The state of Maryland has long believed $25,000 a year in salary was plenty for its Governors (before 1967, they got only $15,000). Though the Lieutenant Governor, attorney general and comptroller have all been getting $44,856, the state seemed to feel that the Governor would somehow be demeaned if he got a similar stipend.
The last two Governors, Spiro T. Agnew and Marvin Mandel, both supplemented their incomes by taking payments from friends. Mandel even received payment in the form of clothing, jewelry and plane tickets. Both officials lost their jobs when the law caught up with the methods they used.
Now the...