328 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 27,

The bill was then read the second time.

Mr. Mules, from the Committee on Corporations, to which
was referred the bill entitled, an Act to incorporate
Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 116, Ancient, Free and Accepted
Masons,

Reported it without amendment,

The bill was then read the second time.

The Clerk of the House of Delegates delivered the follow-
ing resolutions :

Whereas, It is represented to this General Assembly, that
the President and managers of the Baltimore and Frederick-
town Turnpike Company, are charging a higher rate of tolls
on their road, than by law they are authorized to do; and
that they are charging and collecting toll for travel upon
what was formerly a part of their road, but is now one of the
public streets of the city of Baltimore, by a conveyance of the
same made by said company; and have also for a long time
neglected to repair the Pratt street road, as required by
their charter; and

Whereas, It is proper that the General Assembly should
protect the public against impositinos under color of law, by
corporations of its creation : therefore,

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the
Attorney-General be, and he is hereby directed to inquire
whether the rates of toll charged by the said President and
managers of the Fredericktown Turnpike Road Company, are
higher than is warranted by law; whether they are charging
for passing over any road or way, not now by law belonging
to them; and whether the said Pratt street road has been or
is now in a condition, such as their charter requires. And if
he shall be of opinion that the charter of said company, in
any or all of these particulars, is violated, he shall publish his
written opinion to the effect in two of the newspapers of the
city of Baltimore, and shall give notice to said company of
his said opinion, and if the company shall not within a reas-
anable time after said notice to it, correct the wrong which
it shall authorize or permit, then the said Attorney-General
shall take such steps as he may deem necessary to enforce an
obedience to the laws, provided that he shall not take pro-
ceedings to forfeit its charter, unless he shall be unable other-
wise to compel said company to comply with the terms of its
charter.

Which were read the first time and referred to the Commit-
tee on Internal Improvements.

The bill entitled, an Act to compensate such members and
officers of the General Assembly of Maryland, held in the
year 1861, as had presented their claims ;