The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-02-16
Maryland Legislature.

FRIDAY.-In the Senate leave was granted
to introduce bill requiring fertilizers sold in
Maryland to be of analysis equa! to the brand
affixed TO them. Favorable report was made
on bill authorizing the comptroller to settle
estate claims against sheriffs, collectors and
other receivers of public money prior to 1875.
The Chesapeake and Ohio extension bill was
ordered to engrossment.
In the House the commissioners of BALI
more county were directed to make a state
ment of the debt of that county and the
causes of deficiency in the treasury. Leave
was granted to introduce bill to make VEN
ders of liquor responsible for injury to per
son or property consequent on drunkenness.
House Dill relating to the competency of ju-
rors IN criminal cases being upon its second
reading, number of motions were made 10
postpone it to future time, but they were
either defeated or rejected, and then Mr..
Mitchell moved to strike out the enactiug
clause. This gave rise to lengthy discussion
of the bill by Messrs. Johnston. Perkins.
Blair, Mckaig, Merrick and Yellott in favor
of its adoption, and by Messrs. Bruce. Raw
ner and Mitchell, of Baltimore, against its
adoption.
The object of the bill is to enable Judges tn
select intelligent jurors and to overcome the
objection of having previously formed and
expressed an opinion from newspaper reports
and otherwise. 1t is provided that a man
shall not be rejected for jury duty in criminal
cases who has opinions on impressions If he
believes, under oath, that these opinions and
impressions do not prevent him from render.
ing an impartial verdict according to the evi-
dence submitted, and that it will not bias or
influence his verdict. The bill was reported
iavorably from the Judiciary committee. and
was introduced by Mr.. Perkins of Washington
county. Mr.. Malcolm Johnston, of Baltimore
county, opened the debate, and made n strong
speech in favor of the bill Mr.. Perkins said
that voting the bill down would be putting n
premium on ignorance and discount on in
telligenee. Mr.. Blair, chairman of the iudi
ciary committee, said that it was already nrac-
tically the law ct the land, and the bill merely
made declaration Of the law, so that there
may be uniformityin the practice of the courts
The Senate adjourned until Tuesday and
the House to Monday.
MoXDAY.-In the House of DELEGATES con.
siderable discussion was had on a motion tn
strike out the enacting clause of House bill
relating to competency Of jurors in criminal
cases. The motion was rejected by yeas 20.
nays 81. Another motion as to the same bill,
that court shall take testimony as to the
dlsquahhcatlon OF a juror, and that the court s
decision IN the premises may be excepted to
on appeal to the Court of Appeals, was re-
Jected by yeas 10, nays 43, and the bill was
ordered TO third reading. There was mi
nority report by Mr.. Houston, from the com
mittee on federal relations, in reference 10
Hon. Montgomery Bair's resolutions as 10
the election of President Hayes, and con.
demnlng reopening of the subject.
1UEsDAY.-ln the Senate the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal bill, for authorization to issue
hFa 1u
third reading, after considerable debate.
there being no material amendments to the
original bill.
In the House the bill to regulate and reor-
ganize the police board of Baltimore was con.
sidered, and a motion to strike out the en-
acting clause of the bill was rejected. A
considerable number of local and personal
bills OF no general interest we're passed. A
bill was passed to consolidate into one cor.
poration the Washington University and
College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Bal
timore city.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the Senate there was I'M
favorable report on the bill to abolish the
office OF State weigher of grain. The bill for
relief OF the Chesapeake and Ohio canal was
passed; also sundry bills of local character.
In the House numerous bills, petitions and
memorials we're presented, and several bills
WtiC pelSScu-
THURsDAY.-In the Senate, favorable re-
port was made upon the bill to prohibit life
insurance companies from contesting the paw.
ment upon losses on policies after having re-
ceived two annual premiums on the same.
Amongst the bills passed was one ceding the
title to the Antietam Cemetery to the United
States.
In the House, the bill to enable the voters
of the election districts of the counties and
the legislative districts of Baltimore city to
determine by ballot whether liquurs shall be
sold in said districts was postponed until
Wednesday next. The unfavorable report of
the committee on federal relations on the me-
mortal and resolutions in reference to the
presidency offered by Mr.. Blair was called up,
and Mr.. Blair spoke in condemnatory terms
of the report and in favor of his resolutions,
arraigning the methods by which Hayes was
seated. Mr.. Vandiver also spoke in favor of
Mr.. Blair's memorial and resolutions, and
Messrs. johnson and Merrick in opposition,
after which the subject was postponed until
Thursday next.