Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-02-12
COUNTY NOT LIABLE
FOR THE OFFICE RENT
Committee Decides on Question As
to States Attorney.
ENGINEER MATTER HELD OVER
Charge Of Neglect Of Duty to be
Taken Up When All Members Are
Present.

That the County Commissioners
are not liable to the bin of the
States Attorney for office rent.
when that official occupies a private
office elsewhere than IN the Court
House. was the conclusion reached
by the committee consisting of Coun-
selor Ridgely z. Melvin, and Com
missioner James A. Walton, of An
napolis. to whom the matter was re-
ferred q few weeks ago.
This committee handed in its report
covering the legal phase Of the situa-
tiOn at the weekly meeting of the
Commissioners yesterday. This ques-
tion was first brought before toe
county officials in a petition filed by
w. Hallam Claude, representing the
Taxpayers League of Anne Arundel
county, in which it was charged that
it is illegal for the county to pay the
office rent of States Attorney Mich
olas H. Green.
This the Commissioners had been
doing fer the past six months. In the
report of the committee, after point
ing out the legal questions involved,
it is stated, among other things, that
the present States Attorney has, for
a number of years occupied an office
else where than the Court House,
which is used both for the transaction
of tn > county's business, as we'll as
his private practice; that Mr.. Green
was formerly secretary to the old
Annapolis Water Company. His
office rent was then paid by that cor
poration The County Commissioners
have paid the rental for two quarter
ly periods. n naking a total of SEQ.
Now, however, the county is not liable
for this rent.
Because it is desired to give the
matter consideration when all the
members of the Board are present,
the Commissioners did not take up the
resolution of protest against County
Engineer Louis II. Green at yester-
days meeting. This matter, too,
was brought before the County Board
by Attorney Claude. In the resJlu-
tior it is practically charged that En-
gineer Green is neglecting county
business affairs, because of his atten-
tion to a government contract at the
Naval Academy, and it is suggested
that the Commissioners fix certain
hours during which the Engineer shall
remain in his office in the Court
House, when not otherwise engaged
in county work on the roads.
The meeting of the Commissioners
Yesterday was the first in two weeks.
None was held last week because OF
the absence of four members of the
Board who had been detained at their
respective homes by illness of the
grip. Consequently number Of mat
ters OF a routine nature, in addition
to large number of bills for appro-
val, kept the Board busy throughout
the day.
A communication was received
from Gustavus B. Timanus. postmas-
ter at Laurel. Prince Georges coun-
ty, calling attention to the condition
of the public road leading from
Blacks Bridge. In the letter the
postmaster stated that the road is one
of the rural delivery rout IS and it
is in an almost impossible condi-
tion. 1t was state that the Prince
Gsors County Commissioners had
agreed to repair their part Of the
road, and the Anne Arundel officials
are asked to do likewise. The mat.
ter was referred to the County Engi-
neer and Commissioner Brown, of the
Fourth district.
The contract for building the
county wharf in Rockhold creek, in
the Eighth district. was awarded to
John H. Branzell, he being the lowest
bidder.
Subject to the usual pole tax Of 90
cents, the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company was granted per-
mission to erect forty-eight poles on
the county highways in the vicinity
of Nutwell and Rockhold creek, in the
Eighth district.
Though the opening of new load
near Smiths Station, in the Fourth
district, is held to be a necessity, yet
the committee appointed TO investi-
gate the matter, reported that the
county would not be justified In pay
ing the amoudts asked for easements
UA HlOHCAAy OWnCAS AOA 60lu LOdu. lUE
Investigating committee consisted of
John F. Freebooter and Joseph G.
Bannon.
The committee consisting of John
F. Friedhofer, Lloyd Dorsey and
Joseph G. Bannon, appointed to inves-
tigate the necessity Of relocation
Of road from Savage Switch. in
Howard county. to the public road
leading from Annapolis Junction to
Laurel. reported that the change is
not only feasible, but necessary.
and that Mr.. Frisby, through whose
lands The highway will pass, has
offered to deed to the county the
land necessary for the purpose.
The Board approved the bond OF
John Mccormick, who was recently
awarded the contract for hauling
garbage from sections of the Fifth
district.
Upon the certification of DR.. Adolpt
Myer and DR.. Albert Ksidel, Thomas
Ii. Wright was committed to tn.
Maryland State Hospital for the In