Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-17
LEGISLATURES OF MARYLAND.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

ing, &C., which, on motion, was referred to
select committee Of five to act jointly with
committee to be appointed by the Senate,
and report thereon, from time to time, and
a message to the Senate moved proposing
the same, which was adopted. The Speak
er appointed Messrs. Daniels, Wickes, Mer-
rick, Carpcr and Partridge.
Petitions TresentetABy Mr. Stone, from
the County Commissioners of Charles coun-
ty to credit certain taxes. Also, from citi-
zens of Charles county to release William
hewitt, late collector, from the payment OF
certain interest
MIR. Fiery presented an order that the
Committee on Insolvency inquire into the
expediency of cxenpting from execution a
debtors property to the amount of $500.
Mr.. Kennedy offered resolution that
the portion of the Governors Message rela-
ting to 'ssecrct political societies be refer
red to a select committee of five, with in
structions to inquire and report whether any
and what secret political societies are known
to exist in this State.
Whether any political society, secret OF
open, is known to encourage or produce
purposes which tend to the subversion of
the well-establishcd and deeply cherished
principles Of our government"
Whether any and what society or portion
of the people Of this State, Or any Of the
United States, have introduced religious
issues into the field of political agitation
And that the committee be also instruc-
ted to ascertain, as far as may be in their
power, what is the character and import of
the secrets which are supposed to be held or
maintained by such societies, if any such
should be found to exist, and the committee
use its endcavors to obtain, if possible, a
statement or description of the principles,
objects and purposes of such societies, and
report the same to this House, with such
measures as they may deem necessary for
restraining such societies from violating the
'sletter and spirit either of the Federal
Constitution or the Constitution of this
State.
Resoluctl, That the committee be author
ised respectfully to request the Governor to
communicate to them any information he
may possess in regard to such societies al
luded to in his message and the nature of
the secrets they preserve.
Resolrcd, That for the purpose of the en-
Guiries submitted to them the committee be
empowered to send for persons and papers if
they shall deem it necessary to their inves-
tigation.
All of which lies over one day under the
rule. Adjourned
January 9-The Speaker laid before
the House report from the Treasurer, con-
corning accounts rendered and settled by
Comptroller. Also, the report of the State
Agricultural Chemist, Of which IL, 900 CO.
pics were ordered to be printed.
Learc to Report BiU.-To Mr.. Partridge,
to grant power to the Circuit Courts Of the
State setting in Equity to amend all techni-
cal or formal defects in acknowledgements
of deeds.
Mr.. Wickcs, from the committee appoin-
ted to examine the Comptroller's office, made
report, giving great credit to Mr.. Whyte,
the Comptroller, and Mr. Duvall, his Chief
Clerk, for the accuracy and simplicity of the
arrangements Of that department-which
was adopted.
The Speaker laid before the House re-
port from the Joint Committee of the last
Legislature, appointed to examine, cancel
and destroy coupons and other evidences of
debt
On motion of Mr.. Roberts, so much of
the Governors message as relates to mon
ument to commemorate the Declaration Of
Independence and the signers thereof, was
referred to committee of one from each
county and the city Of Baltimore.
On motion of Mr. Daniels, so much of the
Governors message as relates to the sale of
49, Low o ,,oforroI To- ho 44o
Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr. Brooke, the Commit
tee on Ways and Means was directed to in
quire into the propriety Of repeating the tax
on the commissions of executors and admin
istrators, &c.
On motion Of Mr.. Hall, the reference of
the leave to report bill to repeal the tax
on collateral inheritances, &C., was changed
to the Committee On Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr.. Merrick, Messrs. Mer-
rick, Carper and Goldsborough were appoin-
ted committee to examine the condition of
the public records in the Land Office and
Court of Appeals, and report the best me-
thod for the preservation thereof.
Mr.. Partridge, from judiciary Commit
tee, to whom so much Of the Governors
message as relates to those subjects was re-
ferred, reported recommendation that
select committee of five be appointed to visit
and inspect the House of Refuge, Peniten-
tiary, Jail, and Institute for the education
of the deaf and dumb, &c., and the Speaker
appointed Messrs. Daniel, Hall, Clarke, Les
ter and Wickes, the committee
January 10.-The Speaker presented
the report of the Judges of the Orphans
Court of Prince Georges county, in rela-
ton to the school fund Of said county
Mr.. Askew presented an order that the
inspector Of guano report to this House the
amount of guano imported into this State
during his term and also the amount of