46 THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

the scope of this work to be dependent ultimately upon the
amount of money provided for such functions.

4. A careful analysis of Maryland's information needs to serve
as a guide to further activities of the department and to other
departments of the State government.

The Board of Public Works decided that for the time being the
department should be placed under the Hall of Records Commission.
The sum of $11,000 was alloted for a year's operation.

On March 5, 1948, Governor Lane appointed John P. Trimmer,
correspondent in charge of the Annapolis bureau of The Associated
Press, to head the new department. Mr. Trimmer later appointed Ruth
D, Burton to serve as secretary. Mrs. Burton assumed her duties
March 22; Mr. Trimmer on March 29. The new department was
housed in the Court of Appeals building.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

While the Board of Public Works alloted $11,000 from the Emer-
gency Fund for operations of the Department of Information for a
year, the Department of Budget and Procurement apportioned $6,334
of this sum for the first four months in view of the necessity of ob-
taining equipment and supplies for the new agency.

APPROPRIATIONS

Salaries

Director $1,667
Senior Stenographer 667

Contractual Services

Traveling 250
Transportation 50
Communication , 200
Printing, other than

Office Supplies 1,500

Supplies

Office 200
All Others 1,500