The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-08
CHANGES IN STATE BOARDS.
Bills Introduced That Would Make
Sweeping Reductions and Save
State $500, 900

Il Year.
Senator Crothers, OF Cecil county.
has introduced in the Maryland
Legislature a series of bills which
are designed, by amending or repeal
ing existing laws, to inaugurate
sweeping changes and to introduce
most rigid economies in state COM
missions and boards and in the
executive department. The bills
are the outgrowth of public de-
mand for reductions in expenses of
the state government, reductions
which have not been made in Gov
ernor Harrington's budget.
The first of the measures in ques-
tion deals with the various contin-
gent funds, reducing those which
have heretofore been provided for
the Governor, the Board of Public
Works, the Comptroller, the Treas
urer, the Land Office and various
other departments. A saving run
ming into many thousands of dollars
is thus affected, and it is claimed it
may be done without the least en-
barrassment to the conduct of the
offices and departments in question.
The State Roads Commission, In
view of the fact that the statewide
system Of improved roads has now
been completed, and only their SUI
pervision and maintenance remain to
be provided for, has been superseded
by a single official, called the state
roads commissioner. Besides two
commissioners, the Offices Of assist
ant chairman (who under the pres
ent law received a salary $500 in
excess os the chairman himself), the
secretary, the chief engineer, the
first assistant engineer, seven resi-
dent engineers, the maintenance en-
gineer and the chief craftsman are
all wiped out. A large number of
employees in the administration de-
partment, and also in the survey de-
partment, and also numerous in
spectors, superintendents, craftsmen,
surveyors and clerks are eliminated.
1t is further proposed that the state
roads commissioner shall be an engi-
neer by profession. In this depart
ment alone it is estimated that about
$4,000 annually will be retrenched
and save.
The Public Service Commission
has been treated much like the State
Roads Commission, except, owing to
the fact that some Of the duties Of
that commission are quasi-judicial,
the board has been permitted to con.S
tinue, but the salaries are to be
much reduced.
Besides, the salary of the auditor
is reduced and large number of
clerks, assistants, inspectors, and
stenographers are done away with.
It is estimated that the cost and ex-
pense of this commission will be re-
duced from over 100000 year,
which it has been using, to about
$4,000, saving of $4,000 per
annum, with force sufficient to
carry out its work effectually.
In the Conservation Commission
the salaries of the commissioners are
reduced and various clerks dispensed
with. This commission may be re-
duced to a single commissioner.
The salaries of the members Of the
State Industrial Accident Commits
sion are reduced from $4,000 to $2,-
500 per annum. The salaries OF
various employees connected with the
commission are also diminished.
The Advisory BOARD of Parole is
to be superseded by a single parole
officer. to receive salary of $1,000
year in lieu of $4,000, which is
now paid to the three members of
the board. Various offices connected
with this board are abolished and
the appropriation and expense large
ly decreased.
The State Board OF Health, the
State Legal Department. the Insur-
ance Department, Bank Commission
er, Motor-vehicle Commissioners,
Board of State Aid and Charities.
State Librarian and Board of Prison
Control are not modified, nor is the
proposed appropriation for any OF
them reduced.
The total saving which will be ac-
complished by the bills will aggre-
gate more than 100000 per annum,
which would mean large reduction
in the tax rate. This saving would
suffice to provide for the sinking
fund and pay the interest upon the
full bonded Indebtedness of the state.