|
|
|
The unfinished business being the report of the com-
mittee on labor and agriculture, was then taken up.
Sections 3 and 4 were struck out, and the following
substitute in lieu of them, offered by Mr. Lee, was adopt-
ed: "He shall perform such of the duties now devolved
by law upon the commissioner of immigration and the im-
migration agent as will promote the object for which
those officers were appointed, and such other duties as
may be assigned to him by the General Assembly, and
shall receive a salary of $2, 500 per year, and after hi;.,
election and qualification, the offices before mentioned
shall cease. "
Section 5 was passed over without amendment.
Section 6, now section 5, was struck out.
Mr. Hollyday proposed the following substitute:
"He shall inquire into the undeveloped resources of
wealth of the State of Maryland, more especially con-
cerning those within the limits of the Chesapeake bay and
its tributaries, which belong to the State, and suggest
such plans as may be calculated to make them available
as sources of revenue. "
Mr. Brown said it was very manifest that all of them
were anxious to do something to promote the interests of
the good old State of Maryland, but what were they about
to do ? Everything, nothing. The report as it came from
the committee had been cut down to the one subject of
immigration, but it was now proposed to go into the
whole industrial interests of the State. He believed in
a minute knowledge of all the resources of the State, but
thought it could be much better accomplished than by the
establishment of such an office as this. It would be worse
than useless.
Mr. Wallace spoke of the great importance of the oys-
ter, fish and crab trade of the Chesapeake and its tribu-
taries, and of the large number of people employed. There
were thousands of acres now in Somerset, Dorchester and
Worcester counties lying perfectly useless which would
in a few years be equal in value to any lands on the Dela-
ware or Christiana Creek. These lands would be as valu-
able as any in the State, if public attention was drawn to
365
|
|
|
|
 |
