224 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 5

which the victory generally goes to the longest purse
and the most unscrupulous law breaker. At present
the condition of the laws and the apathy of the public
conscience make it possible for this body to bring the
offenders to justice, though we all know that this
crime is constantly increasing,'and that the moral tone
of our community is being steadily degraded by the
sight of the violations not only going free from punish-
ment, but being rewarded by political preferment.

The Jury therefore most earnestly and respectfully
demand from the Talbot county members of the Legis-
lature, about to convene, that they make every possible
effort to obtain passage of a law which by punishing
with sufficient severity the man who buys a vote, and
allowing the seller to give testimony without crimina-
ting himself will make possible some improvement in
the present disgraceful conditions, before the young
men becoming voters forget that, vote-buying is a
crime.

Having finished our deliberations, we respectfully
ask to be discharged.

Respectfully,

PRESTON B. SPRING,

Foreman.

STATE OF MARYLAND,

Talbot County, Sct.:

1 hereby certify, that the aforegoing is a true and
correct copy of the report of Grand Jury at the No-
vember term, 1903, of the Circuit Court for Talbot
county, now on file among the proceedings of said
court.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name
and the seal of the Circuit Court for Talbot county,
affixed at Easton, on this 4th day of January, 1904.

F. G. WRIGHTSON,
Clerk of the Circuit Court for Talbot county.

Which was read and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.