24 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Jan. 6

At 2 o'clock P. M. the Secretary of State appeared and de-
livered the following message from the Executive:

To the Senate and House of Delegates of Maryland:

The Constitution of the State provides for the convening of
your body once every two years and limits the time in which
you are to remain in session to ninety days. It is, therefore,
important for the Grover nor to present to you, early in the Ses-
sion, such information concerning the condition of the State
and such recommendations for your consideration as he may
deem necessary and expedient. As the time is none too long to
devote to studious and thoughtful consideration of the measures
suggested by him, it is necessary that he present his informa-
tion early, as no doubt much of your time will be consumed in
discussion of matters originating among yourselves,. as dictated
by the experience of your members and such as your own per-
sonal judgment tells you is for the welfare of the State.

The Sessions of the General Assembly of Maryland of 1912
and 1914 were exceedingly fruitful of good results. They per-
haps gave to the State more real constructive legislation than
any of their predecessors, and there seems to be no reason to
think that your present Session will not approach questions
involving the welfare of the State in the same broad and patri-
otic spirit shown by your predecessors.

The last four years have seen a completion of many public
enterprises and improvement" in the administration of the State's
institutions. It must be borne 'in mind that, with the increase
of property and investment, a corresponding increase in main-
tenance and public expenses necessarily follows. Every bond
issue, whether it be for the construction of roads or for the
erection of an institution to take care of some of the State's
charges, carries with it an obligation for future maintenance.
out of the current revenues of the State. This would also seem
to follow in cases where private philanthropy has organized
methods and plans for taking care of our unfortunates, and sub-
sequently, as is not infrequently the case, comes to the State
for aid.