Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-01-31
GOVERNORS BUDGET
COMMENTED Upon
Interesting Document Shows Where
Each Penny of States Funds Goes.
/, DISCUSSIONS ARISE
DISCUSSIONS ARISE
Brings to Light Peculiar Facts That
May Demand Explanations.
Totals Contained In State Budget For
Next Two Years.

| Next TWO Years
The total appropriations carried by
the budget bill are:
| Fiscal year 191S-19 81, ,730. .25z
Fiscal year 1919-20. ........ 12,127,71e
Expenditures for fiscal year
ended Sept 30, 1917 ~ 12.34s.919
Estimated expenditures for
fiscal year ending Sept
| 30, 1913 ............+.... 1l,232 ,923
Nothing in recent date has given
rise TO quite so much discussion as the
Governors budget.
Heretofore under the old system the
appropriations were made in lump
sums and no one ever knew what be-
came of the money unless year or
two later he gathered up all the re-
ports of the various State depart
ments and institutions and dissected
them. Even then he got only a smat-
tering of information and remained
in the dark as to many matters.
The Baltimore News, commenting
upon the budget, says:
The Governor having in view the
increased revenues of the State, has
been liberal and there are many in
creases though salaries of the higher
officials have not been changed not
withstanding the plans of some of
them to get more.
The bill shows in the mass of infor-
nation it contains that the two high
est paid State officials are President
A. r. Woods, of the State College of
Agriculture and Chief Engineer Hem
ry G. Shirley, of the State Roads Com
mission They get $500 a year each.
IN connection with the roads commits
sion, it is also shown that while the
chairmen gets S2,500 year, the as
sistsnt chairman receives $500 more,
showing that his services are consid-
cred as of more value to the State
than those Of his chief
One Man Gets Three Salaries.
Then an inspection of the docu-
ment shows that at least one State
official has been smart enough to get
on the State payroll three times in as
many different State departments. He
gets $4,000 in one place. $500 in an
other and then $500 in a third Prob
ably some cantankerous member OF
the Legislature will want TO know
why it is necessary to divide three
jobs among one man.
Some of the most interesting things
in the budget came at the end, under
the head of miscellaneous appropria-
tions For instance, it is seen that
the Governor has taken kindly to
Senator Norris pet scheme of Great
ing a State director Of farm prod
uets, who is to regulate the distribu-
ton OF pumpkins and potatoes, and
the Governor sets aside $4,000 a
year for this Office. if the Legislature
sees fit to create it. Again $4,000 a
year is appropriated for the State Fire
Marshal, a job the last Legislature
abolished.
Other Items 0f Interest.
Third reading file bills of the Legis-
lature, an extra expense, amount ia
$4,000 and $4,000 is set aside as a
Legislative deficiency fund for the
present session and for the cost OF
preparing the budget.
A considerable item is the $4,000
to pay the floating Indebtedness Of the
Maryland School for Boys on condi-
tion that the State be given title to
the property. subject to existing liens
There is another item OF $4,000 foI
Office rent in Baltimore City which
is not explained in view OF the fact
that that the Board of Public Works
is given $4,000 a year for this same
purpose of paying rent; the infer
ence is that the $4,000 is not enough
No matter what the Legislature
may think of the budget. it is Of great
value and a vast improvement over
the old system in that everyone may
see how the money is to be expended
1t is carefully complied and the bud
| get properly makes a big book in
itself in addition to the bill both oi
which are submitted in printed form
The Governor in making up the bud
get wisely employed an expert to heir
him and the result is that the State ii
trying out the system for the frs
time, has been started in the righi
path and can hardly go back to the ole
plan which was really no plan at all