1874.] OF THE SENATE. 251

Park Fund. All that was ever expected from this tax, was
that it would pay the interest on the cost of the Parks, pro-
vide a sinking fund, and a reasonable fund for maintaining
the Parks. This it now does two or three times over, but it
does so at the cost of the enterprise itself.

Your Memoralist insists that if the tax is shown to be ex-
cessive, every sound principle of political economy requires
that it should be reduced, and we earnestly beg that the
matter be favorably considered by the General Assembly of
Maryland at its present session—and that a rate be establish-
ed which will secure to the city of Baltimore a fund ample
for the maintenance of its Public Parks, and the payment of
all debt contracted for the same, without seriously crippling
the Street Railway enterprise itself, or depriving the public
of its further extension and development.

Respectfully submitted by

GEORGE P. FRICK,

President Balto. P. H. & W. Co.

Mr. Stevens presented the memorial of the yearly meeting of
the Society of Friends, held at Lombard Street, in the city of
Baltimore, asking that the "Death Penalty for Crime" may
be changed to imprisonment at labor for a term of years, or
for Life.

Which was read and referred to the Committee on Judicial
Proceedings.

Mr. Blake presented petition of the Rev. John Foley and
others, asking for aid to the House of the Good Shephard of
Baltimore city.

Which was read and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Also,

Pititions of Rachel Talbot, Mary Barry, Elizabeth
Edwards, Rachel A. Whalan and Ann Cherny, asking to be
placed on Pension Roll.

Which was read and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Brattan presented the petition of two hundred and
seventy-eight citizens of Somerset county, asking for a Local
Option Law.

Which was read and referred to the Committee on Tem-
perance.

Mr. Steiner presented the petition of Laura Virginia
Feagler and ninty others, citizens of Middletown, in Frederick
county, praying the passage of a Local Option Law, and