The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-02-02

WITH THE

Annapolis, February 1, 1899.

j
and various committee meetings, this
past week has been one of little ac-
tivity at Annapolis. A strong convic-
ton that the State budget should be
balanced by a sound tax program, and
not by the diversion Of gasoline rev.
enues, was expressed this week by
county members of the Legislature,
who thus found themselves in agree
ment with members of the city delega-
ton. In his budget message last week
Gov. O'Conor said: maryland will
balance its budget, not by diverting
gasoline taxes, but by meeting square
ly the issue and adopting an adequate
tax program which will yield the re-
quired revenue"
Each member of the Garrett coun-
ty delegation was asked whether he
agreed with this principal Senator
Friend who has always pledged him
self to economy in State government
said: 81 have always opposed diver
sions. But while l favor making up the
difference by taxes, | think that we
could reduce the amount Of the differ
ence by economies. think the Cover
nor has started in the right direction,
but his economies haven't gone far
enough"
County chairman Martin Groves de-
clared: 'I'm with the Governor one
hundred per cent. Nelson Brenneman
was less emphatic but said: Road
money should be used for that pur-
pose. l approve the idea of new taxes
so long as too much of a tax burden
does not result" Delegate Darwin
Martin made his statement with reser-
vations when he said: 81 favor the
principal, yes" And so after the above
brief statements we find that the Gar
rett county group will do their bit to
balance the budget and to keep taxes
and the cost of government as low as
possible.
Beneath the criss-cross of opinion
on the tax problems was a general
undercurrent of feeling that the State
Administration is in a position to get
pretty much what it wants. With this
in mind we wonder if DR.. "Curly"
Byrd, president of the University of
Maryland and up to now master poll
tician, will have his usual influence
over the Legislature when he begins
his biannual lobby in behalf of his
College Park institution. In the pro-
posed budget submitted by the Cover
nor the University received a drastic
cut and it is our guess that Curly"
will be tossed out at first if and when
he takes the issue further.
Bills sent to the General Assembly
from the office of the Governor today
included:
A bill merging the offices of budget
director and State purchasing agent,
to effect a saving in administrative
costs and to afford the Governor a
continuing check on the financial con-
dition of departments, bureaus and in
situations.
The $95,O0O,0OO budget bill, of which
the principal features had already
been announced in the Governors
message a week ago.
Another measure to provide the
Board of Mental Hygiene with long
needed direct control over the insane
institutions of the State.
The bill merging the Budget Bureau
and Central Purchasing Agency pro
vided for a permanent director of the
! new department to be removed only
for cause. The merged offices would be
known as the Department of Budget
and procurement.
A strong lobby in behalf of legal
lied pinball machines was understood
to be forming. The Rawls report rec
commended that these be eliminated.
They were legalized and licensed dur
ing the last two years as part OF the
emergency relief fund. They are such
prolific sources of revenue for their
operators that pressure "back home
has already begun to make its I'M
preston on legislators. Pinball ma
chimes are zone armed bandits" in
disguise, don't be fooled-you can't
win-write your representatives.
Back to Garrett county and then we
must say thirty for another week. The
Bloomington school bill was the first
Garrett county bill to be passed and
so the town of Bloomington will now
have a much needed "little red school
house" in the modern trend The
bounty bill will apparently be amended
in committee and we will advise on
this subject at later date. Senator
Friends bill which makes the office
of Clerk to the County Commissioners
appointive insteaed of elective has
been introduced.