The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-06-25
Grand Jury Report

The Grand Jury for the May term Of the Cir.
cult Court, having finished up the business Of the
term, was finally discharged ON Saturday last.
Before adjourning they submit,ed the following
report SUBSTANTIALLY TO the Court
That they had been IN section twenty elk days,
Investigated tl5 eases, examined $40 witnesses,
found 96 true bills, dismissed % cases. and recon
mrnded the discharge from Jail of9 persons They
visited the Jail, which they found 10 neat aud
safe u condition as the pTeinises would allow,
though SOME brttermcnts were obviously necessary,
which doubtless would receive attention from the
County Commissioners. II Is recommended that
provision be made for keeping prisoners under ac-
eusation or serving sentences separated from per.
sons held Ne witnesses, many Of whom are Of ten
der age.
They recommend that the necessary legislation
be secured whereby the eonstabes appointed as
inspectors Of licenses by the County Commission
shall be required 10 make their pections be-
fore the May and December terms, instead Of be-
fore the March and September terms Of the Cir
cult Court, the bulk Of the licenses being issued
on May !. We call attention to the subject Of
licenses for orlinaries. From evidence before Us
We constrained 10 believe either that there L.
wide spread, almost general false swearing rs 10
the rental paid, or yearly value Of such places,
or that there Is misconeeption TO the real in
tent and meaning Of the Law, and rather than pre-
sent, for the grave crime Of perjury. so great n
number Of persons engaged in what l.. Of itself,
not disrcputable business, We concluded that We
justified, Mt this time, In referring 10 the plain
and unequivocal terms under which licenses are
granted hopeful that your Honor will consider tho
subject and advert 20 Il In charges 20 succeeding
juries, that the public view may be riveicd upon
u practice liable TO invite summary punishment
upon those who follow IL, and which iniicts
material hurt upon the revenue Of the State.
at seems 10 us that no such evasion rs n ten
ant claiming 10 rent one part of house for one
sum and the remainder Of the same house for an-
nfh lar af Wafl tasS hN
what 10 assumed 10 be, if challenged, "a
ofjudgment, In swearing 20 an Insufficient yearly
value Of his property, can exempt either from due
responsibility. IL IL incredible that no ordinary
in our county rents for, or has. when occupied BY
its owner, = yearly value Of SlOO; and yet the
license book shows that this limit, the minimum
fxed, 10 sso,H 90 by each ordinary keeper 10 the
eoaniy Ne above the annual rent or value Of his
house, that he may avail Of the lowest license Is
sued. The illegal custom Of such underyaluations
not only imPaiTs the revenues Of the State, but Il
works great moral injury which must net and
react upon the conseienccs Of our people, and IL
ought not e. be longer tolerated The in,cstiga
ton Of violations Of the Sunday liquor Law has
consumed much 81 the time Of this jury from tho
difficulty of securing the attendance Of witnesses.
Cases have occurred where persons residing almost
within u stones throw of the court house have
c, aided summons, and where finally summoned,
have failed to attend until attached. II is sug-
gcsi.d that To- make an example of some such Wit
ncsses will have . salutary effect in securing
greater pruinpincss in the Attendance uf reluctant
wine,sc, whose testimony j. necessary to the ends
Of justice. We recommend n precautionary
measure to secure the secrecy -: the business of
future grand jurcs that the doors to their room be
doubled, or other provision be made for prevent.
ing their proceedings being overheard By un-
authorized persons or caYcs dr"ppcTs."
The following 1. the report Of the committee ap
pointed 10 examine the treasures books: That
this time l. especially uniavorabe Tor this duty.
the posting Of the books having been much de-
layed since the date of their examination by a
committee Of the last Grand Jury TO which point
We limited our inspeciion) because ofthe accuinu-
laiion Of work upon the clerks consequent upon
the new levy. We find that the books are neatly
kept and by system apparently well devised. OK
ccpt 10 far relates To- the receipts. The plan
adopted 60 lack those checks gains. crrors.
Discrepancies and even possible frauds desirable
20 he provided we'll for the security Of the treas
himself for the protection Of the interests
of the county and We recommend the substitu-
ton Of system where the money shall be received
by one CLERK Only. upon n ticket prepared and
countersigned by another. specially charged with
that duty the bills. IL necessary, being made out
in advance: and that the present method, where
the same person makes out the bills and receives
the money. be abandoned. The plan proposed
works effectively in Baltimore city, and would. as
we believe, prove advantageous here nd econon.
cal also. even IT, ut the season of pressing work
some additional clerical assistance IL made neccs-