of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 243

circumstances that were none too favorable. When and as economic condi-
tions improve, and as refinements are made in legislation now upon the statute
books of the land, this bugaboo of old age dependency will vanish from this
Country, and take its place in the museums of historical relics, along with the
twelve-hour working day, child labor and the like.

All these, however, are considerations that affect the Nation as a whole.
What about those phases of government that apply directly to our own State?
What can our State Administration do to improve them, and to keep step with
the most progressive accomplishments of the other leaders among our com-
monwealths ?

In answer to those questions, let it be said here that, come what may, war
or further economic readjustment, Maryland has embarked upon, and regis-
tered important progress along, ways that lead to financial stablization. We
have "Set our house in order, " an initial step without which there can be no
hope for sound progress.

By this I mean that a number of things have been done that make for
sound administration of your affairs—things that were not being done when
this Administration was called upon to take over the reins of government in
the State. There was little fanfare connected with these achievements, they
were not the type of deeds that lent themselves to wide publicity, or that
would appeal in a striking way to the great numbers of our citizens. Yet I
say to you that the results of these accomplishments will be felt by all the
people of Maryland throughout the years to come.

What was it, then, that was done that will exert such an influence upon
the affairs of our State in years to come? Well, first of all, the State has
begun again to do what every sound business man among you demands of
your own organization—namely, to live in the present rather than in the
future, and to order its financial affairs so that we Marylanders of this age
and generation will pay our own way rather than inflict the costs of our
government expenditures upon those to come after us. It has been decided,
as a definite policy that we would not spend monies unless there was assurance
of income to take care of these expenditures. It was decided to stop borrow-
ing to pay current expenses.

The sorry condition into which our State roads had gotten brought a
further decision to stop, once and for all, the vicious practice of diverting to
other. purposes gasoline tax monies that had been paid by motorists with the
expectation that they would be spent on roads. Provision has been made that
the bonded indebtedness of the State, which had been climbing steadily upward,
should be started on the downward path again. And, yet, withal, by scrutiniz-
ing carefully, and eliminating those that were not in the "essential" class, it
was possible to provide much-needed monies for welfare work, and for in-
creased and badly needed facilities for our poor and unfortunate, our sick
and our orphans.

How important these accomplishments are will be evidenced clearly, if
I am not mistaken, when the enormous costs of National Preparedness efforts
begin to appear in the form of increased Federal taxes. That, of course, will
have to come. It is unavoidable. And, even though it will be unpleasant in
high degree, it will be infinitely preferable to the state of the people of France
and Poland and other German occupied and dominated countries.

When that time comes, I believe the people of Maryland will find great