Year: 1876

ted with i. His suggestions are mainly
takcn from The pennsyIvania system, which
has been found % work fayosably He
calls che attention Of the Legislature to
the fact that up to this time ihe duty inn
posed By the Constitution Of pFosiJing
law for the punishment Of bribery of public
officials has been wholly neglected. The
Legislature Is solicited to increase the
striugeney Of lhe Tobacco Inspection laws,
to reform the abuses which have erept
into the State warehouses aud perhaps to
make a trial Of the system Of private in
spections-


Governor Groonle asks for an invesiiga-
ton on the persistent attempt made ia
one paper Of large circulation to create the
impression that the Board Of Public Works
and the late Attorney General have not
faithfully guarded the States interest in
tie matter Of the selection Of the site
and tie contract for the erection Of thi
House Of Correction He would have
committee Of the Legislature to examine
into the whole subject, and recommends
also that the same committee be required to
take upsesery other charge which has been
made from any responsible source derOga-
tory to the integrity and fidelity with which
any Official Of the State has discharged the
trust reposed ia him. His statement Of
the selection Of the site and the awarding
Of the contract throws no new light upon
the business. We are informed, indeed,
that the location chosen was deemed the
best offered, and in explanation Of the
mystery surrounding the award Of the
contract the Governor intimates that the
lowest bidders we're neither responsible
nor liable.


The reformatary and benevolent insti-
tutions Of the State are commended to the
care Of the Legislature, with especial men
tion Of the Hospital for the Insane, the
Blind Asylum, the Deafand Dumb Asylum
and the Maryland Incbriate Asylum
Governor Groqme recommends system Of
attachments in the Peuiteuliary, BY which
the terms Of prisoners may be shortened
on account of good behavior Defects 10
the criminal laws are pointed out aud
thorough revision Of the Code advised,
such revision to be made BY commission
Of competent lawyers. The reduction Of
the number of Justices Of the Peace in
Baltimore to twenty is urged An abstraet
Of the report Of the Board Of Education
shows that the number Of pupils has iuereas-
ed 4,lO9 during the year, and that seventy
nine new school houses have been built.
The reorganization Of the Agricultural
College, placing it on a basis promising
better results than have been attained in
the past, is recommended In presenting
the report Of the Fishery Commission, the
Governor remarks upon its efficiency, and
suggests that better provision be made for
the enforcement of the fish laws. The
militia appropriation being only large
enough to support the existing organiza
tions, applications for permission to form
new commands have always been refused;
but il is thought that with the exercise of
more liberality iu fixing the appropriation
new companies can be raised ii the State.
Governor Groome opposes the immediate
withdrawal Of State aid to sectarian insti
tutions, but he favors gradual eurtailmcnt
and final abolition Of the practice. The
resume Of the proceedings in the Arbiira-
tion to decide the Maryland and Virginia
boundary line concludes with the announce
ment that by concurrent action Of the
Legislatures Of the two States the place Of
the late Governor Graham on the Board
must be filed, and that ii should be done
at once TO permit business to be resumed.
For the Centennial, Governor Groome
urges that commission be instituted to
attend to the representation Of Maryland
at the Centennial, and that liberal ap-
preparation be placed at their disposal,
The Message closes with counsel to the
Legislature in regard to the duty Of avoid
ing the passage of corporation acts con-
6icting with the Constitution, and the
propriety Of prompt work. Gov. Groome
then devotes paragraph TO himself per.
sonally, and bows himself out of Office.