1874.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 241

ford, Edward Marriott, James Drury, of Plummer, and heirs
of Thomas G. Hardesty;

Which was read a first time.

Mr. Pruitt, from the Select Committee, to whom was re-
ferred the bill entitled an Act to repeal section 1 of an Act
passed at the January session, 1872, chapter 131, entitled
an Act for the better protection, of oysters, clams, terrapins
and fish, in the Synepuxent Bay and its tributaries, in Wor-
cester county, and to re-enact the same with amendments,

Reported the same without amendments.

The Secretary of the Senate delivered the following mes-
sage :

BY THE SENATE,

January 22nd, 1874.
Gentlemen of the House of Delegates:

We have received your message proposing to increase the
Joint Committee to visit the Deaf and Dumb Institute at
Frederick city, one on the part of the Senate and two on the
part of the House, and concur therein.

We have appointed on the part of the Senate, Mr. Brat-
tan.

By order,

AUGUSTUS GASSAWAY,

Secretary.
Which was read.

Mr. Keech, from the Committee on the Judiciary, sub-
mitted the following

MAJORITY REPORT.
In the Matter of the Memorial in the case of Joseph W. Davis.

It is the opinion of a majority of the Committee on the
Judiciary, that the Legislature has no right to suspend the
execution of the sentence of the Court in the case of the State
vs. Joseph W. Davis, convicted of the murder of Abraham
Lynn, and sentenced to be hung in Carroll county, on Fri-
day next.

The Committee make this Report now, as the time for the
execution of the prisoner is so rapidly approaching. At some
future time during this session of the Legislature, the Com-
mittee will give the reasons upon which their opinion is based.
The Committee deem this proper on account of the import-
ance of the constitutional questions involved in this case.

W. S. KEECH.

Which was read.