Montgomery County sentinel., 1879-03-28
Report Of the Grand Jury.
To the Honorable the Judges Of the Circuit
Court for Montgomery county, MaruLand:

To the Honorable the Judges of the Circuit
CourtJor Montgomery county, Maryland;
The Grand Jurors for the March term of
said Court for 1879 would respectfully sub
nit that having visited both the Aims House
and Jail, and thoroughly investigated their
condition, fud the former in excellent cOnd-
ton, the new buildings being especially noic-
able for convenience Of arrangement both as
to the health and comfort of the inmates, of
whom we found thirty-fve in number in
charge of Jno p. Connell, Esq, who appears
TO have discharged the trust With great dis
creti0n and ability. The Jury would call the
attention of the Court to an evil which is de-
velopng into serious proportions, viz, 1.-THE
Tramp" The manager reports that Numbers
of this class of persons are sent TO the insti-
tuition to be temporarily cared for, of whom
a fe,c submit TO the necessary discipline Of the
house, but by far the greater number are, vic
ious, unmanageable and filthy both in person
and conduct and by precepI and example in
cite the inmates TO mutiny. The Jury would
respectfully suggest that some other place be
selected in which TO conine this vicious class
Of persons. The farm bears evidence Of skill
and judgment in its management
The Jail seems reasonably secure In all its
parts and its inmates (of whom we are glad
TO say there are few comfortably and proper
~ cared for. The Jury would recommend
that the room in the basement formerly used
as the "furnace room" be converted into a
storage room, the present accommodations OF
this character beng altogether insufficient for
this purpose. We suggest that door be cut
through the inner basement wall into said
room, and il (the room) used for the purpose
above suggested. The Jury find in the care
and custody OF the Jalor an insane pauper
and since because she is violent and danger
Gus it is not fit that she be sent 10 the Aims
House and cannot be kept where heis, they
recommend that she be sent TO the State Asy-
lum for the insane.
In the charge of the Court 10 the Jury il
was urged that they fully investigate the con-
duct OF those persons to whose care has been
committed the collection of the taxes and
their disbursement. They find many things to
condemn whilst some of the Tax Collectors
have proved themselves efficient officers, Others
through carelessness have suffer ed their ac.
counts to fall much in arrears. They, the
Jury, have been forced 10 make an example
of one of this class. II has become the Gus
tom for the Treasurer of the School Fund TO
Issue orders in favor of School Teachers and
to others having accounts payable out OF this
fund, many of which orders have been pracii-
cally dishonored through neglect or inability
on the part o. the Tax Collector TO pay them.
The persons holding these orders in many
cases submit 10 heavy discount 10 get them
cashed. Some, in fact, have found it almost
impossible 20 get them cashed except at the
Brokers' Office. A similar state of affairs exists
in the Treasurer's Office of the Corporation of
Rockville, and while we hold the Treasurers
Of both these funds guiltIess, it appears that
the system OF orders had best be abandoned,
since it is vicious in tendency. The Jury
would be derelict 10 duty if they failed 10 call
attention to what in their opinion appears to
be the true source of all this evil, viz: The
appointing power, the County Commissioners,
are required TO appoint for the purpose OF COL
lectng the taxes capable persons, and certain
conditions and responsibilities are annexed
to these appointments. The conditions seem
not at all times TO have been observed and
persons have some times been appointed to
collect the tax is not having the requisite
qualifications and therefore unfit for The place
The Jury are forced TO the conclusion that
much money has been lost TO The public bv
this negl gligence OF the County Commissioners,
all of which is respectfully submitted.
FRED. A. DA wSoS.
For-man.