Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-11-14

prisonment in the county Jail for thirty
days.-l865, chapter l43.
The education of the children of the State,
is deemed SO important as to be engrafted In
the Constitution as part Of the organic law
of the State
The General Assembly was imperaiiyely re-
quired TO establish throughout The State ga
thorough and efficient system OF Free Public
Schools, and to provide BY taxation or other
wise for their maintenance.
A State tax of ten per cent is levied an
nually for the support OF Free Public Schools
10 be distributed by the Treasurer to the
Board Of School Commissioners of the City
Baltimore and the local counties.
The Free School Fund is also apportioned
among the several counties for the same pur-
pose, and II these be not sufficient the County
Commissioners are required TO levy such tax
upon the as sessable property as the Board of
School Commissioners shall designate as suf-
fcient to make good the deficiency not ex-
ceedng ten cents.
The law manifests anxious solcitude about
the application of the funds appropriated to
the Free Schools. 1t declares 'uThe State
School Tax and Free School Fund are prima-
rily intended under this act, to pay the sala-
ries Of the teachers OF the several counties,
and to provide school-books and stationery
for the children of the State" And Tin every
school house district in each comfy, estab-
lished as therein provided, there shall be kept
for ten months in each year, IL possible, one
or more schools according to population,
which shall be free to all white youths over
six and under twenty-one years."
To stimulate the counties 10 keep their
schools open for the full period it is provid-
ed that ii in any county the schools shall be
kept open less than seven and half months
of the year ending December the 3lst, the
Comptroller shall withhold from such county
the April installment Of the State School Tax.
Although no supervisory control is directly
given TO the county, over the officers appoint
ed to carry out the system Of public instruc-
ton established with such provident care and
great cost, and boards are expressly created,
and specially charged with the execution of
details, yet it is eminently proper in this, as
in all other cases of public official trust, that
the discharge of duties in which the hopes Of
the future are SO deeply involved should be
the subject of your investigation.
The success of the system depends on the
prompt collection and payment Of the sala-
ries, and the capacity and fidelity Of those Sc
lected as teachers. Insufficient salaries, irreg-
ularly paid, can result in nothing more than
inferior instruction and reluctant SERVICE
The laborer is worthy OF his hire, aud none
more so then the schoolmaster who forms the
manners and improves the mind. The people
have taxed themselves in vain, if the funds APP
proprated for these purposes are misapplied,
or the persons employed to instruct are incom-
petent or unfaithful.
The common law Of England is part Of
the political inheritance of the inhabitants of
Maryland. By that law they are entitled TO
drink pure water and inhale pure air, and
whoever soils the one or poisons the other to
tho inturu Of ha nh 10 IN tpAsat-
ment. So every inhabitant of this State is
entitled to the enjoyment of a moral atmos-
phere, untainted by vicious examples, which
demoralize the public conscience or shocks
the sense Of decency and decorum. And If
men will bestalize themselves in public, they
should be impounded
Hence It has been held by Judges and wri-
tiers OF the highest authority, that whatever
OF disturbance of the public peace, or ma
licious injury, or of nuisance or scandal of
the community or partakes of the character of
personal lewdness is indictable as o misde-
meanor To be guilty of individual offensive
drunkenness on the highways, or indulge
publicly in pfofane swearing, or In loud and
obscene language, so as 10 draw crowd, or
commit publicly any act which from its ma
ture must prejndicially affect the morals of
the community, is a nuisance punishable by
fine and imprisonment.
II man be frequently and publicly drunk,
or if he use obscene language publicly, be may
be indicted as common nuisance, The
streets of Rockville have, from common report,
been the scene of gross excuses in this repect
10 the scandal Of the community, the evil ex-
ample OF the young and the grief and con-
sternation Of its well disposed citizens.
To sell liquors to habitual drunkards or
persons in a state of intoxication, is an abuse
Of the Inesse, " rsieh-1lssald Ddnce the Grand
Jury 10 recommend its withdrawal from all
who are guilty of the practice This is only
preventive power which the Grand Jury now
possesses over the sale OF spirituous liquors
by licensed vending. II they violate those
licenses by selling on the Sabbath, or selling
TO miners or In quantities not authorized by
law, they are subject TO be fined for each separ-
ate offence, and in Gaze of second conviction
the license will be forfeited.
The Code Of 1866, Act Sc, contains all the
provisions on this subject to which 1t will be
necessary 10 refer you
Art 80, Of the Code, title Grimes and Pun
ishments, contains n catalogue of all the more
common offences and crimes, punishable by
Statute. These with former references to spec
ial laws will guide you in your inquiries -
Besides these II will be your duty TO inquire
into the condition of the Jail and the Aims
House, and the treatment of the prisoners and
patients.
The MARYLAND RenuLLSe0n IF Annanolie