722 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 22

INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS.

By Mr. Archer:

WHEREAS, The Democracy of Maryland in convention as-
sembled on the twenty-third of September, 1915, pledged the
Party to the most rigid economy in the administration of all
the affairs of the State, so that the saving in the expenditure
of the public money might be as great as is consistent with
good government; and as part of the economy plans, in the
platform provided, pledged that character of business admin-
istration which will insure the highest degree of economy,
believing that in the transaction of public business the same
degree of ability, attention and forethought should be exer-
cised as is given the most successful mercantile, banking,
public service or other enterprises whose success depends upon
a high order of business efficiency;. and

WHEREAS, The changed condition since the adoption of our
present Constitution in 1867, as well as the recent creation
of offices and commissions by successive Legislatures without
any comprehensive survey of the State's business, have re-
sulted in the existence of offices and commissions which have
become useless, or the duties of which overlap and should be
consolidated; and

WHEREAS, In order to remedy these conditions the Party in
convention assembled, as aforesaid, pledged the prompt and
faithful passage of such laws and the proposal of such amend-
ments to the State Constitution as may be requisite in order
to abolish each and every office or commission which has be-
come no longer reasonably necessary to the public good, or
the duties of which should be transferred to some other office
or commission, and to the passage of such laws and the pro-
posals of such Constitutional Amendments as may be neces-
sary to prevent waste and duplication, and to promote the
greatest possible economy and efficiency in the administration
of the State's affairs; and to a policy of rigid retrenchment
in all State expenditures, and to such legislation as may be
necessary to the efficient handling of the State's finances; and

WHEREAS, In order that the pledges might be faithfully,
intelligently and promptly fulfilled, and that there might be
no abatement in its progressive policies, the Democratic Party
in convention assembled, as aforesaid, appointed Dr. F. J.
Goodnow, Hon. James Alfred Pearce, Joseph D. Baker, Philip
D. Laird, William Milnes Maloy, B. Howard Griswold, Jr.,
and F. Neale Parke, charged with the duty of making a com-