Baltimore Evening Sun (5 January 1912): 6.

Extract from Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche’s “Also sprach Zarathustra,” done into the vulgate:

Mahan is something to be surpassed. Mahon is not a goal, but a bridge. Beyond Mahon lies the super-Mahon.

From an official statement in the super-Mahonic organ:

Mayor Preston has been engaged for the past week in making up the list of health wardens.

From Article 4, Sections 77 and 78 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland:

The Commissioner of Health shall annually appoint a vaccine physician for every ward of the city of Baltimore. * * * Each of the said vaccine physicians shall act as health warden of his respective ward.

The charter says the Commissioner of Health shall appoint; the super-Mahonic organ says the super-Mahon will appoint. My spies bring me news that the betting in the kaifs is 20 to 1 on the super-Mahon.

Question respectfully addressed to the Hon. Jake Hook, the prudent, the skittish:

If the merit system would force you to employ niggero clerks and bailiffs, how is it that it has not forced niggeroes into the Police and Fire Departments?

Seven cheap but savory cigars to the Hon. Henry A. McMains for evidence leading to the detection of any undoubted M. D. who belongs to the League for Medical “Freedom,” Maryland branch.

Stupidities so far overlooked by the intellectual giants of the City Council:

An ordinance appropriating $800,000 to cut Courtland street through the new Courthouse. An ordinance appropriating $3,000,000 for the construction of a tunnel undrt Spring Gardens, connecting the Ferry Bar saloons with the Brooklyn poolrooms. A resolution thanking the Health Department for reducing the death rate from 19.2 to 17.41. An ordinance appropriating $50,000 for the erection of a bronze effigy of the Hon. John J. Mahon in Mount Vernon Place. An ordinance appropriating $1,000,000 for straightening the drive around the Druid Hill Park reservoir.

The betting odds in the downtown pothouses, as reported by my alert todsaeufer:

500 to 1 that them Legislaturemen won’t never pass no new charter put up by no bum boomers. 200 to 1 that them city delegates all keep on eatin’ outen Harry Preston’s hand.

The latest masterpiece from the journalistic massage parlor:

A recent investigation into the activities of Mr. Lucas has revealed that he is very active.

The history to date of the suits for the recovery of fees illegally gobbled by former Sheriffs of Baltimore, being a little study in the humors of Maryland justice:

1909. January 20—State Auditor George N. Ash reports to Governor Crothers that the Sherriff of Baltimore city, in 1907, collected and retained fees amounting to $10,275 more than his constitutional allowance of $3,000.

January 21—Governor Crothers announces that he will institute suit for the recovery of the money. April 15—Auditor Ash announces that the State has lost $46,755 by such illegal gobblings in Baltimore in five years.

April 16—Attorney-General Straus announces that suits will be entered against former Sheriff George W. Warfield for $5,518.79; against former Sheriff William H. Green. for $20,170.38, and against former Sheriff George W. Padgett, for $18, 704.47.

June 2—Attorney-General Straus files the three suits.

June 29—The three defendants file a demand for a bill of particulars—i. e., for an itemized account.

July 14—Mr. Straus files his answer, refusing to render such an account.

July 29—The three defendants enter exceptions to the answer.

August 18—Mr. Straus files a suit against Sheriff Robert J. Padgett, a cousin of ex-Sheriff George W., for $10,206.63.

August 20—Bob demands a bill of particulars.

August 30—Mr. Straus answers.

September 29—Bob jolts Cousin George, Warfield and Green in entering exceptions to answer.

September30—Judge Elliott takes the exceptions under advisement.

December 31—Judge Elliott still considering them.

1910. January 1—No decision yet. Interest on disputed money at 5 per cent has amounted to $1,350 so far.

April 16—First anniversary of suits. Interest amounts to $2,250.

July 29—First anniversary of exceptions. Judge still considering. Interest crawling toward $3,000.

November 28—Judge Elliott, after 14 months’ meditation, decides that State need not file bills of particulars. Interest passes $3,000 mark.

December 6—Court passes order allowing amendment of declaration. Trial postponed.

December 31-Nothing doing.

1911. February 14—Mr. Straus makes motion for judgments by default in all four cases, alleging obfuscations and illegal delays.

March 9—Court refuses motion in cases of Warfield, Green and George. Grants it in case of Bob, save in respect to one count. But Bob keeps the money. March 11—Warfield appeals from decision of Elliott. J., sustaining the State’s answer to the demand for a bill of particulars. Action on all four cases held up pending the decision of the Court of Appeals.

June 2—Second anniversary of the first three suits. Interest passes $4,000 mark. Defendants still hang onto the money.

August 18—Second anniversary of Bob’s suit.

September 1—Court of Appeals considering Warfield’s test appeal.

October 1—No decision yet. Interest crosses $5,000 mark.

November 1—No decision yet.

December 1—No decision yet.

December 13—Court of Appeals decides against Warfield. Way now open for actual trial of all cases.

December 19—Mr. Straus retires. New Attorney-General, Edger Allan Poe by name, announces that he will press the cases.

December 20—Mr. Poe takes office. Nothing doing. Interest about $6,000 by now. Four defendants still keep the money.

December 31—Nothing doing. Four defendants now owe the State nearly $60,000.

1912. January 1—Celebration of New Year. Discovered that another former Sheriff, John J. Hanson, owes the state $8,090.16.

January 2—Talk of suing John for it. Total loss to State now nearly $70,000. Interest mounting up at the rate of $3,500 a year, $300 a mouth, $10 a day. Nothing doing.

An affecting chronicle, to be sure! Here we are, at the end of the third year of the proceedings, and yet not a single case has even come to trial. All the ga—{?} jousting since June 2, 1910, has been over preliminary technicalities. Even if the cases are tried this year and the verdicts are against the ex-Sheriffs, there is no assurance whatever that the money will be paid. Infinite opportunities for postponement and delay will still loom ahead.

No wonder the people grow impatient and suspicious of courts! No wonder it is easy for rabble-rousers to inflame them with enthusiasm for the recall of judges, . No wonder the idea takes root that no man with money need give a hoot for the law.