The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-01-13
The Proposed Registration Law.


pointed by the last Democratic convention to
draft, for the consideration of the present
Legislature, II new registration law and law
to perfect the jury system of the State, have
performed the duty assigned them. Presi-
dent Williams, of the Senate, has already OBJ
tanned leave to introduce the registration bill.
A registration bill has also been prepared
by Mr. Bradley 7. johnson, which is said to-
meet with the approval of Governor Hamil-
ton, concerning which the Easton Star says:
Gen. Bradley T. Johnson's registration bill, pre-
pared for the o. l.. DPS, has been published in
the Baltimore Sun. 1t is q curiosity in law and
literature. Itcreates more offices than has all the
balance of the State 1t appoints two registers,
one of each party, and two judges ofeection, one
ofeach party for each of the innumerable election
precincts in the State which it proposes to es-
tablish, and then provides that all Disagreement
shall be decided by the toss-up of copper! No
more of that, thank you, Mr.. johnson. 1t COM
pels great many people to work for the State
without pay; clothes them with discretionary
powers, fines them heavily, and puts them in the
penitentiary if they decide wrong, although they
may decide according to their honest Judgment.
Under the workings of the bill we cannot see
how any disputed question could be decided
without one side or the othcr-the one the
higher court might differ with-getting in the
penitentiary. Such bundle ofabsurdties and
monstrositie> was meyer heard of before We
sincerely hope that Gov. Hamilton is not com.
mitted to Gen. Johnson's bantling, which has
in 1t nice little job for the benefit of the Secre-
tary of State.
Senator Steiner, Republican, has also OBJ
tanned leave to introduce a BILL presumably
the one prepared by Mr.. johnson.
OF course it will be in the power of the
Legislature to adopt or amend either bill, or
reject them both and frame another We
have not seer o copy of the bill prepared by
the distinguished gentlemen appointed by the
Democratic convention, but from our knowl
edge of their experience, integrity and fitness
| for the duty, we have no doubt their bill is
more perfect in its first condition than it will
be if so-called amendments are made to it,
and that it will secure what every fair mind
ed man desires, non partisan, thorough and
accurate registration of the voters Of the
| State.
Judging from our own county we do not
think there is very pressing need for an en-
tirrly new registration in the counties. There
have been no registration frauds in Hartford,
nor is there illegal voting here. Some names
have accumulated on the books, by reason Of
persons removing from the county, &c,
which the registers were not authorized to
take off, but these could be stricken off with
ont the expense Of a new registration.
STAR ROUTE BoNDs-A warrant was is
sued at Washington, last week, for the arrest
of Col A. f. Boone, chief of the United
States Mail Transportation Company, on the
charge Of imposing worthless bonds on the
Postoftice Department, in contracts for Star
mail routes, The company within the past
four years have made ITO bids, involving
50. OS4 452 of bonds, and have obtained 296
contracts, involving S202, 800 of bonds
These bonds are declared to b" worthless.
In an interview with a representative Of
the New York UeraM, on Monday, Colonel
Boone said he had five hundred contracts,
about one hundred and fifty of which were
given to him during the late administration
of Postmaster General James the last one be.
ing awarded him on the Both Of December
1881 He declared that the so called straw
bonds were good, and IT, not Mr.. James
should have demanded new ones. He said
he had put in some two thousand bids, and
is the lowest bidder on Mt least one-half of
them He has in his employ about 1000
men. He denied that Senator Dorsey had
anything to do with his contracts. He
charges that the warrant for his arrest was
issued en- Friday in order that his bids might
be kept out while those of Mr.. James friends
were put in. He evaded arrest, however,
himself
AS to the Postoflice Department being self
sustaining under Mr.. James Col Boone said
that it was made so by cutting off the non
paying routes, many of which are being daily
restored Col Boone is well known in IIar-
ford county, where he is the proprietor of the
stage line from Bel Air to Edgewood, and
for four years prior to last July had num-
Der of mail contracts in this comfy.
THE WEIGHING OF HAY.-The recommen-
dation OF Governor Hamilton to abolish the
offices Of weighers of hay and lease the State
hay scales, does not appear to us to be judi
cious There is no inspection of hay at the
scales further than to examine if it be wet
or dry, and if wet reduction of the gross
weight is made by the weigher. A number
of Hartford county farmers who haul their hay
to Baltimore have expressed to us their fears
that if the scales are leased they may fall into
the hands of dealers in hay or of persons in
tcrcsted in its purchase, and they would have
no assurance that it would in all cases be
fairly weighed. They are opposed to being
placed entirely at the mercy of dealers, no
matter how honest they may be. Now the
hay is weighed by disinterested party, and
although the system may yield no revenue to
the State, it is protection to the farmers
1t is complained, also, that the charge for
weighing, which is II cent per 100 lbs, is
excessive, and that it should be reduced to
one cent per 100 lbs. This is a reform that
would meet with the approval of farmers and
40 difficulty would be found in getting n suit
able person to attend to the office for the fees
There may be good reasons why the State
weighing should be abolished, but we have
seen or heard none yet
"A horrible story of the sea comes from
Rockport, Mass. On Monday, the I'd inst,
the fishing schooner Almon Bird, was wreck
ed in gale, and the captain and crew took
to their only boat, without having time to get
suitable provisions, and with no water They
suffered terribly from cold, hunger and thirst.
The second mate and another man became
delirious and died in great agony from eating
large quantities of saltwater ice, which had