Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-03-23

words. TO wit.
To Hrs ExcELLEEcY,
HEHRY LLOYD,
Governor of Maryland,
The petition Of james d. Munroe,
the States Attorney for Anne Arun-
del county. respectfully shows:
That by the Act of 1882 ch, liz Of
the General Assembly of Maryland
the sale of spirituouso or fermented Ii
quors, or alcoholic bitters or intoxica.
ting drinks Of any kind, is forbidden
within the limits of said Anne Arun-
del county.
That said Act Of Assembly also
forbids such sales By any corpora
iion," and makes the ''individual
members" Of said corporation respon.
sible personally for any violation of
OF said law by the corporation.
That in order to evade said law
there has been formed Ia said county
and particularly in the City of An
napolis, q great number of corpora
lions whose Charters provide for the
incorporation OF Literary, Musical
and Scientific Associations" and
amongst other objects for which such
interpretations are sought are those
which are rather vaguely expressed
by the words "and for other public
social purposes.
That almost in every case, as far
as.your petitioner is informed, the
Treasurer and Caterer" ofthese cor
porations has the principal manage
ment thereof, and is the man who
formerly kept bar-room at what is
now the principal ficev of said cor
poratioDs.
That it is impossible TO secure any
convictions Of these corporations for
violations of said Act of Assembly,
commonly known as the Local Option
Law, because the members of said
clubs or corporations are excused
from testifying on the ground that
they would criminate themselves or
render themselves personally liable
to punishment.
See the case Of the chesapeake
Club W. The Stats;' October Tern
1884, Court of Appeals.
That there is not the slightest pre-
tcnee on the part of any of these cor.
porations to use the franchises and
powers conferred upon them by their
charters, nor any step taken by them
10, king 10 the organization of Liter
airy, Musical and Scientific Associa-
lionsT that they are evasions, pure
and simple, and designed as such, of
he said Local Option Law; and the
immunity which they enjoy in the
open and defiant violation of law. is
well calculated to bring the law into
public contempt, and The powerless-
ness OF the Court to reach them is
calculated to detract from the whole.
some fear Of Eetributive justice which
tends to restrain violations of law.
/, therefore. respectfully ask your
ExcelIency to authorize me as the
s a,e's Attorney Of Anne Arundel
county, in accordance with Sec. l76
Of chapter All Of the Act of 1868,
(Revised Code Art 81, part ". Sec.
l. J to institute proceedings against the
corporations named below, to ascer-
tain neither such corporations have
been guilty of such misuse, abuse
or non-usev of their corporate powers
and franchises as by law would au-
thorize and make proper the forfeit
ure oftheir franchises, corporate pow
ers and charters And as in duty sc,
JAMES M. MUNRoE
The States Attorney for A. A. Co
The following is the list of the cor
porations against which proceedings
are to be instituted for forfeiture of
their charters, viz:
/. The West End Glee and Social
Club of the city of Annapolis.
2. South River Grove Club Of Anne
Arundel county.
3 Log Cabin Club Of Annapolis.
1. Germantown Social Club of
Anne AruDdel county.
Acton Club Of Annapolis.
s. Chesapeake Club of the city Of
Annapolis.
I. Capitol Socials Of the city Of An
napoiis.
Concordia Club Of the city Of
Annapolis.
9 Curtis Bay Social Club Of Anne
Arundel county.
To- Independent National Maryland
Club. colored, ofthe city Of Annapolis.
No action has yet been taken upon
that petition. Since that time the
number Of clubs in this county has
grown from ten to about twenty sew
en-. The Gnrernnr IL nrnhahIv wall