The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-11-24
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.

| No Ovsrcharges i'll the Clerks or Registers
Ofiices-Want of Uniformity in Elections.
The Grand Jury for the November term, of
which Mr.. Charles VI. Michael was foreman,
! adjourned on Thursday, after a session of only
nine days. In their report they say that
evidence was before them OF a want Of uni
| formity in the administration of the election
law. They call the attention of election of
iicers TO the fact and to the necessity of main
tanning the secrecy of the ballot.
The Grand Jury also say they have examin-
ed the charge that exorbitant and illegal fees
are habitually charged in the offices of the
Clerk Of the Circuit Court and Register Of
Wills, land say they have discovered no criminal
violation of the law and do not feel sure that
the law has even been technically violated by
the officials named The Grand Jury believe
that the law relating to fees of those officers
is in u confused state and the matter Of
charges and fees should be clearly defined by
legislation or order of court. The report is
as follows:
To Ike Honorable James d. Waters,
Judge Of the Circuit Court for Hartford Co.
The Grand Jury for the November term,
lS93 of the Circuit Court for Hartford County,
respectfully informs your honor that it has
disposed of all the business presented for its
consideration.
deEs, it has examined ll2 witnesses, has
found 81 true bills and disposed of II cases
for want of proper proof.
1t has visited the Jail and found therein 10
persons, all males, for larceny. serving
sentence, for assault and for bastardy. 1t
a. Nt,,sn Of hnf
building is unfit for the purposes Of u jail,
but they found it as well kept as can be rea-
sonably expected
There has been some evidence before the
Grand Jury to the effect that there has been
want of uniformity in the administration OF
the election law, though there has not been
brought to its notice any criminal violation
of the law, but it is desired to cal the atten-
ton of the proper election officers to the Deces-
sity of uniform administration, and partl-
cularly to the maintenance OF the secrecy OF
the ballot, by refusing assistance the voters,
in marking their ballots, except in those cases
where the law requires it, and then only IN
the manner prescribed by law.
1t has been a matter of common report that
the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Hartford
County and the Register of Wills have habitu-
ally and in violation of law, charged and col
lected exorbitant fees, and fees for which
they have no warrant of law at all. After
Jury felt it to be its duty to examine into the
matter, so far as to determine whether the
law has been criminally violated and do now
state to your Honor that they have discover
ed no criminal violation, nor, indeed, does the
Grand Jury feel sure that the law has
been even technically violated, but from
such information as it has been able to Sc
cure, and it has made all reasonable efforts to
secure it, the Grand Jury believe that the
law itself is in such a confused shape that
contentious about proper charges in the var
ious Offices may be expected, until the matter
of charges and fees is clearly regulated by
legislation or by order of court; and they
further believe that the matter is of sufficient
importance as to demand immediate attention.
The Grand Jury takes this opportunity of
thanking the Court and its officers for their
uniform courtesy and valuable assistance dur
ing the performance of its duties and most
respectfully ask to be discharged:
CHARLES w. MICHAEL,
EpramaD