80 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Jan. 21,

Mr. Hepbron from the Joint Committee appointed under
Art. 3, Section 24, of the Constitution, submitted the follow-
ing:
To the Honorable,

The Senate and House of Delegates, of Maryland.

The undersigned, the Joint Committee of the Senate and
House of Delegates, appointed under and by virtue of Article
3, Sec. 24, of the Constitution, and to whom was referred
the following order adopted in the House of Delegates, Jan'y
18th, to wit:

"WHEREAS, Charges have been heretofore made by the Re-
publican Press of the State, that the officials of the State,
having in charge the public monies in the State, had abased
their trust for purposes of private gain.

"Therefore, ordered, That the Joint Standing Committee of
the Senate and House of Delegates, appointed under Article
3, Sec. 24, of the Constitution, be and they are hereby,
required to examine into the affairs of the Treasury Depart-
ment, and ascertain whether any officers thereof have, at any
time, since 1865, loaned or deposited any of the money of the
State for any consideration whatever, and if for any consid-
eration, what such consideration was, and with and by whom
made, aud whether the same has been paid, and by and to-
whom.

"And be it further ordered, That said Committee also in-
quire whether the charges made in the Republican Press du-
ring the past campaign, that a public officer of this State
attempted heretofore to procure the passage of a law to pro-
vide a pension for a man from Somerset county, who was not
entitled thereto, is true or false.

"And be it further ordered, That they shall also examine
into, and fully and searchingly inquire into the accounts and
disbursements of the Treasury Department, and the various
departments and officers doing business therewith, and as-
certain whether the expenditures and disbursements of said
officers and departments have been made in conformity with
law."

And the following message adopted in the House of Dele-
gates Jan'y 19th, to wit :

BY THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES,

January 19th, 1876.
Gentlemen of the Senate:

This House has referred to the Joint Standing Committee
under Section 24, Article 3, of the Constitution, the inquiry