Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-07-19
SLOW COLLECTION OF
STATES REVENUES

A series OF obvious and wastefuP
I weaknesses in the present financial
! system of the State Government are
pointed out by Major r. Brooke Lee,
Comptroller OF the State Treasury. in
vigorous Statement just issued. in
( which he urges. from an economic
standpoint, the adyisability OF includ-
( ing in Governor Ritchies general re-
organization program changes in
State Treasury methods. The state
ment. is as follows:
Since election as Comptroller in
1 1919 have had the requirements Of
/ he Maryland Constitution that the
/ Comptroller shall digest and prepare
plans for the improvement and man
agement OF the revenue. and for the
support of the public credit and TO
| decide on the forms of keeping and
stating accounts constantly in mind.
! | have devoted great deal OF time TO
work and thought upon the vital prob
! lem of strengthening the State Treas
urv Department. My original idea was
| 10 recommend to the next regular ses-
| sion of the State Legislature a series
OF changes intended TO centralize,
modernize and strengthen the State
Treasury system.
During the past winter the firm OF
governmental experts (Griffenhagen
and Associates. OF Chicagol employed
by Governor Richie TO make sur
vey OF the State government, includ-
ed in their survey thorough invests
cation of the Maryland Treasury De
partment. In this investigation all
of the State Treasury officials. 70 my
personal knowledge. gave the examin-
| ing experts the full benefit OF our
knowledge OF the strong and weak
noints OF the States present financial
system. together with our plans for
1.-The STRENGTHENING of this system
FromSm many conversations with the
other men connected with the State
Treasury Department, | am convinced
that we are in general accord, in re-
gard 10 the important features needed
| in the reorganization of the States
financial system. | am also able to
state that the Griffenhagen report has
almost entirely concurred with The
opinions given the investigating eX-
perts by the Maryland Treasury Off
cials last winter as TO the weaknesses
of our present system, and that their
report also in general agrees with the
views of the Maryland Treasury Off
cials with regard to important fea-
lures OF the reorganization plans
THE present public consideration
~ Governor Ritchie's program OF re-
organizing the State government, and
the fact that a commission has been
appointed 10 prepare a program OF
general governmental reorganization
! for submission 20 the next4eglslature.
so greatly increases the probability
of the enactment into law of the re-
organization program that shall
make every effort. both as Comptroller
and as a member OF this Reorganiza-
tion Commission and as member OF
lis subcommittee. 10 have included
in the general reorganization program
he much needed reorganization pro-
gram for the State Treasury Depart
ment.
Relieving. however. that taxpayers
of MARYLAND are more vitally interest
ed in actual economy in State gov
ernment than they are i'll any other
feature of the reorganization program
IL desire 10 call their attention TO
/ series OF obvious and wasteful weak
nesses in the present financial system
of the State. l am convinced that
scientific business reorganization of
the states financial system will not
only provide very substantial saw
ing in the total cost OF adminisira-
ton OF the State governmental agen-
eies. but will also greatly increase
the efficiency OF the service rendered
the people of the State by the various
branches OF the State government by
strengthening and centralizing the
various branches of the Treasury De-
partment and by relieving all the other
! departments of all Treasury functions
and leaving them better able TO serve
the public in the sphere for which
, they were organized.
Maryland made 4 most important
, step towards securing adequate cen
tral financial consideration and con-
trol of State appropriations through
the adoption of the executive budget.
which budget after preparation by the
Governor is submitted 10 the Lesisla-
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