Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-11-16

cbhSeu DOOksi prtscGlDeu systems Oh luStruC-
lions, thus bringing the means of education
to every mans door.
1t is infinitely important TO know whether
the fruits of this system are commensurate
with The cost
If not, whether The failure is owing to any
radical defect in the system, or rather to the
inefIciencv of those selected TO carry it on.
1t is charged in some of our sister States,
where similar systems o: public education
prevail, that the youth educated in the Free
Schools for the last few years are greatly in
| lerior in attachments to those who preceded
them. All private schools, with few excep-
tons are suspended, in consequence of their
inability to compete with The Stale schools for
scholars.
Upon the pupils educated BY the State, we
are in future to depend for our jurors, magis-
trates, our delegates and senators, etc., all
who make aud execute the laws.
The private pursuits of life will be filled by
those whose minds are formed in the same
mould.
The farmer, the mechanic, the merchant, the
preacher, the physician, the lawyers all will
be more or less impressed by the moral and
intellectual training they are now receiving at
the hands of the State.
| If the system Of education is defective, or
the teachers incompetent, the hopes of the
| parent are blighted, the mind uf the pupil per-
verted and the treasure Of the State wasted.
BY strict enforcement OF the laws regulat-
ing elections, education and licenses you lay n
solid foundation for the thorough reformation
of society.
You destroy ignorance and vice, and sub
stitute knowledge and virtue. You pre- event
crime instead of furnishing it. The one pro-
cess is benevolent, economical and improving
the other is severe, costly and humliatng
| destrOyInQ often life and reuu,atiop.
The Code Of Public General Laws, Art. 80,
Title Grimes and Punishments, with the sup
plements, will furnish you with a list of the
graver crimes, offences and misdemeanors of
which it will be your duty TO inquire.
Among these we are bound to call attention
especially to the sections relating to Gaming.
The prevalence Of this vice ia other parts of
the States, otwilhs'anding the most strenuous
efforts of the Police and Courts to extermi nate
| it, admonishes us TO beware lest it should be-
come rooted 10 our own borders. The law
has reprobate6 it in the most decisive terms,
and no language can exaggerate its destructive
| tendency.
The revenue of the State is seriously i'm
paired by the violation of the License laws,
and the omissions of those entrusted with its
collection promptly to pay over the amounts
received.
Indeed, every branch of the public service
| suffers from a want of punctuality
The Act OF 1872, Oh. 239, being an amend
ment to section 2 of Art. 3d. Code of Public
Laws, Sub Title, Defaulters, imposes severe
penalties upon all officers who shall receive
and neglect TO pay over public monies In
obedience to its provisions we request you
specially to inquire whether they have been
observed or violated.
The spirit of malicious mischief, which mani
TESTS itself in all sparsely settled districts and
sometimes in towns and villages, is intended
to be restrained by the Act Of 1865, Oh. 1876,
prohibiting injuries to churches, tombstones,
ETC., and the Act Of 1867, Oh 1873, 10 prevent
the destruction of trees, etc. The PROCLAMATION
Of the Sabbath in any of the modes therein
pointed out is punished by the Act of 1866,
Oh. IS, and the laws prohibiting the selling
of liquors on Sunday.
There is not a more necessary or more GER
tain maxim in The frame and constitution of
society than that every individual must con-
tribute his share, in order to the well being of
the community and surely they must be very
deficient in sound policy who suffer one half
of the parish 10 continue idle. dissolute and
unemployed, and are at length amazed to find
the industry of the other half is not able to
maintain The whole.-Sir VIM. Blackstone,
Vol. /, p. $685.
ldleness in any person whatsoever is also a
high offence against the public economy.
All Idle and disorderly persons, and 0Ggabonds,
whom ''no man knows whence they come or
whittier they GO" are offenders against the
good order, and blemishes in the government
1t has been the custom of the Judges of this
Court to charge the Grand Jury to inquire in to
the condition and management of the Aims
House and Jail as one of their most important
duties. Recent occurrences have concentrated
the public attention upon these Institutions,
| and made them the objects of more than ord-
| nary interest.
The extraordinary number Of Migrants
rowing through the country, and the multi
plication Of resident iders and drones among
us, render it necessary that the true character
of the Aims House shonld be understood, and
its management so conducted as not only to
relieve It's inmates, but to protect society
The Aims House is under the control of the
| Trustees of the Poor, public corporation
created for the support and maintenance Of
! the poor of The county. But it is not only an
asylum for the poor 1t is also work house
to which Migrants, oeggars, dissolute and dis
orderly persons and offenders who follow no
| labor, trade or occupation may be committed
by Justices of the Peace to be kept at hard
labor for any time not exceeding three months
The Trustees OF the Poor are authorized
TO buy for the use aud employment of the
81
bedding, aoorkiRg tools and other Reeessdries.
| They have power to make rules and regula
tons for the support and government of the
Aims House, and for the cleanliness, mainte-
nance, and employment of all persons therein
and of all vagranls and offenders committed
thereto.
Justices Of the Peace are expressly author
lied 10 apprehend and commit to the work
house any Migrants, and other idle, dissolutc
and disordery persons found lettering or re-
siding in the county, who follow no labor,
trade or occupation and have no visible means
of subsistence.
All Sheriifs, Consiables and officers are re-
quired TO assist in the enforcement of these
| laws.
The County Commissioners "are required
to levy such sums are necessary to detray
the expenses of the Aims House and all claims
against the county which have been expressly
or implicitly authorized by Law
By the 81 Art, 10 Sec. of the code P G. L ,
The Grand Jury are required at each term of
the Court 10 visit the Jail and inquire into its
condition, the manner in which it is kept, and
the treatment of the prisoners, and report the
same to the Court,
The Sheriff is required by Art. 49, Sec. 62,
of the Code, to provide food and board for
all prisoners, and such food and other artisles
for the comfort OF sick prisoners as the physician
attending such prisoners shall deem necessary.
The expense Of which shall be paid by the
county.
II would seem rom these provisions that the
Legislature has not omitted TO provide the
means of relieving the poor, or OF Furnishing
the idle and dissou,e.
II there is any defect II must be on the part
of those whose duty it is 10 manage these in
stitutons.
1t is your province to inquire where the
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