Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-12-15
ANNAPOLIS MD FRIDAY DECEMBER Is, 1899.
Communicated
SUGGESTED RECOMMENDATIONS.
Municipal Evils And Remedies.


During our. recent political campaign
our candidates for Senate and House
stated that, il elected. they desired con-
ferences with their constituents with the
view Of formulating such legislation as
would be most beneficial to our people,
and, as far as possible, reduce the rate Of
taxation.
Since the election have been request
ed to suggest, as far as | could, reforms
along these lines. In response TO these
requests have carefully looked into ex-
isting evils and think | see the means OF
some relief. AS an undisputed PROPOSE
ton our taxes are too high. Let us ask
ourselves the causes for this state Of
affairs, and as answer 10 this question
will make this statement, viz:
There were summoned to testify be-
fore the late grand jury 353 witnesses. OF
which each were from the First and
Eighth districts; from the Second, Al;
from the Third. 4o; from the Fourth. IS;
from the Fifth and from Baltimore city,
on cases growing out of violations Of law
in that district, oS; from Annapolis, loo;
from other counties. I3, and from loca-
tions not named, ID. Witnesses from
the county receive 81 per day; from Bal
timore city, 81 80 per day.
There were about IS indictments made
by the last grand jury, most of which
were for offences so trivial that justice
of the peace could readily and fairly dis
pose of them ii constltutionally clothed
with the power. We want on this sub
ject constitutional amendment, giving.
II need be. justice ot the peace the
right TO summon jury and try the case
then and there in minor offences. While
man has the right to be tried by his
peers. it does not necessarily follow that
he must have jury oftwelve men. Take
case in point.
A gum coat worth 81 was stolen in
Brooklyn; the accused was held to bail
Tor Court; the owner of the coat was a
stranger in the county; could not give
bail; was committed to Jail as a witness.
and stayed there 100 days. The consta-
bles' fee for taking 10 Jail from Brooklyn
is $40. The witness board, at 80 cents
per day, was s37.7o. and under the de-
cision of the Court of Appeals, he is enti-
tied to 81 per day witness tees for the
100 days. The costs of grand and petit
juries. bailiffs. sheriff. States attorney
and other officials adds 500 to the above
cost, so that the total costs OF case in
volving 81 amounted to nearly $500.
Hence in this particular we require con-
stitutional extension OF the powers OF JUS
tices of the peace. (Note--The Court
allowed the witness IS days attendance
Some years since our local laws pro-
vided that in cases of misdemeanor the
fees OF constables and sheriffs for sum-
moning witnesses should be limited in
number. In other words, that thers
should be no multiplicity Of witnesses in
order to make fees. This, unfortunately,
was repealed and the magistrates and
constabIes' costs in the lower precinct of
of the Third and the Eastport precinct of
the Second districts are. tor the work
done, higher in proportion than the SAL
ary OF the Judge Of the Circuit Court, or
than the sherif's costs for the whole
county. The old law should be rc.en-
acted and the constables and magistrates
tor the two pre- cincts should be salaried
officers. Two-ffths Of the indictments IN
our several terms of Court in the last five
years have grown out OF offences perpe-
These offences have either been viola
tions of the liquor laws or else are direct
ly due to violations of law by Baltimore
roughs. who come to Brooklyn, Curtis
Bay and Fairfield and under the indu-
ence of vile passions, infamed by vile
whiskey, have perpetrated the offences
which have been the subject OF indict-
ments. We have in Annapolis a high
license liquor law, with strong safeguards
around it. 1t has worked well here, and
since its enactment in 1890 offences grow
ing out of liquor law violations here have
been infinitesimal. Brooklyn is suburb
of Baltimore. The liquor license there
and at the places now licensed in the
Fifth district should be just the same in
amount and restrictions as exist in Balti-
more, and the penalties should be greater
and more drastic. In case Of violation
OF the law now for second offense the
license is suppressed, whereupon the Ii
censee can send his barkeeper to Annap-
oils and get out license in his name and
continue the business without interim.
A suppression of license should follow
the first violation and conviction, and
neither the man nor the place should be
licensed for at least two years thereafter.
An argument used against this is that an
injury will be worked to property owners
who may rent to the parties convicted.
An answer to this is that the landlord
can require a bond to provide against
these contingencies. and thus the busi-
ness will be placed in responsible hands.
I am not Prohibitionist. do not OPP
pose the liquor traffic in cities when prop
erly conducted. We have in the bushes IS
in Annapolis men who conduct it prop
erly and lawfully. believe this is the
case here without exception. If they
can conduct it properly why cannot it be
so conducted elsewhere
(Continued.
A Might Of Terror.