was not selected as a financier, and he doubted
whether he was the proper person to confide in
upon such matters. His functions were entire-
ly distinct. The duties of the Governor might
often call him away from the city, where the
Comptroller should remain.
Mr. TUCK was in favor of the plan suggested
in the report; but he could see no reason for
giving the Comptroller $3,000, and the Tres-
surer, $2,000. He would move to reduce the
salary of the Comptroller to $2,000.
Mr. T. proceeded to explain why the Gover-
nor could not properly discharge the duty of
checking the action of the Treasurer. In the
Governor's office, there would be no means to
ascertain the amount of money in the Treasury.
In the comptroller's office, the amount would
appear on the books; and then at any time the
money could be counted to prove that all was
right. Each would be a check upon the other.
Mr. DONALDSON considered this plan as the
greatest scheme of economy and retrenchment
that had been presented to the consideration of
the Convention. The experience of most of the
States, had proved the necessity of a Comptroller
or a similar officer, to act as a check upon the
Treasurer. The importance of the officer in the
transfer of stocks, would bear no comparison to
its importance in insuring the Treasury from be-
ing squandered, or fraud from being perpetrated.
It was the every day check of the Comptroller
upon the Treasury to which he wished epecially
to call attention. No money could be paid into
the Treasury, without a receipt signed by the
Treasurer, and countersigned by the Comptroller.
Not a cent could be paid out, except upon a war-
rant drawn by the Comptroller, and to be paid
by the Treasurer. A record was thus kept in
both offices of the receipts and expenditures, and
no fraud could be committed except with the
express concurrence of both of these officers.
The salary of an additional officer, was a small
amount to be paid for the insurance of $1,200,000
annually. He coincided fully with the opinion
expressed in the New York Convention, that the
man who receives and pays out the money should
not be the man to say what should be received
and paid out; and that if human experience had
not settled that principle, it had settled nothing.
The hour of 2 o'clock having arrived,
The Convention took a recess until 4 o'clock
P. M.
EVENING SESSION.
FOUR O'CLOCK, P. M.
The Convention met,
Mr. STEWART of Baltimore city, presented a
memorial, signed by Lindsey H. Reynolds, John
S. Brown, Ezra Dill and others, practical buil-
ders, carpenters and consumers of luber, pray-
ing that the present system of inspecting lumber
may not be abolished;
Which was read, and
Referred to the committee on Inspections.
Mr. RANDALL, asked to be excused from serv-
on the committee on Printing, for the reason that |
his time is much occupied as a member of the
Revisory committee, and is unable to attend on
both committees;
On the question being put,
He was excused from serving on said commit-
tee; and
The CHAIR substituted Mr. DONALDSON, in his
place.
Mr. RIDGELY submitted the following resolu-
tion.
Which was twice read and adopted:
Resolved, That the secretary be authorised to
transmit by mail, free of charge, to each mem-
ber of the Convention, such numbers of the Reg-
isters of Debates and Journals of the Convention
as may not be published entire after the final ad-
journment of the Convention.
Mr. GRASON, from the committee on Revision,
reported to the Convention certain proposed
amendments to the report on the Executive De-
partment;
Which were read and disposed of.
Mr. GRASON moved to reconsidered the vote
on the 13th section of the report. His object
was so to amend the section that there being a va-
cancy during the recess, the Governor might ap-
point. A vacancy might happen in the last hour
of the session of the Legislature, and without
their knowledge, and unless this amendment was
adopted, there would be a doubt whether the
Governor would have power to appoint. He
had himself, in one instance, refused to appoint
officers after the adjournment of the Legislature
for this reason. He had nominated officers for
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company;
they had been repeatedly rejected, and the ses-
sion had closed without their appointment. Other
Governor's had exercised the power by their con-
struction of the Constitution, in similar cases.
On motion of Mr. GRASON,
The Convention reconsidered their vote on the
13th section of said report
On motion of Mr. GRASON,
The section was amended by inserting after the
word "case," in the first line, the word "of;" and
in the same line, by striking out the words "may
occur."
The report having been read through as amend-
ed, was adopted.
Mr. TUCK moved that it be recommitted to the
committee on revision, for the purpose of being
engrossed.
Mr. BROWN gave notice that he should move to
reconsider that portion of the report of the com-
mittee on State Attorneys, for the purpose of
moving to amend the same, in relation to their
election, by striking out "October," and inserting
"November."
Mr. SPENCER (in accordance with the notice
given by him on yesterday.) moved to reconsider
the vote of the Convention on the article adopted
in the report of the judiciary committee, relative
to the rates of fees of clerks of courts, and regis-
ters of wills.
Mr. SPENCER then moved to lay said motion on
the table until to-morrow;
Determined in the affirmative. |
