COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. 11

Under this head I would call your attention to chapter 54
of 1868, by which a deficiency of salary on the part of any
clerk in Baltimore City is made up from the excess returned
by others. Executing this law, the sum of $1,849.17 was paid
to the Clerk of the City Court, and $90.45 to the Clerk of the
Circuit Court for Baltimore City; total $1,939.62. I would
respectfully recommend the repeal of this law, as I cannot think
the framers of the Constitution ever designed any Clerk to re-
ceive more than the fees of his office.

I would respectfully recommend a revision of the license
laws of the State. I had the honor of furnishing the Chairman
of the "Ways and Means" Committee, at the last session, a
schedule of prices, graded from the highest to the lowest, ac-
cording to capital, but no action was taken on it. As the law
now stands, there is no distinction between the trader working
a capital of $40,000 and one operating with $100,000 or more.
I believe this to be wrong in principle, as the small traders pay
much more in proportion. I think it just and right also, that
all licenses should be transferable, and made so by law.

All the revenue laws of the State need a careful revision.—
They have remained without material change or amendment
for many years, and need adapting to changed circumstances.-
I would, therefore, earnestly recommend that the proper com-
mittee of your honorable body take the matter into considera-
tion.

SALARIES OF CLERKS AND REGISTERS OF WILLS.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 13, Article
XVIII, and Section 271 of Article XCIII, Code Public Gene-
ral Laws, it is the duty of the Comptroller, from time to time,
to limit and fix the number and compensation of the deputies
or assistants to the Clerks and Registers of Wills of the several
Courts of the counties and Baltimore City.

By the provisions of Section 26, Article IV, of the Consti-
tution, the Judges of the Courts are authorized to limit the
number of deputies or assistants to the clerks of their respec-
tive courts. This creates a conflict between the provisions of
the Code of Public General Laws and the Constitution, which
should not exist; while the Judges, in the absence of any