Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-11


Two years ago the Maryland Legis-
Iatura concluded that it would be q
good thing for the people 10 have the
state administer its finances in q
strictly business way and passed
law proposing an amendment TO the
Constitution of the State, under the
caption Of
Constitutional Amendment Providing
For a Budget"
This amendment was submitted to
the legal qualified voters of the State
for their adoption or rejection at
the next general election which was
i'm November. 1917. The voters very
wisely adopted the amendment, so
lhat hereafter the Legislature shall
not appropriate any money out OF the
Treasury except in accordance with
the provisions OF said amendment.
The first section Of said amendment
provides: within twenty days after
the converting of the General Assem-
bly, lcxccpt in the case OF q newly
elected Governor. and then within
thirty days after his inauguration,
unless such time shall be extended by
The General Assembly for the session
at which the budget is TO be submitted,
the Governor shall submit to the Gen
eral Assembly two budgets one for
each of the ensuing fiscal years. Each
budget shall contain complete plan
of prOsposed expenditures and esti-
mated revenues for the particu-
lar fiscal year to which it relates;
and shall show the estimated sur
plus or deficit Of revenues at
the end of such year. Accom-
panying each budget shall be
statemnt showing: % the revenues
and expenditures for each of the two
fiscal years next preceding; 90 The
current assets. liabilities, reserves
and surplus of deficit OF the State;
90 the debts and funds Of the State;
ca on estimate of he States financial
condition as of the beginning and end
OF each of the fiscal years covered by
the two budgets above provided; 90
any explanation the Governor may
desire to make as to the important
features of any budget and any sug-
geetion as to the methods for the re-
duction or increase of the States rev
clues"
The law requires the Governor to
make clear and comprehensive
statement of the States revenues and
expenditures and submit the same to
the General Assembly so that appro-
priltions to /, made by it may be
done intelligonly and consistent with
the means il has TO draw upon.
Complying with the provisions of
this law, Governor Harrington last
Tuesday night submitted to the Leg
islaturo his budgets for the next two
fiscal years. This is the first appear
ance of the budget system in Mary
land II certainly represents a radi-
cal change from the methods of the
past, when the estimates of appro-
priatious were made up by the FL
nance Committee of the Senate and
the Ways and Means Committee Of
the House and reported to the Leg
islaure-often on the last day Of the
session-too late for study or
revision.
Governor Harrington has the dis
tinction Of being the first Governor of
the State to have the opportunity of
presenting Maryland's first Budget,
and We think that he is entitled to the
credit of having made clear aid
comprehensive statement of the af-
fairs of the State which should /
greatly assist and guide our legisla-
tors in the expenditure of the peo-
pies money.
We think the budget system is q |
good thing and marks the beginning |
of the dawn of rHSv day in the adj
of the States finances. /
and ought to prove q great benefit /
toward reducing the tax rate in the /
near future