7

Such amendments should, however, be more properly suggested to the
Legislature.

REVENUE FROM CLERKS OF COURTS, &c.

Statement No. 9, also discloses the Receipts into the Treasury from
Sales of Licenses, Tax on Plaintiffs, on Commissions of Trustees and
Receivers, Excess of Officers' Fees, &c., which are received through the
Clerks of Courts, Commissioner of Stamps, &c. The amount received
from these sources, during the fiscal year, was $239,211.66, which
exceeds the receipts of the previous fiscal year, inclusive of October and
November, in the sum of $18.589.91.

In connection with the Revenue received through the hands of Clerks
of Courts from Sales of Licenses, it may be proper to remark, that by
chap. 200 of 1854, Licenses were ordered to be issued, for the inspec-
tion, guaging and weighing, of certain commodities: which business
had been, previously, under the special care of Officers appointed by the
Executive.

Whether, in a commercial point of view, this particular act was judicious
or not, the opinions of many may differ, but it is certain, that in its
operation it has proved of financial advantage to the State. The Revenue
derived from this source, since the law went into effect to the close of the
fiscal year, amounted to $6,682.50. There is no reason to suppose that
in the coming year, this amount will be diminished.

The settlements made on these accounts, namely, for Licenses, Tax on
Plaintiffs, &c., per the Clerics of Courts, have been very punctual and
satisfactory, with but few exceptions.

It is to be regretted, that the Clerk of tire Circuit Court for Caroline
County has failed to pay into the Treasury the amount of Revenue accrued
in his hands, upon his three Semi-Annual Returns, to June 1854, amount-
ing in the aggregate to more than $3,500. Suits were ordered by this
Department upon his official bond for the amounts due upon each of these
returns, but to the present time nothing whatever has been received into
the Treasury therefrom. In view of the necessity of protecting the Public
Revenue, and the proper action under the Law passed at the last Session