The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-02-28
The Bill Is Ali Right.

MIR. ED1roR:-Thc bill introduced by
Senator Wilson providing for an annual
appropriation of $1,000 for the care OF
tn" Court House and grounds at Upper
Marlboro, appears to have produced a
considerable rise in the temperature or
our esteemed weekly visitor the lt"'fs.
The Tins regards it as an extravasant
misuse of the peoples money and asks
why the tax-pavers of the county sit idly
by and see their coin thus sqrandered.
.Wbv so large cost, having so short a
Dost thou upon thy fading mansion
spend?'
Upon first brush the amount seems
somewhat exorbitant, but l doubt not
that this sum, for the first two or three
wears at any rate, can be advantageously
spent in renovating and beautifylng the
Court House and grounds, and besides,
while the bill requires the appropriation
of ST 900, it does not compel the eNpendl-
ture of the entire sum, bat SO much there
of as may be necessary-whlle l have not
seen the bill l apprehend that such are us
terms
For nv own part | can see no valid 90
lection to such a measure. 1t cannot be
sainsaid l think, that the authorities now
having charge Of this matter have not
been as generous towards this fund as
they should be, and that the Court House
and surroundings do not reflect much
credit upon the county.
l have frequently heard expressions
of an uncomplimentary nature passed up
on the condition of the Court House and
surroundings by strangers and visitors
from other sections-whilst in my opinion
were but justly merited. AS 1.-The apparel
oft proc!aims the man., SO the puollc
buildings of municipality often measure
the degree of prosperity enjoyed by that
municipality. The Court House at Upper
Marlboro is the official residence OF
Prince Georges county-its corporate
house, and bears the same relation to the
county as the individual house has to the
family. What man does not want and
would not have, were he able, beautiful
and attractive home?
Very Respectfully,
ROBERT W. HUNTER.
Mr.. EDITOR We notice some critl-
cism in the Marlboro Iinrs of the bill
now before the Legislature to compel the
e n 1ayv a
specific amount annually for purposes of
repairing, improving and keeping in de-
cent condition the Court House and
grounds of the county. The part of the
bill creating opposition, it seems, is that
which confers this duty upon the Judges
of the Circuit Court. Insinuations are
thrown out that these funds will be used
for other purposes. That the County
Commissioners have had Court House and
grounds under their charge and kept
same in first class condition; that the
change is unnecessary and uncalled for.
Many visitors to the Court House have
been heard to complain frequently of the
very negligent manner in which this
building and grounds are kept; that in
times of rain it is almost necessary to get
to it from the street in boats; that the cor
ridors and stairs are only cleaned semi
annually and never scrubbed; that the
jury rooms are filthy and in no wise sani-
tary or fit for decent men to be compelled
to work in that the water closet is abso
lutely unfit for use and menace to health;
that the Court Room floor is never scrub
bed and when washed is washed with a
broom and left in worse condition, the
window glasses probably never having
been cleaned since the building was put
up, etc, etc. This duty cannot be forced
upon the Judges, but if they will accept
same and clean up, and keep clean, and
put in repair the building, repair the
fences, put good man in charge and
keep grounds up and cows out of the
yard, and have the entire building and
grounds clean and in ship-shape condi
ton, they will certainly receive the
thanks and congratulations of the COM
munity in general. These judges were
elected by the people, have control over
our general peace and happiness, and can
surely be trusted to honestly handle such
a small sum as is to be levied for this pur
pose. A lax PAYER.