of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 15

determination to weigh every estimate and request in the light of sound
economy and real necessity.

Immediately after my election in November, I appointed a Budget Com-
mittee consisting of Hooper S. Miles, State Treasurer, Walter N. Kirkman,
former Budget Director, and at present of the State Board of Health and
Joseph O'C. McCusker, Chief Deputy State Comptroller. These gentlemen have
assisted me greatly in gathering the necessary budget-making data and in
investigating and weighing the multitude of budget requests and estimates.
They, too, have consistently maintained the attitude that economy must be
the watch-word of this administration. Together we have spent many weeks
analyzing the past and present expenditures of the various State departments,
agencies, and institutions and every effort has been made to uncover the spots
where economies can be effected without impairing needed services or where the
State's funds have been used either wastefully or extravagantly and then
eliminate them from the recommended budget allowances for 1940 and 1941.

In order that the taxpayers of Maryland might be required to pay only
what is absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the State govern-
ment, I have decided that no salary increase can be allowed in any department
or institution. Furthermore, I da not consider that I have the right to make
recommendations to' you for new positions, except in a few instances where
urgency of the need is apparent. Examples of this need are the necessary
employment of additional nurses and attendants at State institutions and
hospitals for the handling of increased population, employees to staff new
buildings, etc. In the consideration of the budget requests, it was concluded that
a number of existing positions are unnecessary and these have been excluded
from the recommended budget allowances.

In short, I have diligently endeavored to draft, for your consideration, a
budget, which, while it appropriates sufficient to meet the actual governmental
necessities, and avoids impairing any of the essential functions of the State,
will demand of all State officers, and the heads of all Departments, Institutions
and State agencies the practice of a most rigid and intelligent economy in the
administration of their duties for the next two fiscal years.

The aggregate of the net reductions from the amount appropriated for 1933
and 1939 amounts to $711,117.20 for 1940 and $712,937.33 for 1941.

To account to you for all reductions would burden you with a mass of
detail which seems unnecessary, as it can be obtained by an examination of
the individual budgets. I can and do, however, truthfully state that the
Budget, which I am submitting, reflects reduced costs for salaries and adminis-
trative expenses throughout the several Departments, Institutions and
agencies of the State, amounting to more than $800,000.00 gross for each of the
two fiscal years involved.

After assembling all requests for appropriations, it was found that the
current total sought by all of the agencies of the State for the next two years
was $48,731,114.48. After reducing, eliminating and revising downward in-
numerable items in the requests, the sum total which I recommended is
$42,348,145.98. This is a total reduction from requested appropriations of
$6,382,968.50.

These figures include a recommended allowance of $5,000,000.00 to the
Board of State Aid and Charities—Public Assistance Division—to support a
program of providing aid to the blind, aid to dependent children, old-age