Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
Continued From First Page.)

authorized the bonds. He said that the
charges had been made and that the
"mouthpiece Of Montgomery County
had never denied it."
IF money has been misappropriated
anywhere in the State-and certainly
we have had plenty Of evidence OF 1t
it ought to be investigated by this
House." he said.
| Delegate John S. Mahle of Baltimore
County asked Mr. Joseph if Baltimore
| City had not repeatedly used the pro-
ceeds of bond issues for certain pur-
poses. for other projects. to which
Joseph replied that attempts had been
made but to his knowledge it had never
succeeded, when Delegate Clarence w
Wheaton OF Wicomico County jumped
to his feet and said that he did not
know what he was talking about.
When Joseph said that one attempt
had gone to the Maryland Court of APP
peals, he was told that then such a
charge as this should go to the Court
of Appeals. and he was also told that If
| there had been any misuse of funds o.
the courthouse bond issue. then 1t
should be investigated by the Montgom-
cry grand jury, and finally the electorate
of the county would have the say es to
whether the present county officials had
done right or wrong.
Lindsay. again taking the floor, said
that the debate had shown him that the
only basis in fact was that 1t was
cleaned from an irresponsible news
paper. and to his mind the whole affair
was the finest example Of the hit-anc-
run game that he had ever seem"
Sample Of Self Rule.
gentlemen, this is one Of the finest
HNIF rrrNry Az
brought before the floor of the House
of Delegates" said Speaker Lee, but
I and the other representatives OF
Montgomery County certainly do not
set up any defense on this subject
under the principle Of self-government.
Here are two delegates from Baltimore
City, which city always asks that the
House and State vote to them authority
to determine the government OF the
great city of Baltimore and these repre-
Sentatives of Baltimore City bring in
resolution about Montgomery County
bond issue to build from bond issue
funds a Montgomery County court
house and Jail for the sole use OF
Montgomery County citizens and tax
PAYERS and then the House Is to QueS-
ton Montgomery County as to whether
or not this money went for court
house. roads, schools or any purpose
other than for a courthouse and jail.
We will not attempt to stand behind
the doctrine of local self-government
at all. We are glad to admit the
right of the House of Delegates to delVe
into the matter to the fullest extent
Of of it's desire. We are entirely willing
to admit that under the constitution
of Maryland the House of Delegates
passes on all bond issues and has
perfect right to delve into any abuses
of bond issues or the miSappropriatlon
of bond issue funds.
Both gentlemen from the fourth dis
trict have said that they have no
personal knowledge of the subject mat
ter of the resolution. That Is, tney
DO not know. whether or not there has
been such misappropriation as they
refer to. They refer solely to the
public press and then identify the public
press as the Montgomery Independent
of Rockville. Il
Now as a matter of public fact
printed completely in the Maryland
News, published by the Maryland Pub
fishing Co. of which company am
president, and as also printed IN The
Washington Star, the Washington Post
and the Baltimore Sun, the editor.
Morris A. Bealle, of the Montgomery
Independent. was summoned before the
grand jury of Montgomery County about
so days ago and asked to substantiate
the charges that his paper had made
against the county government Of Mont
gomery County, against the county Off
Gals, and against myself as politician
citizen, resident of Montgomery County
and as member of the Legislature
from Montgomery County. Bealle has
quite series of names for me-
Grand Jury Admission"
1.-THE editor of the Independent adj
mitted to the grand Jury that he had
nothing on which to base any of the
charges he had made in the Montgomery
Independent except hearsay and rumor,
and the grand jury so reported, and
this report was printed in three daily
papers and in one weekly paper. The
attorney for the Independent then APP
peared before the judge of the Circuit
Court of Montgomery County the next
day and contended, which we admit was
legally correct, that the Montgomery
County grand jury, or any other grand
jury for that matter, could not report
such condemnation without an indict-
ment. The grand jury could indict for
any offenSe, but 1t Is not authorized to
report condemnation without an indict-
ment, and that portion of the report
was eliminated by the court, but
although the court did eliminate this
portion OF the report, nevertheless, 1t
was true. report and printed In three
dailies and one weekly newspaper and
In one Montgomery County paper with
the largest circulation in the county, and
it stated an admission by the editor
Of the Montgomery Independent that
he had no testimony, facts or knowledge
whatsoever upon which his charges
could be based and no foundation for
his attacks upon the Montgomery
County government.
Now this resolution is, its authors
state. entirely based ON what these
gentlemen read In the Montgomery In
dependent and, therefore, further ex-
animation of the Independent is in
order. This paper is edited by man
named Bealle, who is neither resident
nor a taxpayer Of Montgomery County.
The two men listed as his advertising
neither citizens nor taxpayers Of Mont
gomery County. No taxpayers, citizens,
residents, politicians, candidates or
lawyers of Montgomery County will
admit any connection with this paper
except their attorney, Mr.. Harold C.
Smith. who denies all connection with
the editorial policies, articles or writings
of the paper. 1t is a publication from
the outside. 1t is not Of Montgomery
County at all, but is only printed in
Rockville by group of men from the
outside.
Then, too, the financial responsibility
of the paper is part of the situation
because, II you have no financial re-
sponsibility. you can say what you
please without fear of loss through
1 SHIT No one ran take apV Of Vnllr
money If you have no money. just
as any one can say anything in this
House because of legislative immunity,
SO financial immunity Is just as good
as constitutional legislative immunity.
| A damage suit against a hankrllpt pro-