Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-05-29

TnE OYSTER DKEpoKRs.-We copy the
following article from the Eastern Jour
nal Of Saturday last Many of our read
ers are concerned in the Oyster and Fish
ing interest. and the efficiency of Capt.
Timmoas' Police is something of which
they are anxious to hear. The Journal
says:
The postponed oyster eases came up be-
fore Justice Haddayway at st. Miehaels
on Friday last The owners Of three YES.
sells made their appearance and were tried
and were acquitted. Captain Timmons
! made the following return on the warrants
issued. II have notified the parties
charge! III these warrants, and believing
have no power TO bring them by force,
hereby return the warrants" Tue mag
is,rate conceded with Mr.. Mcclure. that
the return ended legal power under those
warrants, aud ordered the cases struck
from the docket. Thus ends al. the cases
agains. dredgcrs for violating the laws os
| the State.
| 1t is little singular that Capt. Tim
mons. the States officer. should use the
States boat TO bring to the trial the coun-
sci for the defence, and not make the
slightest effort to have the State represeu-
ted at the trial. He seems to have much
greater concern in protecting the drcd-
gers than seeing that justice is done the
State. If Capt. Timmons' view of the
+ Oyster law is correct, the sooner the law
is repealed aud the oyster police force dis
banded. the better it will be for the State
Repeal the law. prohibit bred ging in any
waters. abolish the police and save the
State the expenses. or enforce the law
The plea of Capt. Timmons that he has
no power to enforce the law and serve
warrant is the most ridiculous that ever
was promul ga:ed-it is the perfection of
absurdity. The law was made to prevent
dredging except in deep waters, and an
armed force provided to enforce the law.
but now comes the commander saying be
has no power to arrest any one, though
every licensed tongman, constable or sher-
if has power and authority to arrest!
The whole law was made to give the
entire control and supreme power into
| the hands Of the commander of the force.
and because 10 make the law more cifcc-
tual additional officers were created BY
the law with power to arrest. the chief
is thereby deprived of all power! Here's
richness for you, Here's chief uithout
power. while all his subordina,cs and
nearly every body else. are clothed with
abundant power. Would such an absurd
plea be made for any other purpose than
to protect the drcdgcrs from the penalty
of the violation Of the Law? We learn
that some Fifty warrants were issued TO
Capt. Timmons by one of the Magistrates
last week, and he refused TO take them lie
imasines, We suppose, that he was placed
in charge Of the force for ornament. and
to draw $4,000 year salary. aud put
his friends in position. AS he is neither
useful nor ornamental. we hope his SER
vices will be Dispersed with. and dredg-
ing either prohibited. or some one placed in
charge of the force who will enforce the
law. and see justice done the State aud
the tongmeu. who pay license for a guar
anteed protection which they do not now
receive.
How Capt. 1immons can make the plea
of want Of authority to arrest is singular
indeed, and not thought of until it enter
ed his brilliant brain. Sec 81 Of chap
364. gives power of arrest to "any sheriff.
constable or other officer. created un-
der this article" and See. % makes it
1.-The duty Of the officer in charge of tho
Oyster police of the State" to overhaul
aud examine the license ofell vessels, and
to arrest all persons who may be found vi
olating. or uho may hare been guilty. of
any violation of the provisions Of this ar
ticle." IL this does not give power to ar
res: on warrant. then is the law a hum
bug. and the police an useless and dis
graceful imposition upon the people of
the State.