Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-11-15

voter, he shall, upon conviction, forfeit and
pay fine of not less than 500, or more than
$500 for each offence, and be disqualified from
holding any Office Of honor or trust, and from
exercising the elective franchise iG this State"
The Constitution guarantees 10 the citizens
OF the State "a thorough and efficient system
of free public schools"
The General Assembly has erected an elabo-
| rate system OF public education, consisting of
| normal, high and district schools, with regu-
| lar graduation OF commissioners, examiners,
trustees and teachers Of schools, and imposed
and levied ample taxes for their support and
maintenance. The aggregate amount raised
| by the State and counties for educational pur-
poses, for the year 1877, is 81 554 GAG Al.
The appropriation for this county is about
| 500 668 80.
The 5Ih section of the Act of 1872, Chap.
! 377, declares ''the State school tax and the
school fund are primarily intended to pay the
salaries Of the teachers Of the several cou mites
and to provide school books and stationery
for the children Of the State" tits expressly
epjoined that the district schools shall be kept
open ten months in the year. In the event OF
their not being open at least seven and a-half
| months, the treasurer is required to withhold
the last quarter Of the State tax.
The eject Of this legislation is to throw the
whole control OF education in the rudmental
branches Upon the State and county authority
| No private school can compete with those
which are maintained at public expense. Pa
rents have NO voice in the selection OF those
who teach, or 10 ihe course OF study pre-
scribed TO their children. An immense re-
sponsibiliiy is thus imposed upon those who
set in motion and control the system Of public
schools, requiring the utmost vigilance and
| discretion.
| II ~ yon. nrov;nca 10 ;non;ra ,vba,b.r a da
partment OF the government, involving such
inestimable advantages, is conducted accord
ing to the requirements Of law.
The successful operation of the State and
county governments largely depends on the
prompt collection and punctual payment OF
the taxas assessed and levied for their respec-
| tive purposes. The duties of collectors and
other accounting officers are prescribed in Art.
81 of the Code of Public General Laws.
Art. 80 of the same, title Defaulters, amend
ed by the act OF 1872. Chapter 327, imposes
the severe penalties Of fine and Imprisonment
| 10 the pententiary upon all who receive and
ner prescribed by law.
The Comptroller Of the Treasury, 10 his last
report to the Legislature, represents the bal
| ance due from collectors, for the year 1877,
| TO be S459, 1877 40; from sherihs Il 1876 inclu.
sye) S27, AIS l6; from clerks, registers etc,
$57, 748 80. 1t may be that no arrearages are
due from the officers of this couGtv, but the
Judges Of this Court are expressly enjoined 10
call your attention to this subject.
Our STATE is no longer disgraced by the bar
barous remedy OF Imprisonment for debt, but
! there are cases of imprisonment sanctioned by
law, which operate no less harshlv upon the
prisoner, and need the supervision of the
| Grand Jury to prevent its degenerating into
absolute cruelty. All arrested for crimes and
misdemesnors and who are unable to give
! bail, aud all witnesses detained TO testify for
want of sufficient sureties, are virtually the
subjects of the TAILOR He may be a humane
man, who exercises his authority with Glen.
ency, or he nav be a tyrant, who rules with a
rod of iron. The convict is subject to treat
ment prescribed by law, which his keeper
dare not violate; but the majority of prison
ers, held to answer for offences with which
they are charged, but Of which ihey are pre-
snmed innocent, aud witnesses, whose only
strained will Of the keeper, and The Underlined
law Of prison discipline.
1t 10 therefore no mere formal duty imposed
upon you by law, which requires you TO visit
the Jail and inquire into its management and
the Il eatment OF prisoners. The public AN
thoriiies have, with laudable desire 10
amelioraie the condition of all who are sub.
jected TO the custody of the law, as prisoners
or panpers, recently made considerable re-
pairs TO the Jail. and large additions TO the
alms-house, whereby the physical and moral
welfare of their inmates lit is believed) are
greatly promoted.
1t is nevertheless your duty, as the guar
dams OF the public peace and public charity,
\ to investigate carefully and thoroughly The
management OF these institutions, that none,
however humble, degraded or reduced may
suffer wrong, or be punished except by judg.
\ ment Of the Court and the law Of the land.
The Legislature has, since The adjournmenl
| of the last Grand Jury, seen ct 10 its W isdom
\ to Withdraw from their successors the respon.
1 sible and delicate duty Of determining TO
4 whom licenses for the sale of sprituous aud
4 fermented liquors shall be granted. The pre-.
H ventive power OF abuse being thus abolished
| you are RENTED 10 the only alternative left
Of a more vigilant inquiry into the conduct Of
| all to whom such licenses are issued and The
| rigorous prosecution Of all who violate tbs
provisions Of the Code and it's amendments on
that subject. Remembering, that favor tt
delinquents is not only dislOyslty to your
oalhs, but cruelty 10 your ieilow.ciiizens.
Art. 80 OF the Code OF Public General Laws
title Grimes and Punishments, will furnish
you with catalogue of the chief crimes ant
misdemeanors affecting the persons and prop
erty OF ciiizens OF the State punlshed by
statute. Besides these, there Is n large clasl
of offences called misdemeanors at common
law, which affect the public morals as th,
put lie peace, viz:
Public and notorious drunkenness, profaIt
and common swearing, open and notorious
lewdness, Sabbath breaking, etc.
These are the seeds Of crime, which should
be stamped out before they flower and riper
into offences Of greater magnitude aud deepe
dye. rf