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quested to act as assistant secretary in the absence of
that officer.
The roll was called and a quorum found to be present.
Mr. Gill submitted an order that hereafter it shall not
be compent to go into committee of the whole unless by
a majority vote, and that the rules be changed accord-
ingly, which was laid over until tomorrow.
The unfinished business, being the report of the com-
mittee on the judiciary, was then taken up, the pending
question being on the motion of Mr. Archer to strike out
the twentieth section.
On motion of Mr. Watkins, of Montgomery, the Con-
vention then resolved itself into committee of the whole
for the consideration of the above motion.
Mr. Hayden, of Carroll county, being entitled to the
floor, concluded his argument in favor of the three-judge
system.
Mr. Gill said under the present constitution all State
officers were required to return all the fees of their office
exceeding $3, 000 per annum, but this constitutional pro-
vision was evaded to a great extent. He thought that a
proper officer should be appointed to look into this matter
and that the amount saved thereby would be sufficient to
pay the expense of any judiciary system without adding
to the taxation. A crier of one of the courts in Baltimore
city, whose emoluments probably exceeded three times
the limit prescribed, made no returns whatever to the
Comptroller. He would read from a paper just sent to
him by the Comptroller, showing that the following offi-
cers only have been making semi-annual returns to the
Comptroller of "fees and emoluments, " viz:
State's Attorney for Baltimore city; State's Attorney
for Baltimore county; Register of Wills for Baltimore
city; Registers of Wills for all the counties; Clerk of the
Criminal Court for Baltimore city; Clerk of the Court of
Common Pleas for Baltimore city; Clerk of the Superior
Court for Baltimore city; Clerk of the Circuit Court for
Baltimore city; Clerks of the Circuit Courts for all the
counties; Flour Inspector of Baltimore city.
Gross amount received into the treasury from fees and
332
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