Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-09-29
Grand Jury Report.

Circuit Court Tor 81 Mary Scounty.
We respectfully offer this as the
report OF the Grand Jury for Sep
TENDER Term, 1904.
We have made diligent inquiry
into all violations OF the law coming
to our notice. and in every case
where the evidence was sufficient
have found presentments.
This jury feels morally certain,
that there are many violations oftbe
law in selling whiskey TO minors,
and gambling, but we have been un-
able to secure reputable testimony
in such cases, and as previous Grand
Jurys for Term after Term Of Court
have recommended that constables
be required to search out such vio-
lations of the law and report the
names OF reputable Witnesses TO the
jury, without any change whatever
in their reports, and as they never
know anything. we deem itneedless
to offer any further suggestions in
this matter.
AS the time Of the disposal Of the
Grand Jury is too limited to enter
into any thorough examination OF the
books Of the County Commissioners
Office, we think, that il practicable,
a committee be selected TO examine
all the books Of that Office thorough
ly, and report 10 the following Grand
Jury. Such a plan, II nottoo expen-
siye would give each succeeding
jury an intelligent basis upon which
to acN We would further suggest
tlRSN If the law does not require a
publication Of all receipts and dis.
bursements of the County in the An
nual Statement, that the next Legis.
lature be petitioned to SO amend the
law that the public may know what
is done with the rental of the Aims
House, the fines imposed by justices
and all other receipts unknown 70
the public now. So far as we could
ascertain the accounts are correctly
kept in that Office.
We have examined the Jail and
found 1t clean and we'll kept, but IN
need OF few repairs, especially the
lightning rod which is broken from
it's ground connection. Grayelshould
be placed around the Jail TO prevent
water from settling around the un.
derpinning, the pump should also
be repaired as it has been out Of
order for a long time.
We find that many parties are do
ing business in the county without
obtaining a license at the proper
time, May 1st Neglecting to pay
in many cases until September LIST,
thereby causing the county and State
to lose much OF the proper revenue,
sometimes one-third, as they are not
allowed to pay for the time thus lost.
And we would suggest that the
sheriff be notified that it is bis duty
to see that all parties obtain their
licenses at the proper time.s And
we would further recommend that
the license law be so amended as 10
require all merchants TO post their
Traders and Liquor Licenses as
conspicuously as are the U. s. Reve-
nue. License. We also suggest that
the Clerk when furnishing TO the Il
Grand Jury, list ofthose obtaining
licenses should include the locality
or place OF business of the Licensee.
Our roads are in many places in
bad condition, and we have every
reason to believe that some OF our
Supervisors are incompetent, while
others do otproperly attend to their
business. We have evidence that
one, at least, often furnished sub
stitnte to supervise for him. We
suggest that as far as practicable
the most capable men obtainable be
appointed as supervisors, and that
when rendering their monthly re-
ports, they be required to name each
day Of the month they have worked,
as well as the names Of the hands
employed each day, and also to make
oath to the correctness Of their ac
counts, and further that they be not
allowed to employ substitute with
out the consent of the County Com
missioners.
Wishing continued good health to |
the Court and officials thereof, and |
Offering many thanks for the cour-
fesies at their hands, and having
completed our labors we respectfully I
ask to be discharged,
THOMAS III. FoWfRR