Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1917-11-03
Why Mr.. MCMullen
Should be Elected

very responsible one. and one which
requires ability Of high order in the
management of large matters involving
many millions Of dollars of the people 8
money 1t requires a knowledge Of
men, iirmness decision and absolute
fearlessncss in the cause of right In
addition TO being the manager of the
State financial affairs. the Comptroller
Is. h} 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.
McMullen, Of Allegany County man
who had large business experience be-
fore 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 corporations
AIRY which Maryland pays her Comp
troler Against his personal incina
tons. Mr.. McMullen has consented to
be candidate for reelection.
MIR McMullen's salary as Comptroller
is $500 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 scrupulous manage
ment and absolutely business like
methods. Both small and large matters
have received his careful scrutiny. and
he has pared down expenses in all de-
partments under his jurisdiction. He
has never paid out dollar not speclii
caily authorized by the laws of the
State He has entered suits to recover
over $50, 900 in excess fees received by
ofiiceholders, and which. it il alleged.
has been improperly withheld from the
State Treasury in cases similar to that
detailed below
Speaking Of Mr. McMullens conduct
Of the office The Baltimore sun Of Octo-
Der i. 1917. said edtorially:
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 comfortable balance in the
Treasury. after the dedicated funds are
accounted for and, what is more signiii-
cant. there was an excess of receipts
over disbursements during the year
ended September 30 of more than Sl76
600 Maryland's income in other words.
Is greater than its expenditures. and
that is rs it should be
Comptroller McMulen is to be- con
graduated upon this condition and upon
the part he has played in bringing il
about The excess of receipts over dis
bursements has resulted from variety
Of causes from prompt collection OF
money due the State. from careful
scrutiny of bills presented against the
State. from general business-like
handling Of the Comptroller's Office,
but most of all from the fact that
through the cooperation of the Comp
troler and the finance committee Of the
two houses Of the Legislature pre-
iminary 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 vas
} not provided
The satisfactory condition Of the
States purse has made possible another
reform, which is not mentioned in the
Comptrollcr's report, but which Is a
matter Of general knowledge. At var
ious times in the past the SLOW payment
Of State appropriations to State-aided
institutions has necessitAted the borrow
ing OF money and payment OF interest
thereon by these institutions Mr. Nc
Mullen has made il a practice to pay
these appropriations promptly and in
business like fashion, with the result
that these institutions have not only
not had to borrow money to tide them
over until the State appropriation be-
came available, but with the money in
hand any payments reaching them
systematically. have been enabled to
purchase their supplies and make expen-
ditures 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 MIR. McMullen.
William o. Atwood. of Baltimore City.
Mr. Atwood is a surveyor by profess
sion and has never been identified with
any business activities requiring the
abilities necessary to the proper dis
charge of the duties devolvinC upon the