Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-07-02
COMMISSION HOLDS
ITS FIRST SESSION
Plans Formulated For Carrying Out
The Governors Reorganiza-
ton Program.

The meeting of the Commission
named by Governor Ritchie, to ex-
anime and report on system of bet
terment for the State Government,
was held last Thursday and was aus
picious of success, not only in point
of attendance, but also in the charac-
ter and ability of the men and women
who were there. There was almost a
full attendance of those asked by the
Governor to serve on the Commission
and every section of the State sent
some of its ablest men and women to
lid in the work of the Commission.
Judge Burke, of Baltimore County
was elected Chairman, and the futher
working organization was promptly
completed, and there will now be no
delay in getting down to work. The
indications therefore, are that before
the meeting ofthe State Convention
III September, q systematic plan will
have been prepared which will en-
tody such changes in the laws as will
enable the State administration to
rake very considerable reductions in
the number of officials, and will also
provide for such decided economy in
the amount of certain appropriations
that a material reduction in the tax
rate will be the result. The members
OF the Commission wereall agreed on
the point that no matter what might
be proposed in the way of change, 1t
must provide for lowering of taxes.
OF it would not go through. 1t was a
unanimous opinion that no matter
what or who it affected, the appro-
priations must be scaled down, and
that the expenses of every depart
ment of the State government must be
cut down to the lowest possible am
cunt, consistent with the cost of 4
reasonable efficiency in the public ser
vice. "There are many governmental
luxuries which are being urged upon
the administration, and which we
would all like to have" said the
Governor "but for some time to come.
Maryland will have to do without
all these luxuries, and be contented
with those things which are absolute
ly necessary to the public welfare
And the men and women who are
serving on the Commission all seemed
to agree with the views expressed by
his Excellency.
1t is rather an odd sort of situation
which seems to be facing the public
officials, National, State, County,
and City, in all parts of the land. The
cry on all sides is for economy i'll
public expenditures of all sorts, and
this cry is rising louder and louder
from day to day, until it is almost be-
coming howl.
Mingled with this cry for economy,
is the cry for a reduction in the num-
her of public officials-for a decided
reduction in the number of those who
are feeding at the public crib, whom
The late Governor Hamilton called,
"the great army of tax eaters" The
number of these has gone up by leaps
and bounds. in all departments of the
National, State and municipal gov
ernments, and the demand for the dis
missal of large bodies of these men is
becoming more and more urgent as
the days pass by. The indications
therefore are, that the questions
which will be the issues in the State
and County elections this year, not
only in Maryland but in all parts Of
the Country will be based on reduc-
ton of public expenditures and con-
sequent reduction of public taxes Of
all sorts-National State, County,
and City. The wall of hard times and
poverty is rising loudly throughout
the country, and the men in control OF
public affairs. must hear and pay heed
to it, or retire from public office and
public life. The officials and public
men of Maryland generally are look
ing out for the coming storm, and arc
preparing for it before it reaches a
dangerous height.
PAUL WINCHESTER.