The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-30
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE.
ANNAPOLIS, January q.
SENATE
THE BALTIMORE RELIEF BILLS.
L n

THE BALTIMORE RELIEF BILLS.
The first section of the Police Bill being reat
Mr.. ELLIOTT offered an amendment to it, as follow
"And from and after the passage of this act th
State of Maryland shall be responsible for an
damages to property, caused by riotous or tumu
tuous assemblages of the people within the city
Baltimore"
Mr.. YELLoTr said in support of his amendment
that by the bill now under the consideration of til
Senate great principle was estabished-a prime
pie never before recognised in this State Th
Legislature takes upon itself to that the Oca
police force created in the city of Baltimore sha
no longer be local force, but State force 1t
not under the government of the city and its au
thorltes but under officers appointed by the State
1t is proposed for the State to regulate the inerna
affairs OF the city; to step the boundaries O
the city, and with its strong control the loca
affairs of the CITY, 1t not only does this but it say
that the officers of the city elected by its own citi
zens shall no longer be authority; the police fore
appointed by those officers, duly elected are swep
away, and the voice of an overwhelming maiorit,
OF its citizens disregarded.
1T, however, it is determined to give the powe
in the bill specified, he wished to protect the inter
ests of the people of Baltimore. When the Stat
taxes 1t upon herself to protect the lives and pro
perty OF the citizens of Baltimore, it is but rgh
and just that the source from whence this D I'VE
emanated be responsible for all loss of life or pro
perty which might occur under her rule SHE
should be made to give a guarantee to that effect
she should be responsible for the conduct of hel
ofhcers If there are any mobs; if there are an,
buildings burned or torn down. if riot and destruc
ton should have free sway under the government
proposed, there should be responsibility resting
upon the city to indemnify her citizens for tbeiI
losses. The State and the State alone should paw
blr. hIMMEL asked the gentleman if he distinctly
understood him to say that he wished the State tt
pay for all houses torn down by Baltimore mobs ir
that city?
Mr.. YELLorr-That is my object in Offering the
amendment. The 8lst act of the New Code is but 6
re-enactment of the law of 1885, enacted inmedi
ately alter the Baltimore Bank riots. 1t provides
LOT lndemnltying citizens Of Baltimore in riots-by
t9e clty government He merely wished transfer
OF that lndemnifying power.
MIR. hIMMEL-Then suppose that if any riots
occur In Baltimore, my county-my constituents
will have to indemnify Baltmoreans for the doings
OF her rowdy Know-N othings?
Mr.. Y ELLoTT-Yes, sir, you have the idea
Mr.. kIMMEL-Then think that as things now
are, it is bad enough even under Know-Nothing
rule-Heaven knows what it will be under Demo
cratic rule. He did not think the counties should
De made to pay for their rascaity and lawlessness
inns Dill, filled as it is with monstrosities would
with the amendment fall from the sublime to the
ridiculous The Senator then harped upon his
one string-Linganore-an said he thought the
yoemen of Linganore would not submit to the
amendment
Mr.. BRADLEY moved to lay the amendment on the
ta6e-but no action taken in it.
The Senate adjourned till o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
|.
and the consideration of the same was resumed as
follows:
The amendment of Mr.. Yellott to the first section
OF the bill was read and lost-nays l6
The Clerk then read the second section of the
bill, repealing night watch, lamp lighting &c
NO amendment offered
The third section, appointing Board of Police
Commissioners, was then read.
Mr.. lELLoTT moved to amend by inserting after
word the," the words ''native born" so as to make
m mics nrnpp aatf harw -. II
the United States
MIR. ELLIOTT explained, in support of the amend
ment, that if the State of Maryland, against the
Will OF Baltimore, appointed these Commissioners,
let them at least have native born citizens He
thought the bill would be in this shape more unob-
Iectionable If we are to have four kings let them
be native kings.
Mr.. kIMMEL, politically speaking, advocated the
measure. He thought those to the manor born
were most acceptable. He believed that we were
at dangerous time. Whom now could we trust Z?
Natives can hardly be trusted. He would amend
the amendment; vet, upon consideration, he thought
he would not. Laughter
The question on the amendment was taken and
lost. Nays-l2; ayes-l0.
Mr.. ELLIOTT then proposed to amend by making
the Commissioners twentv-one wears citizens of the
United States, which was lost by nays-l2; ayes
10.
Mr.. YELLoTr offered an amendment to make the
commissioners ten years citizens of the United
by nays-l2; ayes-l0.
Mr.. STONE, of Washington, moved to amend so
as to make the salary of Commissioners 81 900 per
annum instead of $4,000.
