Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-05-03
The Late Legislature of Maryland

our churches puts into the mouth OF its faith
full worshipers, may well be applied TO the
late legislature, viz: 1--WE have done many
things which we ought not to have done and
left undone many things which we ought to
have done" propose TO notice few OF the
prominent acts doue, aud also some that were
left undone.
The first most notable feature in looking
over the long list OF four hundred and odd
acts passed is the great prepouderance OF prl-
vate and personal acts, and the very small
number OF bills of Il public or general charac-
ter; among the latter Is the new Office created
for Col Woolford, late Comptroller of the
Treasury, and the settlement with the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad 10 which the railroad
has as usual woa victory as will be seen
further on.
lst In the face of an existing mortgage and
in the opinion of the Court of Appeals, which
forbids the President and Directors OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company from
using the tolls or revenues Of the canal for
any other purpose than 10 put and keep the
canal in good navigable order aud repair and
pay officers, salaries and apply Inc balance, il
any, 10 the payment OF Interest upon SAID
mortgage bonds, the Legislature has assumed
10 authorize the President and Directors 10 in
crease the debt OF the company $500, 600
| S3n0, 900 more than estimated by Its careful
engineer, Mr.. VIM. r. Hutton, OF this county,
as sufficient and adequate for the purpose.
This debt is secured by first mortgage and
| lien upon the revenues and property OF the
company. When the preferred bondhoders
after the passage of this act proposed to surren-
der $500, 600 OF their claim las declared just
and legal by the Court OF OF Appeas) and n
portion Of the annual revenue deemed equal
| to a certain payment Of from $50 10 $780, 900
yearly into The State Treasury for new
mortgage funding arrears o! interest precisely
similar TO the above mortgage, the Legisla-
ture strangely inconsistent with its first action
refused to grant this reasonable request and
relief to the State, and thereby addec TO and
increased the necessity for additional taxation
10 pay the interest upon another loan OF $780,
900 10 supply deficit in the State Treasury.
End. II legaliZed the act Of the late Comp
troller in diverting the sum Of $4O4 600 from
the school fund in defiance and in derogation
of the judgment of the of The Circuit Court OF
Anne Arundel county, which after thorough
judicial investigation found and adjudged
that such diversion was illegal and without
| authority or warrant in law. Thus violating
the spirit and intention Of the constitution,
which in effect says, that the Legislature and
Judicial branches of the government shall be
separate and Independent The one shall not
trample upon or interfere with the other.
3rd. 1t refused to pass Senator Stump's bill
for reform in the public school system loud
ly called for by the taxpayers, and the wisest
and most experienced men of the State, pre-
ferring TO retain what was correctly styled on
the floor of the House of Delegates AS 1.-The
New England System" which never ought
10 have been allowed to get hold in Maryland
4th. The approval and payment without
protest or rebuke of debt of $35, 600 created
by the Board Of Public Works for cushioned
seats, damask curtains and costly furniture
for the Senate and House of Delegates without
any necessity therefor, and without color of
law or authority for mourning said debt
5th. 1t neglected and refused 70 reform or
abolish the present system Of inspection OF
tobacco, Notwithstanding the same was petit
toned for and asked by large mum bers of both
planters and dealers. The present system
having been shown to have been both expen-
sive, injurious and discreditabe 10 the State
More especially is this refusal made conspicu-
GUS by the determination of the leaders to
retain the sinecnre Office of "lSuperUisor Of
Inspectors, Fan Office as useless and unnecessary
as fifth wheel to a wagon.
In releasing the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road from paying just debt, as per judgment
of the courts and the comptroler's report, OF
upwards of ST., 300 0O0 and in accepting 10
lieu thereof $406, 000 $500, 900 OF which is
payable in ten year bonds without security
and Sl06, 900 only in cash also in failing
when they had so good an opportunity to
compel said company TO pay taxes and for the
surrender OF the capitation tax on the Wash
ngton Branch, yielding annually from $780,
600 10 S65, 900, accepting in place thereof IA
tax of only one-half of one per cent. on gross
receipts, while farmers have TO paw one per
cent on a cash valuation of land and other
property whether there be receipts or no re-
ceip.s, either gross or net. And further, in re-
jecting the bill of Mr. Brace, of Allegany 10
prevent discrimination in tolls on Rail Roads
against the interests or products Of the State
as the Constitution of the State imperatively
requires and prescrbes.
Contemporaneously with the close of the
session was the session Of our County Court,
at which was delivered by the Court to the
Grand Jury a most favorable and impressive
charge opon the license law, commonly known
as the "Grand Jury law" in which it was
shown that the law rightly construed and ad-
ministered was really in its practical effect the
local option which had been so earnestly press
ed upon the attention of the Legislature by a
large number Of the best citizens OF the State.
The Grand Jury under the influence of this
charge aud their own sense of obligation
under the oath which they had taken granted
license to sell spirituous liquors when applied
for by respectable parties with no protest or
petition against such application from the
neighborhood where such applications were
asked for. In the town aud neighborhood of
Rockville, where iniemperance had become so
frequent and painfully distressing to families
and the whole community, the people by
| large and most respectable petition REQUESTS
| the Grand Jury TO withhold license 10 sell in
ioxicaling drinks, doubifully in the hope and
expectation that by removing the temptation
| the painful and distressing occurrences often
| seen and heard upon the streets aud in the
families OF the town would be lessened if en-
tirely abated. The Grand Jury justly looking
upon this question under the Judicial opinion
and solemn charge from the Court as their
proper guide refused TO grant or recommend
any license for the sale of spirituous liquors
either in the town OF Rockville or for three
miles around as prayed for by the petitioners,
thus confirming the opinion of the Court that
the law in its practical effect was "loca on
ton" as it is at Sandy Spring, Brookevlle
and Unity, much to the benefit, satisfaction
and advantage of those neighborhoods This
expression Of the public will was really carry
ing out the popular doctrine OF home-rule and
| local seli-government so long crushed 10 the
| South. Under these circumstances il was
hardly 10 be expected that a legislature claim
ing to be the exponent Of that popular doc
trne would at the heel of the session, when
there was no time for deiberaton or remon-
STRANGE and in the face of judicial action and
Interpretation, attempt to interfere with so ex-
cellent and saluiary law. Yet to the sur
prise of almost every one The deed is done. -
The Grand jury Law has, in contempt of
Court aud the W III OF the people of this county
who had no opportunity 10 be heard upon the
subject, been suddenly repealed, abrogated
and annulled, and when no local law exists 10
the contrary the whole county is ia this sum.