COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. 19

tion, and of no real use in attaining the object to be arrived at. A
proper performance of these duties will involve the necessity of an
additional Clerk to attend strictly and entirely to this branch of the
business of the office, but if authority is given to the Comptroller to
establish proper fees, for the performance of these duties, as is done
in other States, it will be no additional burden to the Treasury, but
will probably, after payment of expenses, become a source of reve-
nue. At the same time the services of this additional Clerk, to attend!
carefully to the details and workings of the system of Insurance, by
both Foreign and Domestic Companies, and to look after and pre-
vent evasions of the laws, would add immensely to the revenue
from this source and, what is more important, be a reliable safeguard
to the insured.

An Act should be passed providing the proper regulations to-
carry these views into effect.

This subject was pressed upon the last Legislature by the Report
of the Comptroller, but although the General Assembly considered
the subject to some extent, they failed to pass the laws necessary
to systematize the business.

It should be the object of the Legislature, as much as possible, to
encourage the formation of Domestic Companies, so that capital of
this State may be advantageously employed in this very lucrative
business, and the drain on the resources of the people, consequent
on the abstraction of so large sums of money from her limits, pre-
vented.

A synopsis of the returns of the Domestic Insurance Companies
of this State, made under Chapter 257, of 1870, is appended to this
Report, and exhibits the financial condition of the Companies as far
as is in the power of the Department to do so.

Table No. 14 shows the amount of taxes, for the year 1871, due
from Collectors of State Taxes in the several counties and the city
of Baltimore, at the end of the fiscal year, to be $534,247.79.

Table No. 15 shows a list of balances due the State from Col
lectors for various years, ranging from 1843 to 1870 inclusive,
amounting in the aggregate to $645,970.78, exclusive of interest.

Table No. 16 exhibits a list of balances due from Sheriffs of the
counties and city of Baltimore, for a long series of years, amount-
ing to $50,018.55. A number of these old claims are worthless and
irrecoverable, and might as well be stricken off the books of the
office.