The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-07-06
miscellaneous.
TRAND JURY REPORT.
NAY TERM OF Court, 1889.

TO tie Honorable he Judges Of TIE Circuit CONT for
Baltimore COunty:
We respectfully report that the Grand Jury
have been in session twenty-five days. have
docketed eighty-One cases. examined two hun
dred and sixty witnesses. made forty nine pre-
sentiments, found hfty-six true bills, ignored
four cases. dismissed thirty cases and referred
one case to the next Grand Jury.
We visited the Jail in body, after giving the
Sheriff few hours notice. and found it in neat
and orderly condition, with twenty two persons
confined. who seem to have been well provided
We also visited the aims house in body, with
out giving the keeper, Mr.. Cole, any notice. and
found the building in first class order There
were sixty eight inmates, who were in clean
and neat condition, and appeared to be quite
cOnteDted.
We strongly recommend change whereby the
Incorporation of Sunday pleasure clubs may be
rendered more difficult than it is The Judges of
the Circuit Courts have no discretion in the mat
ter, but are positively required by the law to
sign the certificate of incorporation if tappeaIs.
on its face, to be in conformity with law. All of
the clubs are Incorporated for the specific pur-
pose of violating the Sunday liquor laws. 1t is
great abuse. and it seems that nothing short of
a change in the law will remedy that abuse.
A committee was appointed to examine the
Treasurer's books and vouchers also a commit
tee to examine the license books, and the report
of each is herewith annexed.
We extend our sincere thanks to the Court and
its officers for their uniform kindness and cour-
tesy. ii. &. HUTCHINS, Foreman.
Report of the Committee On Licenses.
III. G. HUTCHINS, ESQ, FOREMAN-Sir: The
undersigned, committee appointed to examine
licenses, beg leave to submit the following re
port:
A large number of ordinary licenses are issued
in Baltimore county, the only requirements be
ing the recommendation of two free-hOlders
living in the immediate vicinity that the appli-
cant for license is a proper person to keep an
ordinary and the affidavit of the applicant him
self that he has the requisite accommodations
This system is liable to great abuse and such
Investigations as we have been able to make lead
to the conclusion that very large proportion of
ordinary kppDQrc have not the
cOmmOdations prescribed by law 1t is imposs-
bic to get witnesses who know whether or not
parties have the accommodations, or if they do
know, who will testify to the true state of affairs.
Large numbers of witnesses who ought to know
something state that they know nothing, and
without some evidence of the facts nothing can
be ascertained from the license books them
selves, for they are of the licenses
issued by the Clerk The Clerk himself has no
alternative, but is required by law, upon the
recommendation and affidavit above alluded to,
to issue the license.
We understand that it is the duty of all con-
stables in the county to report violations of this
as well as other laws. and it is strange that con-
stables and police officers, when actually sum
mOned before the Grand Inquest know so little
about transgressiOns of the liquor laws in their
own neighbOrhOOdS.
1t results in this, viz: That the present license
law is one of the lOosest upon our statute books
and open to the most fragrant abuses. Under
this system anybody can get license to keep an
ordinary, whether he be a proper person and
whether he be interested in the welfare of the
community or not. We have numerous exam
pies of strangers, transient sOjOurners in the
county. who are not even registered voters, who
have no interests in common with the communi-
ty, taking out an ordinary license on the very
day they arrive. Out of the profits which they
sometimes make in one season they can well
afford to pay the fines inflicted for violations of
the Sunday laws. Very often they take out no
licenses, and instead of being compelled to pay
a Sunday fine they get off nearly as well by pay
ing fine for selling without license
The recommendation is obtained with greatest
facility and the oath of many of the applicants
seem to be taken with undsturbed conscience.
The whole thing is a ridiculous formality.
Your committee earnestly recommend that an
improved license law should be adopted in Bal
timore county, especially in view of the fact
that violations Of the liquor laws are on the in
crease in this county: principally on account of
its proximity to d large city like Baltimore.
Nothing could be more beneficial to this county
at the present time or in the near future than
the adoption of high license tar, similar in It's
provisions to that which exists in Philadelphia
and which is now being agitated in Baltimore.
If Baltimore should succeed in its effort for high
license its adoption in this county would be an
imperative necessity. Otherwise would be
Overrun with saloon exodus from the city.
Respectfully submitted,