchase their supplies and
make expenditures for other purposes 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. McMullen, VIII
liam o. Atwood, of Baltimore city.
Mr.. Atwood is surveyor by profession
and has never been identified with any
business activities requiring the abilities
necessary TO the proper discharge Of the
duties devolving upon the Comptroller Of
the State Treasury.
Politically, he has changed his party
utilization frequently, which is Of small
interest but il is OF interest to note what
has been his attitude toward the fee sys-
TEN. so properly denounced as vicious.
In 1909 the Republicans Of Baltimore
city nominated Mr. Atwood as their candi-
date for City Surveyor. There was Demo-
cratic slump that year and Mr.. Atwood
was elected. He held the Office for four
years from 1910 to 1913. inclusive-and
IL was then that he had his chance to do
something TO recommend himself TO tho
voters and failed
The receipts Of the City Surveyors Office
in his term ran from $4,000 to $40. 900
year in fees, as Mr.. Atwood admitted in
an interview printed in the Baltimore
News on September 20. 1913. Under Ar
ticle XIV, Section I. Of the Constitution Of
MARYLAND, all fee officers, except Justices
of the peace, constables and coroners. are
required to make yearly reports to the
State Comptroller showing the receipts
and expenditures Of the Office. Mr.. At
wood did not do this, and when his atten-
ton was called to his omission he said
that he was ignorant Of the provisions Of
the Constitution and that he did not think
il applied to his Office
Where salaries are not specified. the
Constitution permits the officeholder TO