The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-08-20

quent appeals had been inserted in
the budget the totals would have
come near bankrupting the State. The
pruning knife was applied and it cut
deep While the budget carried mil
lions of dollars, there would have
been additional millions but for the
deep cuts by the Governor. There
has been disposition in some of the
State quarters to go beyond the items
set aside for their expenditure in the
budget. The governor only last week
warned officials and heads of institu-
tions that they must apply to him
before increases could be made to
items. Without such application and
without his consent, he said, he
would not certify to this item to the
next General Assembly, as required
by law.
There was a great deal of talk in
the legislature while the budget was
in the committees hands that it
would be slaughtered when it was
open to amendmemnt Only one
amendment appeared. 1t struck out
$4,000, the original salary of John
e. George, the assistant to the State
Roads Commission
This fight was directed more
against the item itself. The Cover
nor could have carried the budget
through the legislature without a
single change if he had been willing
to be party to a deal.
One of the most constructive acts
which was endorsed by Governor
Harrington was that passed in 1916,
creating the State Conservation Com
mission, which became the successor
of the old Shellfish Commission with
enlarged powers. The duties assign
ed to this commission have been
faithfully carried out. 1t has not
been the fault Of the commission the
last winter proved, because of the
extreme cold and ice, destructive 10
fish, crabs and oysters. However.th
commission has laid the foundation
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
that will recoup losses following
depletion in the bays products thru
unchecked dredging and longing. 1t
will require time to rehabilitate and
re-establish one of Maryland's chief
industries, but if the Conservation
Commission is permitted to carry
through its plans the supplies of oys-
tiers, fish and crabs will surpass all
previous records.
The activities of the commission
have not been confined to the Chesa
peake and its tributaries. Fish hat
cherries have been established, in
cluding one in Frederick county,
which will prove to be valuable aids
in replenishing the rivers and bays
with rock, perch, trout and other
fish.
The Governor also put his Shout
der to the legislation designed to
improve the State College of Agricul-
ture and to bring it within reach of
farmers of the State. 1t was wholly
removed from bonehead influence of
politics, which had retarded its
growth and usefulness. Its entire
management was placed in the hands
of a State Board of Agriculture, hea-
ded by Samuel NJ. Shoemaker. DR..
Wood was brought here from the
Northwest to install new methods in
agricultural training. He has been
a. decided acquisition to the States
teaching corps.
AS an economist, Governor Har-
rington has been so industrious and
energetic in reducing the States ex-
penses that he has incurred criticism,
criticism mainly at the hands of Dem
ocratic politicians. Here is a brier
memorandum of savings effected by
him:
The legislative expenses of the
legislature of 1916 were $4,000 less
than in 1914, and the legislative ex-
penses of 1913 were about $4,000
less than in 1914.
Consolidation of the Law Depart
ment saved $4,000 per annum. Abol
ishing immigration Department saw
ed $4,000 per annum. Abolishing
the fire marshal saver $4,000 per
annum. Reducing State Roads Com
mission saved $4,000 per annum.
The appropriations by the legisla-
ture of 1916 were nearly s1,000,000
less than in 1914.
In harmony with his purpose to re-