Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-08-08
BENSON NAMED
TO HEAD BUREAU
Former Representative Sue
Ceeds Harry L. Cooper
CHANGE EFFECTIVE AUG. !
Retiring Commissioner To Become
President OF Wilmington (oel)
company-Was In State
Senate.

compsny-Was In State
Senate.
Resignation of Harvey L. Cooper
as State Insurance Commissioner
and the appointment of Carville
d. Benson to succeed him, both
effective August were announced
by Governor Ritchie.
Mr. Cooper. who was appointed from
Caroline county, is expected to be
come president of the Continental Life
Insurance Company of Wilmington,
Delaware.
Mr.. Benson, who succeeds to the
post formerly held by his earliest
political mentor, the late J. F. c. Tai
bott, has been president Of the State
Senate and Representative in Con
gress from the Second district. His
home is in Baltimore county. He man
aged the campaign of United States
Senator William Cabell Bruce and
lately has spent much time in behalf
of Governor Ritchie's political aspira-
tions.
The new Insurance Commissioner
entered politics actively in 1906, when
he was elected to the House of Dele
gates. After reelection he became
speaker Of the House. Subsequently
he was counsel to the State Roads
Commission before becoming State
Senator and Congressman. One of his
most notable public services was as
chairman of the Baltimore and Ohio
investigating committee, which nego-
tiated the sale to the railroad of
stocks held by the State, obtaining
FIVE times the price at which the
State had obtained them. He is re-
garded as an able debater and skilled
in parliamentary practice.
During the fight over national pro
hibition he opposed the dry amend
ment. but subsequently voted for the
volstead bill. He opposed the suf-
frage amendment consistently, incur
ring the wrath of politically organized
women.
He is the son of the late Oregon
Randolph Benson and lives at Hale
thorpe.
Ritehle RevIses Costs Set BY U. S.
According to Maryland State Off
cials, the per capita cost of the State
Government for 1923 was S1113. and
not s14S1, as given in statement of
the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor published in The Sun.
Difficulty in reconciling the figures
Of the Federal Government with those
Of the State, as contained in the
Comptroller's report. was expressed
by Governor Ritchie, who stated he
had asked Walter N. Kirkman, State
purchasing agent and budget expert.
to analyze the survey Of the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor.
Il cannot understand where the
Federal department got the figures of
S6,364.S43, outlays for permanent i'm
proyements," said the Governor. "The
Comptroller's report shows but s3,774.-
sos payments on account of loans, and
all the bonds issued in that year. ac-
cording to my figures. amounted to
s1,250,00 The total expenditures for
the year were s16,691,541, not count
Ing the payments on account Of loans,
and If we divide that by 100000. the
estimated population of Maryland, it
gives a per capita Of little less than
s11.1s.
''It seems to me the Federal figures
include bond issues for. permanent i'm
provements as current expenses,
which is not fair. as the interest and
proportionate share of the sinking
fund for all the State debt is provided
for in the other items. 1t is not good
bookkeeping to add to a debt the
amount paid on that debt"