xiii

seventeen hundred and ninety-one, and a certificate of the
amount ascertained, in accordance with the directions of the
Resolution referred to, .has been filed in this office, "for the
further action of the General Assembly of Maryland."
It will be perceived by a reference to TABLE No. 15 of the
Appendix, that the receipts from the tax on Policies of In-
surance have very much decreased, as compared with the re-
eeipts in former years.

This is unquestionably, attributable to the imperfections
of the laws, on this subject, and the difficulties attending
their execution.

The revenue would be enhanced by the, repeal of the exist-
ing laws, and the passage of others of a more direct end
stringent character.

The licenses to Agents of Insurance Companies not incor-
porated by this State, should issue from this Office, and the
price of the license might be increased, as was suggested by
my predecessor in his Report for 1855, and all other taxes on
this account abolished;

The receipts from the Hay Scales in Baltimore will be
found in TABLE No. 12. They amounted in the year to
$863.84 which is an increase upon the year preceding.

TABLE No. 12, also shows the receipts from the Live Stock
Scales during the fiscal year. The revenue derived by the
State from this source, was $6.394.35, a falling off as com-
pared with former years, in consequence of the extensile re-
pairs, w.hich the Weighmaster has deemed it his duty to
make during the years 1856 and 1857. In this connection
the Comptroller begs leave to renew the suggestion made in
his Report to the Governor in the preceding year.

The Revenue from the State Wharves in Baltimore like
wise appears in No. 12 of the Tables. Upon the representa-
tions of the State Wharfinger, and in the absence of an ap-
propriation; the Comptroller was induced to allow a portion
of the receipts to be applied in the making of repairs, which
appeared to be absolutely necessary to preserve the property
of the State. It would, doubtless, be of service for a Com-