Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-01-11
Gov. Harrington's Message To The
Present legislature Summarized.

State Constitution and with unbroken prec-
edent, submit to you such information and
recommendations pertaining to the State
government as seem to me to be feasible
and most important at this time.
Since the adjournment of the General
Assembly of 1916 events of the greatest
moment and interest to our nation. despite
all that human agency could do to avert
them, have transpired, and the session of
1918 meets with our country in a war in
which nine-tenths Of the world are now
engaged, and in which it now looks as il
every state or nation on earth will soon be
involved and the war become in reality
what it is now practically. absolutely world
wide.
Into this conflict, practically by a unani-
nous vote Of the representatives Of the
people of the country from every State in
our Union, both in the Senate and the House
OF Representatives. our country has en-
tered. 1t is no easy conflict. All thinking
men now admit it is the supreme test Of
the nation, and victory alone can come
from the united loyalty and sacrifice Of all
our citizens.
ALL OBLIGATIONS PAID.
At the time Of the meeting of the last
legislature there was deficit in the State
treasury approximating nearly So 100000.
This had been caused by the legislature of
1914 appropratiDg nearly this sum for the
fiscal years l9l5-19l6 above the available
revenues for those two fiscal years. The
legislature Of 1916 provided bond issue
Of $2,000.000 bearing interest at 4 per
centum. to take care of this deficiency.
These bonds sold for Sl.997 800. which
showed that the States credit was of the
very highest, as this was regarded an ex-
cellent sale considering the conditions in
the bond market at that time. All the
obligations Of the State were paid and a
small difference was left to aid the general
condition Of the States treasury. But il
was necessary not only to take care of the
deficiency which existed, but to exercise
the strictest economy on the one hand and
to obtain more revenue on the other in or
der to avoid repetition Of the States en-
barrassment and to take care of the nee
essary demands upon the State govern
ment.
ACCOUNTING system.
Laws were passed providing for uni
form system of accounting in all State
departments, Offices and institutions, and
requiring all institutions receiving State
aid to conform thereto. These laws have
been put into practical operation by the
State auditor as rapidly as possible. A
uniform system of bookkeeping has been
arranged so that now the per capita costs
of the different institutions can be properly
compared and that every phase of their
work is properly exhibited.
The BUDGET.
And elone the line of the campaign
promises Of both political parties and in
consonance with the trend of fiscal legis-
lation throughout the country the legisla-
ture Of 1916 passed the Budget Bill. providing
for constitutional amendment, and this
amendment was ratified by the people OF
the State by a large majority, and has
become part Of the Constitution Of the
State. The budget" adopted in Maryland
is known as the executive budget" and
this budget is now on trial for the first
time in this country. The amendment has
attracted wide attention in all parts of the
Union, and the plan has been more than
favorably mentioned by the expert econo.
mists or fiscal authorities of the country
and many States are preparing to adopt
practically the Maryland amendment.
The STATES FINANCES
Within 20 days this budget" will be
submitted to the legislature. shall moi
attempt at this time herein to give but q
brief summary of the States finances
The Comptrollers report will soon be in
the hands Of every member of the leesla.
ture. and this report will give most clearly
and intelligently the true condition of the
States Treasury and statement of future
estimates as closely as it is possible for
them to be now calculated. The Comp,
troller's report will show that during the
fiscal year ending September 80, 1917
there was received into the Treasury avail.
able for the general expenses of the State
government the sum of $3.474,343, and
that after the payment of all the Gen,
eral expenses or obligations of the State
government there would remain cash in
the Treasury in the sum of $26S, S95 .2I
and while cannot give the exact figures
] can state that the applications from the
different departments of the State, the
different State institutions and the Chart.
able and benevolent institutions known a:
State-aid institutions, for appropriation.
for the fiscal year beginning October /
1918. and ending September 80, 1919
called the fiscal year Of 1919. will be prac.
tically three million dollars above the
amount expended for these purposes fol
the fiscal year ending September 80, 1917
and for the fiscal year of 1920 but little
less. perhaps two and one-half millions
more than was appropriated and spent
for the fiscal year Of 1917. while so far as
any human agency can now foresee the
money available for the general expenses
Of the State government may not exceed
a half million dollars in excess of the ex-
penditures for 1917.
In the above estimate Of expenditures
have not included any additional appro-
priation to the public schools other than
that now authorized under the laws of
the State.
No additional sum is included in the
above estimate for the construction of
public roads under the Shoemaker Act
Besides. it will be necessary to provide for
the payment Of the war loan provided by
the extra session of 1917.
The TAX RATE.
With our assessable basis having been