The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-02-20
The Egis & Intelligencer
Rel Air. Md. February 20. 1891.
ReDort of the Grand Jury

Report OF the Grand jury
The Grand Jury, having finished their labors,
were discharged on Wednesday. Upon receiving
their report Judge Waters told them they had
been beset with difficulties of unusual kind, but
that the performance of their duties had been
satisfactory in every respect. He then thanked
them, in the name OF the people of Hartford coun-
ty. for the manner in which they had performed
their duties He added, Your report is fair and
lam sure viii be satisfactory" The report is as
follows:
1oMe Hon. James d. Waters. Associate Judge I
Of the Circuit Court for Hartford County !:
The Grand Jury for the February term, 1891, beg
leave to submit to your Honor the following re-
port:
ed sixty-three witnesses. found sixteen present.
ments and the same number of true bills of indict-
In compliance with law we visited the Jail and
found therein five prisoners, of whom two are
colored men, for assault, one white man held for
yagrancy. one white man for larceny. and one
colored man serving out the sentence of magiS-
trate. The Jail is as we'll kept as coudbe possible
but we cannot refrain from expressing our utter
condemnation of the building. 1t is disgrace to
Christian and civilized people and blot OH the
fair fame of Hartford county. The stairway is so
unsafe that We were warned not to ascend it in a
body. lest it might break down. We recommend.
it nothing else be done. the stairway be renewed
and water be introduced, in order that the cells
and sewerage pipes may be kept perfectly clean.
In obedience to the instructions of your Honor
we have diligently Investigated the accounts of the
Clerk of the Circuit Court and the accounts of the
Register of Wills we have examined several credi-
various matters complained Of and have come to
this conclusion: The Clerk of the Circuit Court
sent his annual statement to the Comptroller for
the year 1890 but the report. as was shown by let
ter from that office, was mslaid at Annapolis and
IL s sa 10 This Is s rs
such a report has been made for many years
The Register of Wills like many other similar
officials in the State has failed to make annual
report to the Treasury department and we recOnra
mend that both these officers in the future regu-
port not merely the fees received but for all fees
due and uncolected and also the number, com
pensation and duties of their employees. This
strictly. 1t is only by scrutinlzing such report
that the Comptroller can see how these offices are
being run and the force employed in them. We
also fnd particularly in the Clerk office, that the
fees are not collected up as closely as they should
be. Persons receiving service are INDUCED from
time to time, while the amounts they owe are lost
or never come into the office. The Clerk should
remember that his office is to be run for the bene
fit of the people. All proper charges should be
regularly collected only such force which is really
that the people, through the State Treasury may
get the benefit of all the office yields over and
above the salary of the Clerk and the expenses of
the office economically managed. Both the Off
cials named have neglected Tor some years past,
since the Court House was painted, to post copies
of their fee bills conspcuously in their offices, but
the1aw has been complied with since their atten-
ton was called to this.
With regard to the lees charged In the respective
offices named, the Grand jury think that while in
some instances there may have been some Sight
over-charges in many more the fees eXacted have
not been as much as the law would allow We have |
no evidence before of any intention of any of |
1.-THE Clerks to make illegal charges. but we would
recommend to both strict compliance in future |
with every letter of the law relating to their official
duties. Bills against the county when presented
by the Clerk of the Court Register of Wills |
duly examined by the paid counsel of the board of |
Commissioners and all items thereon which are not |
i'm accordance with law are noted and the attention
uof the Commissioners called thereto
The Grand jury are OF the opinion that the |
Legislature should simplify and make plain the |
fee bill. reducing the charges where they are too
TO exist now, for failure to make annual reports.
We would also suggest the present urgent neces- |
sity OF private water closet for the use OF the |
Jurors and other officers of this court there being
no sush accommodations for theSe officers at pres
ent.
In conclusion, thanking your Honor, the States |
Attorney and other officers of the Court for court
eous and ready help in our labors we respectfully |
ask to be discharged.