Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-01-14
riday 6ornins-.".January IA. 1927.
The Governors Message.

Governor Ritchie's message to the mem
bers OF the present Maryland Legislature
was unusually lengthy but very logical in |
the discussion Of the many important sub |
jects concerning the States interests. In |
part. he said:
Maryland is favored eovernmentally. |
We have all the agencies for good govern
ment.
So far as the legislative branch is con-
cerned, two commanding questions, as
see ii, stand out for your consideration
and action at this session. One is the
financing of the State government during
the next two years and the further lower
ing Of State taxes. The other is the con-
servation Of the sea-food industries Of the
State. believe the rarest Of opportunities
are before you.
The requests for highway and General
construction reach the enormous sum of
about $l6.000.000. | am recommending
for these $S.400.000. For the mainte-
nance and operating charges Of the State
government a total Of $22,484,29O is
asked for 1928 and $22 .s95. 500 for 1929.
| am recommending $2l,644, 8l7 for 1928
and $22.176.784 for 1929. the difference
OF 553.967 being principally due to the fact
that the 1923 budget must make provis-
Ion for the 1929 legislature to an esti-
mated increase in motor vehicle receipts
dedicated by law to roads) in 1929 over
1873 and to larger carrying charges on the
public debt in 1929 than in 1928. The
allowances made are $839.473 less than
requested for 1928 and SIZE. 284 less than
requested for 1929. These recommends
tons involve considerable sums, Of course.
But the government Of Maryland cannot
stand still.
IL is a satisfaction to announce that the
butset am submitting carries with il q
State tax Of rs cents for 1928 and 1929.
This is notable for a number Of reasons
1t Is decrease Of 2 1928 cents below the
present 1927 rate Of 81 1928 cents. 1t is
6 cents lower than the lowest rate which
has existed in Maryland 10 any year since
1912 In that year the rate was 20 IA
cents. Il rose to 81 cents in 1918 and it
has been higher ever since until the pres
ent administration began to lower il in
1921.
This reduction in the rate cannot be
attributed to increased assessments. is,
Of course, true that the assessable basis in
the State has been increasing each year,
rejecting not only higher values on taxed
property but also assessments on property
not previously taxed, but it is equally true
that along with this increasing assessable
basis the State tax rate was steadily in
creasing also. Both were getting higher to-
eether. but since this administration began
in 1920 the tax rate has been going stead
lily down every year and never once up.
and the taxpayer has benefited accord
ingly on his State taxes.
Thus in the resssessment Of few years
ago the receipts from the increase in the
assessable basis for 1923 and 924 amounted
to 100000, and the 1924 budget trans
ferred this entire sum to the sinking fund
account. thus completing that account and
making it sufficient to take care Of all
outstanding sinking fund bonds As only
serial annuity bonds are issued now, no
further sinking fund levies have had to
be made.
Other measures of Importance to our
people are submitted for your considera-
ton, such. for instance, as a plan to elm
mate dangerous railroad Grade crossings
on State highways and thus end that
menace forever, and plan to relieve the
people Of the counties and of Baltimore
city from direct taxation for lateral roads
II is quite clear. therefore, that the con-
struction and capital requests for the next
two years will approach $l6.000.000.
Needs Of the State which are urgent will.
in my judgment, require larger capital ex-
penditures during the next two years than
have been customary. but manifestly II Is
not possible for me to recommend a sum
anywhere near the .000.000-which
would be nearly double the allowance
for the present. recommend State loan
covering general construction. equipment
and capital charges during the next two
years of $S.400.000. of which $4.l5O. 900
will be for institutional purposes and GER
tain departmental purposes and $4.250.-
900 will be for roads and bridges.
The development Of the public school
system in this State during the last two
administrations has been notable lifted
from mediocrity to superiority.
Whatever may be the situation in other
sections Of the country, particularly 10 the
West, the fact is that in the East. in close
proximity to Maryland and within Mary
land. there are university and collegiate
facilities in abundance. and there Is,
think. no occasion for the State to operate
a university comprising the diversified de-
partment Of the University Of Maryland,
have at other times discussed at length