Mr.. ELLIOTT moved to amend the amendment so as
to make them serve without any salary at all. He
thought if the Commissioners were really desirous
to serve their country they would do it for nothing
He thought four men of talent, means and charac-
ter would accept the situations, and that that num-
ber could be found in Baltimore 1t would not
prevent the operations of the bill, but would on
the contrary, by getting good men, influenced by
no mercenary views, be beneficial in every way
1t would then be an office of high honor, and would
be sought after by the right kind of men. If a
salary is given-give large one-not the small
sum of $1,000
The question on the amendment of Mr.. Yellott
was then taken and lost. Nays IL, ayes 10.
The amendment of Mr. Stone was also lost Navs
u, ayes 10.
Mr. BRADLEY, of Queen Annes, moved to amend
by striking out 81, 900 the salary of Police Com
mssioners, and making it 81 500 AYES and nays
taken. Lost. Nays II, ayes TO-
Mr.. YELLoTT moved to amend 7th line of Sd sec
ton by making the Commissioners residents of the
city five years previous to their appointment in
stead of twelve months.
Mr. GoLDsBoR0UGH, of Dorchester, moved to
amend by striking out five lines after the 4Sth lne
oy conferring the appointment to fill vacancy
which might occur during recess of the Legisla-
ture, upon the Governor of Maryland without
waiting till the Legislature met again.
Mr. hIMMEL moved to have the vacancies filled
by the President of the United States Laughter.
He gave as his reasons that the President of the
United States, in case of riot, could bring the ma
rlnes to bear upon the rowdies.
The question was taken Mr.. Goldsborough's
amendment and lost-nays u, ayes 10.
MR. ELLIOTT moved to amend the seth line of
section ), by making the amount of bonds of each
Commissioner S250,000 instead of S5O0OO He
thought sums of money over $3.50, 900 would come
into their hands, and wished to have surety for it.
The question was put and lost.
Section 4, naming the Commissioners was then
read.
Mr.. DAsHIELE, of Somerset, moved TO amend by
inserting the names OFFS. Teackle Wallis, George
NJ. Gill, Joshua Vansant and VIM. H. Norris, as
the Commissioners, instead of Charles Howard
VIM. II. Gatchell, Charles D. Kinks and John W
Davis, of Baltimore.
The question was put and lost-nays IL, ayes 10
Mr.. BRADLEY, of Queen Anne's, moved to insert
the names of j. III. Thomas, J. B. Seidenstricker
soners.
The motion was lost-nays II, ayes TO-
Mr.. 4ELLoTr moved to amend the section anC
make j. Hanson Thomas, Stirling Thomas. Jane.
Carroll and Edward D. Kemp, Commissioners
He urged in favor of the amendment that thu
gentlemen IN the bill were very Objectionable tC
baltimore. Besides, he objected to them because
they all lived in the city west of the Falls The
t.ur he named lived in different sections of the
city. If they are not distributed over the city
there will certainly be great objections to them
The question was then put and lost-nays II
ayes 10.
Mr.. YELLorr moved to amend the section by
authorizing the Governor within thirty days afteI
the passage of the BILL by and with the consent Of
the Senate, if it be in session, if not, by thu
Governor alone, to send in his appointments at thu
next session as ne does with all his other appoint
ments
Mr.. YELLorr claimed if this was not done the bill
would not be constitutional 1t would be palpa
BILE violation Of the Constitution.
If the Senate and House were to elect and send
down to Baltimore a number of policemen, to act
as policemen, what would be thought of it? Woule
our authority not be denied to do so? Certainly
What then is the difference between our sendins
down these policemen and appointing others to d.
IT. 1t clearly violation of the 9Th article of thu
Bill of Rights. We can create the office, but W,
must stop there. You cannot fill it--that belong
to the Executive.
1t is urged that in New York similar bill wa
passed. The Constitution in New York was nearly
the same as ours. The Republican Legislature
wished to appoint police force to prevent New
York from rolling up Democratic majorities. Tha
bill as it was then presented, excited the indgna
tion of all Democrats in this State, and we nov
find the same men turned round and adyocatin,
the same measures. Yet all this Black Republica
Legislature of New York dared to do was to Great
the office of Police Commissioners. They did no
dare to fill the offices.
The question on the amendment was put and los
nays II, ayes 10.
Mr.. DAsHTEL, of Somerset, moved to amend th
fifth line so that the Commissioners would b oil
their offices during life.
Mr.. ELLIOTT amended the amendment by insert
ing cor during good behavior"
The amendments were lost-nays u, ayes 10.
The fifth section was then read-no objections O
amendments.
THE HELPER BOOK AND POLICEMEN.
The 9th section relating TO the appointment G
policemen, was read.
Mr.. KIMMEL moved to amend the 18th line, afte