Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-02-19
GOV. RITCHIE
HAS SCHEME
To Lower Taxes.-There Are Too
Many Ofiice-Holders For the
Good of the State.

The return of Mr.. John j. Mahon,
the City Democratic leader, from
Havana, has given decided impetus
to political affairs in Baltimore and
really marks the opening of the cam
paign for nomination to the various
Offices to be filled the coming fall. In
connection with the revival of the talk
about candidates, there is much being
said in regard to the plans of Cover
i.,r Ritchie for Improvements in the
public service generally, and the con-
solidaton of many of the departments
and the reduction of the expenses incl
dent to the overlooking of the pay
rolls with unnecessary officials in sew
eral of the departments, and that there
are too many departments is omitted
by all who have paid any attention to
the great increase in the number .of
State employees in the last ten years.
Some of the departments notably the
Public Service Commission is over
worked and has not enough men to
attend to the vast amount of business
which comes before it for adjustment
Other departments have many sine
cures, and have difficulty in finding
real work for those on their rolls. The
Governors plan contemplates an en-
tire change in all these. matters.
Mr. Mahon thoroughly approves of
plans of the Governor to simplify the
workings of the State departments,
and reduce their number, as well as to
reduce so far as possible the expenses
of the State Government In his opin-
ion the most important task before the
State administration is to reduce the
State taxes, and so to plan as to en-
able the City and the Counties to re-
duce local taxation. He believes the
great question now before all admins
traitors of the affairs of Government,
National, State, City, and County is
how to reduce expenses, and thus re-
ton have grown beyond measure, and
far beyond any conception of those
who favor even the widest sort of
extravaganza. The great problem
therefore, of all legislative and execu-
tive Governmental bodies in the opin-
ion of Mr.. Mahon, is now to admins
ter public affairs at minimum cost
without any unfairment of efficiency,
so that there may be decided reduc-
tion in the weight of taxation, local,
state, and national. In his efforts to
bring about such results the city
leader is ready to back Governor
Ritchie to the fullest extent Of his in
fuencc and power. In the meantime
the politicians, as well as the people
generally, are lining up in their ex-
pressions of approval of the Cover
nors plans, and by the time the Cen
eral Assembly meets next winter the
indications are that the executive will
have very little difficulty in securing
the enactment of all beneficial legisla-
tion, especially all that will promise a
reduction in the expenses of the State
and local governments and conse-
quent reduction in taxes. Indeed the
out cry against any increase in the
public expenditures. and taxes, is so
great that any officials who would
either stand in the way of such action
or fail to give it his approval, would
be execrated from one end of the
State to the other-and the same holds
good of every State in the entire land.
Reduction in Governmental expenses,
reduction in the number of officials,
and, above all else reduction in taxes,
is loud cry which is going up from
everybody and everywhere. Governor
Ritchie is hearing this cry every day
and every hour, and has determined to
reduce the taxes next year, no matter
how many official heads he may be
obliged to cut off, or how many public
improvements he may be obliged to re-
strict or postpone. Many Of these i'm
provements may be very desirable
and even necessary, but all are lux
cries to a great degree, and while
taxes are so high the State will have
to do without such luxerics on the
ground that Maryland is too poor to
saford thtm at the resent time.
WINCHESTER