136 " State Papers and Addresses

term as Governor of Maryland, I should report to the people of Maryland con-
cerning the management of their affairs during this period. After all, a public
official is a trustee, and the people he serves are the beneficiaries of his govern-
mental activities, in proportion to the faithfulness with which he discharges
his duties and responsibilities.

I am prompted to come before you with this report because I am con-
vinced that by and large the people of Maryland and of our Nation are taking
a more thoughtful interest in the workings of their government, and are in-
creasingly more concerned with the accomplishments of those to whom they
entrust high office. It is in order to give you a direct and official report, as well
as to invite your further cooperation in the things that lie ahead, that I take
the liberty of discussing in detail the results of the first chapter in this adminis-
tration's work. ~

The government of more than a million and a half people such as live in
Maryland cannot be a mere matter of abstract policy. It goes far beyond the
making and administration of law. More and more in this disturbed era gov-
ernment is coming out of the legislative chamber and council room and is going
directly into the homes and hearts of the human beings it represents. So to-
night, as a loyal Marylander who has been entrusted temporarily, with the
serious duty of guiding the destinies of our State, I feel that the surest way
to a complete understanding and accord between the State Administration and
the people of our State is to acquaint you with a record of the things we 'have
striven to do, and of what we believe has been accomplished.

Let me at the outset state very frankly that we have not succeeded in ac-
complishing all that this Administration has undertaken to achieve. Much
remains to be done, but this much can be said without fear of successful contra-
diction: —substantial progress has been made, in addition to the reforms already
completed, toward the fulfillment of the other pledges and promises made at the
outset of the Administration.

One year ago, I stood on the portico of our historic State House in An-
napolis and, in making humble acknowledgement of the honor that had been
conferred upon me, pledged myself to certain definite aims and purposes. At
the very outset I emphasized the acute fiscal situation confronting our State,
and promised that the unsatisfactory state of our finances then existing should
be corrected and corrected promptly. It was declared to be my firm belief
that, as Marylanders proud of our State traditions, we must so arrange our
affairs as to live within our income; that we must cease the dangerous practice
of borrowing to pay current State expenses; and that we must put an im-
mediate stop to the diversion to other uses of gasoline tax monies that had
been dedicated to the vastly important work of building and maintaining our
roads.

In the inaugural address mention was made of the momentous social prob-
lems that faced us; of the necessity of providing for the poor and unfortunate
in our midst, the aged, the dependent young, the blind. But it was made clear
that this whole matter of humanitarian assistance was not a temporary prob-
lem, to be treated on a hit-and-miss basis of special taxation, but that it was
here to stay, for a long time at least, and that we must treat it on a long-range
basis. I therefore recommended that provision be made in the State Budget
for the funds necessary to carry on the various social and relief activities.