COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. 27

sury. I shall present, to the consideration of the General Assembly,
an Act proposing such amendments and alterations of the 81st Article
of the Code of Public General Laws as will be effective to carry out
the suggestions of this Report, if the Legislature shall desire to adopt
them.

The enactment of provisions for collecting the taxes recommended
in this Report, and repealing the present Direct Tax, will tend towards
the equalization of taxation in this State: and as experience shall sug-
gest improvements and alterations to the same end, the legislation of
future years may attain that object to a more desirable extent. Noth-
ing, in my opinion, that the Legislature can now do, will contribute
more to raise the hopes and spirits of the depressed and almost dis-
consolate agricultural interest, than the adoption of these provisions.

It has ordinarily been regarded as incontrovertible, that a reasona-
ble amount of thrift and success, in agricultural pursuits, is necessary
to the permanent prosperity of a State or country, and I therefore
suggest that the railroad companies themselves, as well as the commer-
cial community generally, are vitally interested in the adoption of any
measures which will bring relief and prosperity to the agricultural
interests.

Nothing, in fact, remains but the attainment of this end to secure
the power and prosperity of the State.

If the agricultural community is thrifty and prosperous, the wealth
of the Internal Improvement Companies, and other corporations, will
be irresistibly enhanced, while success in mercantile pursuits and pro-
fessional industry will become comparatively certain and easy of ac-
complishment. I invoke a determination on the part of your
Honorable Bodies to establish true economy in the administration of
the government of the State, and to relieve the people from all un-
necessary burdens and requirements, believing, as I do, that the perfec-
tion of government consists in its being felt as little as possible, save
in the exercise of its power for the promotion of good and the sup-
pression of evil.

Respectfully submitted,

LEVIN WOOLFORD,

Comptroller of Treasury.