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1852,1853 and 1854, leaving, as per his Report on\file in this Office, a con-
siderable sum, still uncollected, in the Sheriff's hands for the same years.
The management of the Office of this Clerk is specially worthy of com-
mendation. The Register of Wills of the same County has paid into the
Treasury, on the same account, the sum of $309.46. The State's Attor-
ney for Baltimore City paid, on this account, $2,396.48; the Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas paid $1,626.93; the Clerk of the Criminal Court
of Baltimore paid $1,344.20, and the Register of Wills for Baltimore City
paid $215.73. To all of these Officers much praise and credit is due for
the prudent and careful conduct of their Offices, by which these sums have
been secured to the Treasury.
Complaint is made, by the Clerks of Courts and Registers of Wills, in
some parts of the State, in relation to the difficulties attendant the collection
of their fees.
To remedy this evil, a law should be passed requiring these Officers to
deliver annually to the Sheriffs true bills of all uncollected fees, and the
Sheriffs; should be compelled, under heavy penalties, to collect within a
specified time all those which are not returned by them, as due by Insol-
vents or Non-residents. By this means, a large amount of revenue from
this source might be secured to the State.
A number of Officers in this State, whose emoluments exceed the Con-
stitutional limit, allege, that the expenses of their Offices reduce the amount
below that sum. They neglect or refuse, therefore, to report to the Trea-
surer, as required by the first section of Article X. of the Constitution. A,
law should be passed requiring them to make semi-annual report to the
Comptroller, stating not only the amount of their receipts, but the details of
their expenses, which should be allowed or disallowed according to their
justness and reasonableness.
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