The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-02-10

Yellott, who administers the merit law.
This action was taken at hearing
before THE committee on the bill to
exempt the wardens, deputy wardens,
guards and keepers at the Peniten-
tiary and House of Correction from
| the provisions of the merit system.
Sweeping reduction in the license
| fees charged jitney bus owners operat-
| ing in Baltimore and extension of their
routes beyond the limit allowed by the
Public Service Commission are sought
| in a bill introduced in the House by
John T. O'Byrne, Fourth district, Bal
timore city.
The measure, which is understood
to have been inspired by the jitney
bus ownens. is likely to meet strong
opposition both from the Service Com
missioners and the Commissioner of
Motor Vehicles A provision in the
bill that the bus owners shall be per-
mitted to extend their lines as far
west as Fulton avenue is said to be in
direct conflict with the jurisdiction of
| the Public Service Commission. The
commission, it is said, will ask hear
ing and register strong objection.
A protest of officials and citizens of
Hartford county against the proposed
reduction in terms of Office of all State
and county officials, as outlined in the
| hrn, yr1 10
Annapolis by delegation of Hartford
county officeholders to the Governor
and members of General Assembly.
| The measure, in its present form,
would cut all Offices one year.
The petition suggests that an addi-
ton of year to the term of Office
would meet the requirements of fewer
elections and be fairer to officeholders.
1t is understood such scheme will be
proposed in an amendment to the bill.
Designed to protect officers. of law
enforcement in the performance of
their duty, a bill was introduced in
the Senate Ex-senator Frick, of Balti-
more, providing that any person or
persons purposely and wilfully killing
a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable or
policeman with knowledge of the Off
cial character of said officer" and
while such officer is acting in the dis,
charge of his duties, shall be guilty
of murder in the first degree and shall
be punished by death.
Senator Prick said the bill had been
given him for introduction by Police
Commissioner Gather of Baltimore,
and was framed to correct lack OF
proper legislation effectively to prose
cute cases where persons accused of
the murder of policemen had escaped
capital punishment under technical
ity in the existing law.
To tighten the grip of the law Off
GERS of the State on violators of the
narcotic law Senator Prick introduced
bill which permits the search of any
place in which a policeman or sheriff
or his deputy has information that CO.
cairle, heroin or any kindred drug that
is for sale or to be given away is.
stored. The measure directs that any
justice of the peace issue warrant
commanding the officers to make dill
gent search of any place in which the
policeman, sheriff or deputy sheriff be-
lieves person., firm or corporation is
storing drugs and, finding such, that
the officer shall seize. the same, shall
hold them until after the trial and if
the accused is convicted then they
shall be destroyed.
Forced investment by insurance
companies of their capital and sur.
plus in State OF county bonds is pro-
vided for in bill introduced in the
House by Delegate Friedel, First dis
trict.
The measure provides that all in
surance companies doing business in
Maryland shall invest the same pro-
portion of their funds in Maryland
State and county bonds as their pre-
MUM receipts from policies held by
Marylanders bear to their total pre-
MUM receipts.