Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-01-23
Governor Ritchie Sworn In.

Albert c. Richie became the fifty-fourth
Governor Of Maryland at noon on Wednes-
day Of last week by taking the oath ad-
ministered by Chief Justice Andrew Hun
ter Boyd, Of the Court Of Appeals. The
Senate, both the floor and the galleries.
were packed and the crowd that had as
sembled to witness the ceremonies filled
every part of the State house at Annapolis.
In his inaugural address Gov. Richie
counseled stern opposition to all legisla-
ton which is at variance with our institu-
tons and the fundamental principles Of
democracy, which appeals to class or Sec
tional interest. likes or prejudices. or which
is a recognition of force, threats or popular
clamor.
In advocating economy, he advised that
all construction which can be postponed
without injury to the public welfare should
be postponed. Salary and expense in
creases must be thoroughly considered in
order to see to what extent they can be
reduced, he declared.
THE question Of prohibition, particu-
larly as affected by the eighteenth amend
ment," he said. lis much in the public
mind and may occupy the attention Of this
legislature. In this connection need only
say that before my election, during the
campaign. publicly recorded fully and
frankly my own views and position on the
subject
My views are, Of course, the same as
they were then. ! trust need not add
that should occasion arise for me to as
sumo any position on this matter during
this legislative session, will do so openly
frankly and fairly and with every consid-
Grafton and respect for those whose views
differ from my own"
Continuing, he said
There are two subjects which, because
Of their extreme importance to the people
Of the State, feel should be discussed
in some detail. One relates to the State s
finances. the other to road construction.
1t has been my desire to place before
the people today the financial problem
which faces the State. To this end the
departmental estimates have been re-
ceived and examined by me. and have
familiarized myself with the amounts
asked by the various State and State-aid
institutions. as well as with the probable
revenues Of the State. As a result. find
the financial situation which the State
must meet for the next fiscal year Q920) to
be substantially as follows:
Fixed charges, departmental requests
and estimated disbursements will be as
follows:
Public debt (ixed). 2.65O,OOO
Miscellaneous charges (ixed l... $4,000
Departmental requests......,...... 12.819,774
State aided institutions Zap
proximately conecO. 100000
Miscellaneous disbursements(es-
timated) .............................. 160,226
TOtal~..............................$ 16, SOC, 90
On the other side Of the ledger we have
Balance October 1, 1920 (esti-
mated .,........,......... l,l2S,O4O
Taxes (existing tax rates ap-
piled to estimated new assess
BILE basis) ................."........ $3.50, 900
Other revenues approximately
correctN q COO con
Sl2, S6S, $40
On this basis (which. Of course, does not
take into consideration any reductions in
departmental requests). the States reve-
nues would be $4.03l,360 or. in round
numbers. $4.000,O00 less than needed
and this without allowing for any balance
in the treasury at the end of the next
fiscal year.
One cent on the tax rate will yield about
$4,000. so that il the State had tC
raise 100000 additional revenue, anc
did it by direct taxation. this would mean
an increase of about 80 cents in the tax
rate, making the tax rate for 1921 66
cents. instead of slightly over SO cents. a,
at present.
The extent to which this $4,000,00(
can be reduced by cutting down or dis
allowing departmental requests cannot
of course. be even conjectured without
thorough investigation, but few gener
alizations may not be inappropriate.
An examination of the departmental
estimates for 1921 shows
Salary increases asked for. ex.
elusive of teachers ian aver
age increase OF over As per
......"...,..."..........S 52l so
Expense increases asked for ian
average increase Of over SO
per cent l....................,,...... 5S3, "a,
Total...........,....,...,...........$ 1,1O4, S4I
Land asked oro.,.....,........." 10000
New construction. buildings and
equipment asked for............ 3,i03,2
lOtdl... S4,ZIS,UIl
So long as the cost Of building and con.
structlon continues as high as it is, ! fee
that the State should engage in no worn
Of this kind unless absolutely necessary
All construction which can be postponed
without injury to the public welfare. should
think. be postponed. We must, there.
fore, give our most earnest scrutiny to the
item Of $3.l03,236 asked for construction
building and equipment. with the view Of
disallowing as much of il as the public
welfare does not absolutely require. ma,
add that nearly all this kind Of work asked
for Is in the 1921 estimates. For 1922
only $3.50. 400 is asked for construction
building and equipment.
In the aama yav tho saIary and -