REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY 67

YEARLY REPORT OF CHIEF INSPECTOR STATE LICENSES
October 1, 1927, to October 1, 1928

Baltimore, Md.,
October 1, 1928.

HON. WILLIAM S. GORDY, JR.,

Comptroller of the Treasury,
Annapolis, Md.

Honorable Sir—I herewith submit the following report of the
License Inspectors of the State of Maryland for the fiscal year be-
ginning October 1, 1927, and ending September 30, 1928.

The total result of the inspection of licenses over the State *
for the year 1927-8 amounted to 1104,757.66. Of this amount
$58,754.96 was reported in Baltimore City and $46,002.70 was re-
ported in the counties.

In the course of the work of this bureau we find that quite a
number .of merchants, and especially those conducting one or more
places of business, feel that one blanket license is all that is neces-
sary for any number of stores conducted by them in any county in
this State. This condition pertains principally to trader's license.
As a separate license is required for each place of business, we feel
that this should be defined more clearly and the language of the law
made very plain in this matter. If this condition is extensively
practiced it will mean a considerable loss of State license revenue.

I also suggest that some provision be injected into the present
law which would require all licenses to be posted in a conspicuous
place. Considerable time is lost by the inspector while a search is
made for the license, which has been mislaid.

I also further feel that some provision should be made whereby
a penalty would be imposed upon any firm, person or corporation
for their failure to secure the necessary license or licenses for the
business they are conducting when due on May 1st. The inspectors
find that in a great many instances persons, firms and corporations
delay in securing their licenses promptly on May 1st, and wait until
the inspector calls on them before payment is made, thereby causing
a great deal of loss of revenue to the State and loss of considerable
time by the inspectors. If a penalty were imposed, I am sure that
the license required would be secured more promptly.

Following is a report of the counties and Baltimore City, in-
dividually and collectively: