Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-01-26
ANNAPOLIS. JAsuARr 23d. 1865.

Mn. EDITon:-
The work Of Legislation goes slowly on and
the apparent want of progress is attributable
to variety Of causes. The delay in the ap-
poin.ment Of the standing commitsees seemed
to clog the operations of those committees in
such q manner Is still to be felt, but the in
dications now are that the active work of the
session will commence in earnest next week,
and pushed forward with as much rapidity as
the nature of the case will admit. On Tues
day night last caucus was held for the pur-
pose of selecting State Treasurer. The pres
ent incumbent. Robert Fowler. was selected
without opposition. Mr.. Fowler has made a
good and efficient Treasurer As is manifested
by the report from that Department, and men,
bers on that account fels no disposition to
make change and consequently. no opposition
was made.
There are several contested election cases
which excite great deal of interest and may
occupy considerable attention in both houses.
One in the Senate is contest for the Senator
ship from Howard County. The case has
been opened in Committee, bu: there has been
little progress made in i. understand, as the
sitting member desired to summon . number
of witnesses before the Committee. The
Code prescribes the mode in which testimony
shall be taken in such cases, and this being
contrary to the requirements of the Code the
matter was referred to the Senate on Wodncs-
day last when the application was refused !;
thus requiring the parties to stand by the
provisions of the law on the subject The
case will come up again in the committee, on
Tuesday, to which time the committee ad-
journed to give tine for the production Of the
testimony.
The other case is the Judgeship in Bal.i-
more County, and is likely to occupy consid-
cradle time, Us the witnesses will in that case
be examined before the committee. and two
able counsel are employed on each side.
Both houses having accepted the invitation
to be present ut the Inauguration of the Aged
mems Home in Baltimore on Tuesday last,
and there being no business ready for the &C.
ton of the Legislature, the join. committee
appointed to visit the Penstentiary and other
public institutions in Baltimore concluded to
enter on that duty last Wednesday with
view to complete their work during the re-
mainder of the week. SO az to be ready for
Legislative business without interruption
when the committees should present it. The
committee is here to-day. and presume have
closed that part Of their duty having returned
to this place.
The mortality among our returned prisoners
is fearful. the funerals varying from ten TO
seventy per day. Without beholdiug this
spectacle, no one could believe that in this
nineteenth century. in . professedly Christian
land, such hellish barbarity on 50 large scale
could be imagined. much less perpetrated.
Nevertheless such is the fact. and it is evil
dent that but few of them will ever be Of any
use to themselves or to society. and that the
largest proportion Of them have only been
returned to Gil premature graves
The weather has been exceedingly inclem-
emit and cold, go much so as embarrass navi-
CATION if not entirely close it. tho arrival Of
beats being prevented BY ice.
MAcAwBsR.