vernor Philip Francis Thomas again called their
attention to the subject, and renewed, in a modified
form, " the suggestions heretofore made by
his immediate predecessor," Governor Pratt, and
then recommended the "creation of a Board of
Public Works, composed of two persons, one of
whom to be taken from the Eastern and the other
from the Western Shore," in which he says:
"This board should be authorized to act in the
place and stead of the agents and directors, now
appointed, with full and ample, power to represent,
control, manage and direct the interest of
the State, etc., etc."
But, ( Mr. J. said,) he would read that part of
the message to which he desired to call the attentions
of the Convention, as being especially applicable
to the question now under consideration.
It would be found in the message of Governor
Thomas. December session, 1849, page 23 and
24 of that message, as follows :
"When the great and important ends to be accomplished
by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
are adverted to, when it is considered that by
its agency, the boundless mineral resources of
Western Maryland are to be developed and
brought to a market, that its revenues, an immense
debt of seven millions of dollars, con-
tracted for its construction, and now weighing
heavily upon the property of the people, ought
to be cancelled; that an annually accruing interest
of $371,625, is to be met; that $3,615,913 75
of arrears of interest are to be paid, and that,
before a dollar can be applied to these objects
$127,500 of its yearly profits, are first to be appropriated
to the payment of the principal and
interest of preferred debts, can it be doubted
that a system of the most comprehensive pow-
ers, executed by agents of sagacious intellect,
enlarged experience and persevering energy,
with a constant devotion of time and labor, are indispensable
to the attainment of such results.
After mature reflection, I have considered it
proper to renew, in a modified form. a sugges-
tion heretofore made on this subject by my immediate
predecessor, and I now recommend the
creation of a board of public works composed
of two persons, one of whom to be taken from
the Eastern, and the other from the Western
Shore, to be elected by a direct vote of the peo-
ple at the time and places of electing a Gover-
nor, and to continue in office for the term of
three years. This board, should be authorised
to act in the place and stead of the agents and
directors now appointed, with full and ample
powers to represent, control, manage and direct
the interests of the State, whether as stockhold-
er or creditor, or both, in all joint stock companies
incorporated for purposes of internal improvement,
with an annual salary to its members,
sufficient to enable them to devote their
undivided time and attention to the duties of
their office.
" The control of the State over this and other
works of internal improvement, has been here-
tofore exercised, through a board of agents, and
by directors appointed by the two houses of the |
legislature. By the act of 1832, chapter 318,
the Governor with the consent of the council
was required to appoint three agents to repre-
sent the State at the meetings of the stockholders
of all joint stock companies "incorporated
to make roads and canals, and to vote according
to the interests of the State in all the proceed-
ings of said company or companies," the act
also providing that their compensation should
he the same "as is allowed to members of the
General Assembly, including itinerant charges,
during the time necessarily occupied in the dis-
charge of their duties." By chapter 155 of 1840,
the number of the agents was enlarged to five,
the mode of appointment changed, and the addi-
tional duty assigned them to "keep a correct
journal of the proceedings of said stockholders
in general meetings asembled, and report the
same to the legislature, with such remarks there-
in as may seem to them expedient;" and by a
subsequent law, their compensation was reduced
To one hundred dollars, each, per annum. The
directors on the part of the State are without
emolument, their duties being the same, as
those performed by private directors, in similar
corporations. The nature and extent of the du-
ties assigned by law to the State agents, and the
limited salary allowed them, insufficient us it is
to pay the ordinary itinerant charges attendant
upon the exercise of the trust reposed in them,
are considerations ample of themselves, in the
absence of the overwhelming proof affolded by
past experience, to show that the existing sys-
tem of control, is inherently defective, and that
the time has arrived, when a change of that sys-
tem is imperatively demanded."
After referring to these extracts, which Mr. J.
considered a sufficient answer to all the sacrifi-
ces which had been made, and which were en-
titled to the highest consideration, he did not
intend at this time to occupy further the atten-
tion of the Convention.
Governor Thomas recommended a board of
public works of "two," Governor Pratt of "one
or more." The report which be Mr. J, had
submitted, recommended three, one from the
Eastern, and two from the Western Shore.
The vast amount of interest which the city of
Baltimore has in all the works of internal im-
provement in the State, Mr. J. said, he thought
entitled her to at least one of the members of
the board, then one from the western, and one
from the Eastern Shore; all interests in the
State would be represented; this might be accomplished
by the report of the committee
which recommended the appointment of three.
The gentleman from Frederick [Mr Thomas]
had proposed a substitute, by providing for four
members of the board of public works. Mr. J.
thought the manner in which the State was pro-
posed to be districted, from which the members
of the board were to be selected, was perhaps
the best plan and under present impressions he
felt disposed to support it. He was the more
induced to adopt this course, because of the
great experience the gentleman had on all |
