The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-04-29
GOV. RITCHIE TO
ECONOMIC
PUBLIC OFFICIALS DEMAND MORE MONEY
"A HALT TO Be CALLED.
Hotel Rennert.
Baltimore. April 2Sth. 1921.

Hotel Rennert.
Baltimore, April 2Sth, 1921.
The late Senator Arthur p. Cor
man, Senior, was probably. as wise
. and .astute politician as this whole
country has produced In all It's near
ly q century and a half OF history,
and he rarely made mistakes in any
matter that had vital effect on the
management Of his party during the
more than a quarter of century In
which his word was supreme in the
Democratic Party Councils in Mary
land His ear was always on the
ground, and he was ready at all times
to change his plans toNconform TO
public sentiment, and that he under
stood the people OF his State. and
knew just what they wanted, and
what they would stand for was evil
two exceptions. he always had ma
jorlty Of the white, tax-paying citi-
zens of the State back OF him, and
was always backed by majority OF
the people of the counties. II is true
he was not as strong in Baltimore
city at all times as he was In the
counties. for although the city might
waver and weaken at times In It's
loyalty and allegiance to him, the
counties never did, and at all times
during his long career, he had the un-
waverlnS support Of the majority Of
the substantial. white people OF the
country districts OF Maryland
And Senator German at all times,
kept In close touch with the people
OF all sections of the State, and was
familiar not only with the leading
men OF both parties, but what was OF
more Importance, with the Views and
desires OF all sorts and conditions Of
citizens. And when the General AS
sembly was in session he was famil-
lar with all that was going on there.
not only as far as political matters
were concerned but also on all mat
ters which might effect the general
well-being Of the State, he carefully
revised all the appropriation bills,
and often after these measures had
been made up, the Senator would iind
objection to the certain items, and they
would be stricken out. So long as he
lived and dominated public AFFAIRS.
Nnt IhA NhAH Wnh AIAAi fHtAfHNf "NN
from time 20 time was reduced up to
the last session OF the Legislature
before he died, and Mr. German
bOasted that the next session all di-
rect taxes. except for school purposes
would probably be wiped completely
of the books. He always said the
people OF Maryland would neyer stand
a raise in taxes, and would turn the
party responsible for such raise out
OF power, and had he lived and main
tained his supremacy, Maryland
would probably have been without
some Of it's expensive public improve
ments, but would have been without
its present staggering tax rate.
The Democratic Party in Maryland
under the rule OF Mr. German was an
economical party, so far as public
funds were concerned, with one eN-
ccption during all that period, no
new Offices were created, no salaries
were ever raised, and public expen-
ditures were regulated with a riga
stinglness which would be amazing
in these present days OF public ana
official extravaganza, when assess
ments are high. taxes are higher, and
officials and officials salaries have
gone beyond the widest dreams OF
the officials and 8poilsmen OF Mr.
Germans day and generation.
Governor Ritchie eyidentally in
tends TO do all In his power Co take
the state back, in q reasonable mea-
sure. TO It's old-time standard OF econ
omy and care IN the management OF
its public affairs. He has now been
more than a year I'm office. and he rea-
Lies that a halt must be called. or
as Mr.. German used to say, the red
flag OF the auctioneers will have to be
raised oyer the state house. lie finds
that all the public Official bodies,
Commissions, Boards, Bureaus and
other public office holders, all the
pnblic and semi-public institutions,
are demanding more money. Like
Leeche's daughter IN the Bible, they
are holding out their hands for more,
regardless whether the State can ai-
ford Il or not. Many OF the things
they want to do are desirable. and
, would be good, but they are all eX-
pensive, and will require more taxes
TO pay for them. State debts have
piled up in the past ten years, beyond
all power of calGulations-taX rates
have been raised from time to time
Offices have been increased from a
small number until they now number
hundreds, salaries have been in
creased beyond measure, and they all
want more, and still more, and there
seems to be no end to their demands
Can Maryland afford all of these
expensive luxuries? 1t will be for the
representatives of the people to de-
eide the question, in the General AS
sembly next winter.
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