202 JOURNAL OF PrOCEEDINGS [Feb. 12,

Mr. Browne presented a petition from citizens of the fifth
election district of Carroll county, asking for the appoint-
ment of an additional Constable in said .district.

Which was referred to the Senators from Carroll, Cecil
and Harford.

Mr. Snyder presented a memorial from the Board of Trade
of the city of Baltimore against the removal of the State To-
bacco Warehouses.

Which was referred to a joint and select committee already
appointed.

On motion by Mr. Clarke,

Leave was granted to the Committee on Finance to intro-
duce a bill to allow Wm. Button, Collector of State and
County Taxes, further time to complete his collections.

Mr. Kimmel presented the following communication :

WHEREAS, during the session of the General Assembly of
1867, and since its adjournment, charges of corruption against
some of its members, in connection with the defeat of the
bill known as the Baltimore Municipal Bill, have been
circulated so generally as to have induced an almost un i-
versal belief in the truth of them ;

AND WHEREAS, during the late canvass these charges were
so broadly insinuated against a gentleman who is now a
member of this body, as to have elicited from him an explicit
denial of them;

AND WHEREAS, the mere fact that these charges are per-
sistently reiterated by responsible persons, who insist that
the evidence of their truth, is available and incontrovertible,
impairs the credit of the General Assembly, and more par-
ticularly of the Senate;

AND WHEREAS, a decent respect for public opinion demands
that if these charges are founded in truth, the dignity and
honor of the Senate should be vindicated by a thorough ex-
position of all the facts in connection therewith, so that the
guilt may attach where it properly belongs ; and if they are
not founded in truth, then by an authoritative refutation of
them issued by the Senate ; therefore, be it

Ordered, That a committee of five be appointed by the
President, with power to send for persons and papers, to
investigate charges of corruption in connection with the de-
feat of the bill known as the Baltimore Municipal Bill, at
the January session of the General Assembly, 1867, made
against a member of that Assembly, then and now a
member of the Senate, and that said committee is hereby di-
rected to report all the facts in connection therewith at an
early day.

Which was read.