The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-11-05
The Circuit Court

The following is the report OF the
Grand Jury:
We the Grand Jury for the October
Term, 1915, of the Circuit Court. peg
leave to submit the following report
We have been in session 10 days and
have examined I35 witnesses IN SO cas-
es, made presentments and found 80
true bills. In number OF cases the
evidence did not Justify an indictment;
We visited the Jail in body ana 1ouho
it crowded with prisoners. We founo
the Jail itself clean Some prisoners
complained of the food. The YARD OF
the iall was Uttered with paper which
should be removed.
We found some violations OF the no
cor law, but the worse conditions wer'
found in the vicinity of Bladensburg'
which, for more than quarter OF
ca,trrv has been a stencil in the nostrils
of the decent people of our county
Manv of our officers have failed 10 see
these open violations and to report the"
to the proper authorities.
Af,er a careful survey OF the conoi
.;ons here. we would Recommend 70
tho J,ouor License Commissioners OF
this county, that no more licenses ioi
the sale of LIQUOR, be issued to any es-
enlistment IN the town or within one
DIo lanchnrO
Our attention has been called 70
the prize fights conducted IN the vicini-
nv of Ardmore, Kent district, which wa
he,;eve is a violation of the law. These
people bring a rough, disorderly crowd
into orr county and we hope means
will be found to break up this conoi-
ion.
We would call the attention OF the
proper authorities to the condition OF
the Capitol Heights School. Here Is
modern, sanitary, eight roomed orick
school building completed since last
Nav. standing vacant. while 400 young
school children are housed in a franc
shack in deplorable sanitary condition
and a veritable fire trap where several
hundred children and eight teachers
stand a chance of losing their lives "e
reccommend that the building be turn
ished at once. :.
Wa have examined number OF VIII
nesses as to the management ana COLI
ditions at the Aims House and we were
surprised and shocked to IND such
careless conditions. Inmates we're
on the public highway begging tor
bread and according to the sworn tesla
monv there was no bread there from
the 18th to the 18th of August.
There are absolutely no minutes or
record. kept of the proceedings OF any
meetings of the Board of Trustees. Inc
testimony of every witness agreed that
S2.7oo in surplus had been purchased
YEARLY from favored merchants without
competition. There was no account
kept Of supplies received and therefore
no checks or bills, which were PAID IN
a hap hazard manner.
We would suggest that all supplies be
purchased after reservlng bids In the
market, and then let to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder. thus saving a SUBJ
stantial sum to our taxpayers.
The keeper should be required to
keen a careful account of bills checked
nv this account of all supplies received.
He should reweigh when necessary, and
all bills checked by the account before
they are paid.
We have received number OF COM
nlaints about the conditions OF our
roads: many of the thinking citizens DO
not believe that they are getting full
value for the $43 900 spent on our roads,
and bridges. We would suggest the
more extensive use of road machinery
in rounding up our roads as measure
of economy.
There are some dangerous spots ID
the roads where the Road Directors are
not as prompt as they should be. IN re-
nair,np same after notification.
Finally we believe that if the County
Commissioners will exercise a little
scrutiny in scanning our bills, it would
result in a material reduction OF our tax
rate.
We desire to express our thanks to
the Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court
and his assistants, our Bailiff, and por-
ticularly to Mr.. Roberts. our state
Attorney, who has been of great aid to
us in our work.
Now having completed our work, we
respectfully request that we be per
mitted to adjourn subject to the further
order of the Court.
JAMES B. BERRY,
Foreman.