Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-03-29

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The March Term Of the Circuit Court, 1891,
having discharged their duties as required
BY law, beg leave 10 submit the following
report:
We have fully investigated all matters
given as in charge, or that have come to
our knowledge, and have taken such action
rs we thought was justified by the evidence
presented 10 ms.
We have reviewed the Report of the
Grand jury for the September Term, 1893,
and find the same correct In obed 'ence
TO their Recommendation, The County Com
missioneTs have contracted with the Clerk
Of the Circuit Court to supply the Land
Office the missing abstracts of Deeds from
November. 1851, to December, 1853, inclu-
sive. We renew the recommendation for
the purchase or erection Of fire proof safes
or vaults for the Clerks and Registers Of
fees; also TO have mating put upon the
door Of the Grand Jury room 10 prevent
the noise disturbing the Court on the lower
fioor. We find from an examination ofthe
books OF the County Commissioners. that
the amounts received from liquor licenses
from June 18th, 1892, 10 Dec. 3Osh, 1898,
aggregate sass5 90. and that this amount
has been expended Ia accordance with the
requirements Of the law. We also find
that the allowances TO Justices ofthe Peace
for costs, from Jan. 1st, 1893. to Jan. LIST,
1894, amount to $4,000, while the fines
paid in ty the Justices during the same
time amount to only S1Oo.33, or less than
an average of $500 in fines paid over by
each Magistrate during the past year. We
think the matter worthy of further inves-
tigation, but are forced 10 leave it to the
consideration OF future Grand Jury.
The roads Of the county have been in
bad condition during the Winter, except
those which have been permanently i'm
proved. We recommend that the County
Commissioners adhere as closely as posi-
bic TO the policy of permanent improve
nent in working the roads; the large
| amounts annually expended in patchwork
having TO be repeated every year and yield
ing poor return for the money expended.
Our attention has been called to the
charge that about $1,000 has been expend-
cd on the roads in the Sixth District during
the past year, and an intimation that this
large expenditure had been so used as to
influence the Democratic Primaries in that
District. We have carefully examined into
these matters and do not find any ground
for the latter charge. But, we do find that
in addition 10 the regular appropriation for
the roads in the Sixth District amounting
to about $500, the additional sum Of
Sl2S2 81 has been expended and charged
to the road "excess" in the levy of 1894.
| 1t has been in evidence before US that a
large amount of road work has been done
in that district during the past year-some
of it of permanent haracter-well sanded
or gravelled; but much of il only temper
ariiy repsired, In explanation OF the ex-
penditure of this large sum, it was in
evidence that the Commissioner who had
immediate charge of the roads in that dis
trict, authorized number Of parties 10 have
the roads worked in their sections of the
district, without limiting them as to the
amounts ebey were at liberty to expend
| The result was that when the accounts
were sent in TO the Board, the amounts
aggregated much larger sum than had
been expected. 1t is impossible for us to
tell whether the county has received fulS
value in road work for this large expendi-
ture of money. Upon this point the evil
dence has been very conflicting But we
must condemn the granting of such IN
| limited authority to supervisors of roads in
expending the money Of the taxpayers of
the county.
Our attention was also called to the
charge, that, in two of the Districts of the
County, there were evidences of Irregular
tiles in the arrangements for the holding of
| the elections in November last We have
carefully examined into these charges; and
find that while the Poll Room" in the
First District was on the second floor of the
building, which may MT have been in
accordance with the spirit Of the law. every
facility was afforded the voters of the Dis
trict for fair election; and an examination
Of witnesses from both political parties has
furnished nc evidence that any fraud or
/ unfairness was either attempted or contem-
plated. In the Third District it was COM
planned that the Judges Of election were
seated on raised platform" or the seat
usually occupied by the Judges 4 the Cir
cult Court in the Court room, with the
ballot boxes on the stand in front Of them,
and above the level of the voters, thus
aifording better opportunities for the sub
stitution Of spurious ballots for those law
faily cast. We do not believe there was
ground for suspecsing any attempt at
fraud In this District But the bare sus-
picion sf such design should prompt
the proper election officers TO place the bal
lot boxes in such position as % avoid all
ground for complaint by the voters ofeith-
co party.
Much of our time has been consumed in
the investigation OF minor criminal charges
which come within the jurisdiction Of JUS
tees Of the Peace We think prosecutors
should bring this class Of cases 10 the at
tention OF the local Magistrates where they
could be disposed Of at much less expense
&C. the county.
We have examined the Jail and find il
kept in as cieanly condition as circum-
stances will permit. We find several ugly