The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-02

lLS
Frankly, Mr.. and Mrs. Motorist, do
you really think that this Democratic
Legislature ever intended to permit
me, a Republican governor, to give
you any relief in this direction? 1t
just was not in the cards.
Far More Critical
AS time went on the disclosures re-
garding previous maladministration
of the road finances revealed them to
to be far more critical than we had
ever, as party, been led to suspect.
A report from DR.. Abel Wolman, of
the State Planning Commission, in
March, 1885, gave an eloquent, yet
distressing, picture of how little the
people of Maryland had received for
their two hundred and fifty millions
of dollars which had already been
spent for construction and mainte-
nance of the roads system before l
came into office 1t demonstrated
more wildly than ever how necessary
and urgent it was to devote every
available dollar to the turning of the
tide of road deterioration in the state.
Superior Obligation
am deeply regretful that circum-
stances over which we had no control,
and of many of which circumstances we
were, together with the people of
Maryland, denied knowledge, prevent
ed my fulfllment of an election
pledge. l feel, however, that l have
acted in manner in which every true
citizen, and particularly those who
supported me for office, would have
had me act. 1t is my primary duty, as
governor of the state, to preserve it's
financial integrity. If conditions are
disclosed which prevent the perform
ance of our earnest hopes, we must
accept the only prime responsibility
and protect the state finances, regard
less of any unjust criticism which may
result. This is the course have pur-
sued For it offer explanation, but no
apology.
Forstalled Again
AS the time for the meeting of the
1887 General Assembly approached, l
again found that the general treasury
income of the state would not be suf-
fcient to support the general treasury
requirements. Two years before | had,
by concrete proposals, urged the legis-
lature to put our finances on a sound
basis. This legislature, in the complete
control of the Democratic party, re-
jected my proposals, and against my
sound judgment again resorted to the
method it had been using under the
former administration, of manipulate
ing highway fund transfers to stop
the gap. Once more the refusal of the
legislature, as in 1885, to levy indirect
taxes for general treasury purposes,
forestalled me in my program Of 81
tag. Once more the surplus highways
moneys which should have been re-
turned to the people of Maryland IN
the form of lower license fee, were
diverted to general treasury purposes.
Restoration Urged
l again recommended the restora-
ton to the highways of Maryland of
these temporary transfers, and sug-
gested list of indirect tax levies from
which to make such restoration. The
legislature approved my budgets in
substance, but rendered its purpose
invalid by refusing to levy taxes in
support of it. The General Assembly
restored the transfers in part to the
state roads from borrowed money and
not from indirect taxes as l recon-
mended
Stated In Message
l had made my program clear in
my message of 1887 to the state legis-
lature. Here is what l said:
GIN connection with the restoration
of highway income for highway pur-
poses, may again repeat my convic-
ton that the motorist should receive
his license tags for less than he is
paying at present. | now rec
ommend that, if in your wisdom, you
restore to highway uses the transfers
from highway purposes that have
been forced upon me by the states
present fiscal "set-up", you favorably
consider the enactment of reduction
in the rates for automobile, licensing
from thirty-two cents per horse power
to twenty cents, if not to 81 fiat. l be-
lieve that, should the funds removed
from highway uses be fully restored
by your honorable body, a reduction
of automobile license rates should be
given to the people of the state in re-
demption of the pledge made years
ago when the gasoline taxes were in
creased" ~
Approved Conditionally