The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-03-03
GRAND JURY REPORT.

Judicial District, in and for the County of
BOISE and Territory Of Idaho:
The Grand Jury, empannelled for the Feb
ruary Term of the District Court in aud for
the County of Boise, having concluded it's la
bors and Investigations, respectfully beg to
submit the following Report -
!, We have found and presented tosthe, Court
the following bills, to-wit:
For murder in the first degree; one assault
with intent to kill, one; enbezzlement, FIVE !;
Total sevens ~. -. .f@
We have devoted large proportion of our
time to the investigation of the affairs of the
County to its financial condition, and to the
conduct of its officers, wilhelm discharge of
their duties. Ia our efforts to arrive at the
true condition of County matters, we have
taken general retrospective view Of its af-
fairs. We have found that the expenses Of
the County government the maintuinanee of
its Hospital and Jail, and the large quantity
of criminal business have entailed upon the
County an, enormous debt. amounting in the
aggregate to near $10O3000.an bearing in
terest at the rate of ten per cent. per annum
We find the credit of the County to be utter
ruined ;itscertifcates OF Indebtedness scarce
y worth the paper upon WHICH they are writ
ten an empty treasury !; no real or personal
property with the exception of the Jail and
Hospital to guarantee the payment Of its
debt. 4e rE2a en
We fad, tkat from, the taxes on real and
personal property levied for the last fiscal
year, but about fifty 1.-TWO per cent. have been
siea na aanta3
We have found that from voting popula-
ton exceeding 1000 in the County, only 2l45t
Poll and Hospital Taxes, have been collected,
IN which connection however it IS but JUS
tice 10 say. thatlthe last annual collection has
exceeded that of any previous year.
We have found that some of the County
officers, elected to Offices of honor and trust,
have betrayed the confidence reposed in them
by the people, and have converted the funds
of the County to their. own personal gain,
and to the Advancement of their individual
interests. h
We have examined with more than ordi-
nary patience and scrutiny the official careers.
of the Treasures of this County. +
From Information before s,lwe haEer
son to believe, that other parties have been
accessories, and have shared with them in
the plumber Of. the public funds. We con-
fess however, that the evidence before us has
not established sufficient facts to warrant a
conyiction. We have been unable TO ascer-
tain;Sfor what particular purposethe abstract
ed funds ofthe County have been used.
On examination. we have found. that the
books of The various County officers are kept
10 a systematic order, and that their various
accounts are in the main correct. 4 !
We do not belieyeit to be our province to
report to the Court some miner derelictions
On the part Of some of the officers Of this
County. These derelictions have sometimes
been unintentional.
But we cannot omit thegopportunity to adj
nonish all, officers in this County to oon6ne
themselves strictly to the letter ofthe law.
The origin of much of the present embar- |
easements OF the County may be traced to- too
LIBERAL u construction or Interpretation ofthe
aw, besides establishing dangerous prece-
Tents. The District Attorney is the legal
idSiserrofthe County. All Questions as to
he intent of. the law shonld be- referred to
lis advice and decision. EZ
! We would.recommeni to the Hon. Board |
If County Commissioners, at all times to
;crutenize the actions Of the various persons
with County affairs; any unlawful |
,r illegal acts on their part should be imme-
lately reported and brought to light.
We would suggest that special care be
aiken to increase the revenue ofstheGounty
y enforcing the payment of Poll Taxes and
'axes on Personal Pro perty. We have evil
ence, that the law requiring the Fax Col
ector to aecompany the Assessor IN his cir
uit through. the countyf has heretofore mol
een strictly complied with. Much revenue
las thus been lost to the County. none
hould re permitted to escape from paving
lis share towards the support of the County
nd Territorial Governmeht We find thai
be school system organized by the County
of Public Instruction, is
working well and that the schools are in
,ood condition. We beg to lay before you
ONE extracts from4a report made by him, to
his body:
The County Treasurer has failed to- set
be- County. Treasury, for school purposes, as
equired by law
No revenue has been derived. from the
Ak imposed by the Legislature of l864rpon
be gross proceeds of all. toll roads, bridges,
erries, &c.
1.-The only revenue accruedto the school
ind, since the apportionment made by ne
has been from fines andAfor-
eitures."
We.wonld suggest that steps be taken by
he properFofieers to enforce the payment Of
hese taxes upon the groes proceeds Of. all l
oil roads, bridges, &C. % M ST
The Officers of the law, whose duty tits to
impose and coAeet fnes, should always bear
n mind the purposes to which the same are
0 be devoted and should promptly payl
hem over, as the education of the young is
matter ofSvital Importance to all ~ai
We have. examined iRto, the conditionsofll