public debt, and the granting of such a release,
was in its effect, to the extent of the sum re-
leased, equivalent to a new levy of taxes upon the
people.
He hoped that every effort would bemade to
render the present tax system effective. If the
proposition which he now offered were adopted,
there would be some reasonable prospect of the
payment of the public debt in twelve or fourteen
years. But if the proposition were rejected, he
could not foresee at what period the debt would
be paid.
The question was then put, and
The amendment was adopted as an additional
section,
Mr. DORSEY then moved further to amend the
report, by inserting the following as the twenty-
first section:
"Section 21. It shall be the duty of the Gover-
nor semi-annually, and oftener if he deem it ex-
pedient, to inspect the bank book, books of ac-
counts and other proceedings of the Treasurer."
Mr. D. said, one of the objections made to bi-
ennial sessions was, that the treasurer would not
be called on to report the state of the treasury as
often as he should, and that this might lead to
frauds or malversation in office,
The amendment provides that the Governor
shall semi-annnally inspect the hank book, books
of accounts and other proceedings of the treasu-
rer. The duties thus imposed on the Governor
were neither inappropriate nor onerous. .Noth-
ing then can be done by the treasurer over which
the Governor will not exercise a supervision,
more effectual than that resulting from annual
sessions of the legislature.
The money is deposited in the Farmers' Bank
of Maryland, and the Governor will be subject-
ed to no serious inconvenience in the duty now
assigned him. And if the treasurer should com-
mit any abuse of his trust it will be detected.
The Governor will have sufficient leisure for this
inspection, and its exercise would supersede the
necessity of appointing a comptroller at a salary
of $3,000, as is proposed in the report of the
committee on the treasury department, if we
are to have a comptroller for the purposes propos-
ed in the report, the treasury must be removed
to the city of Baltimore.
The question was then put, and
The amendment was adopted as an additional
section.
Mr. TUCK moved to amend the report by in-
serting the following as the twenty-second sec-
tion;
"Section 23. Before granting any pardon or
nolle prosequi, the Governor shall cause such notice
as he may deem expedient, by publication
in some one or more newspapers, that an appli-
cation has been made, and that the same will be
considered on or after a day to be named in said
notice,"
Mr. T. defended his proposition in some re-
marks which will be published hereafter.
The question being put,
The amendment was agreed to. |
The twentieth (printed) section being under
consideration,
Mr. GRASON said, there was a section in the
legislative report, nearly the same in effect as
this section. He, therefore, moved to strike out
the section.
The motion was agreed to,
And the twentieth section was stricken out.
The twenty-first section being under consider-
ation as follows:
"And the Governor shall reside at the seat of
government, in order that he may constantly at-
tend to the duties of his office, and shall receive
for his services an annual salary of four thous-
and dollars."
Mr. DIRICKSON moved to strike out the sec-
tion, and insert in lieu of, the following:
Section 21. The Governor shall be in attend-
ance at the seat of government during the ses-
sions of the legislature of the State, and shall receive
for his services an annual salary of two
thousand dollars."
Mr. D made some remarks which will be
published hereafter.
Mr. GRASON desired, before the amendment
proposed by the gentleman from Worcester was
received, to move an amendment, by striking
out the following words in the section, "in order
that he may constantly attend to the duties of
his office."
Mr. JENIFER was opposed to the amendment
of the gentleman from Worcester, (Mr. Dirick-
son.) At the very moment when we have impo-
sed additional duties on the Executive, by requir-
ing him to examine the bank books, and in other
respects also, be thought it wrong to reduce his
salary. The people have already expressed
their approbation of a rate of salary suitable to
the dignity of the office and the character of the
State. He desired to give to every man a salary
in proportion to the importance and value of the
office he fills. And it is proposed further that
the Governor shall remove his residence from
this city. He would warn the gentleman from
Worcester against touching Annapolis, endeared
as it is to the citizens of this State by its hallow-
ed associations. Let the Governor act as he
feels disposed. Give him an adequate salary,
and leave him free to do as he will. He was
opposed also to the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Queen Anne's.
Mr. DORSEY intended to move to amend the
substitute of the gentleman from Worcester, by
striking out the words "during the sessions of the
Legislature of the State," and inserting in lieu
thereof the following words, "during the session
of the Legislature, and in the recess thereof be
in the city of Annapolis, during the first week of
every other month of, his term."
Mr D. went into a brief explanation of the
duties of the Governor, and stated that they were
not such as to require his constant residence at
Annapolis.
The question was then put on the amendment
offered by Mr. GRASON, and it was adopted.
The question being on the amendment submitted
by Mr. DORSEY, |
