The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-01-30
REPORT on THE GRAND JURY.
DALLAS, January 2s, 1875.

HEIUNI w Inn uhhNU JNhts
DALLAS, January 2s, 1879.
No the Hon. silas Hare, Judge OF the urlm-
inal District Court OF Dallas CITY, presiding
within and for Dallas counlyi
The grand Jury empannelled ut the
present term OF your honorable court,
ut the conclusion of their labors, re-
spectfully present this, their report, and
ask that the same be placed upon the
minutes of the court, and published for
the general information OF the county.
While we understand that our inqnl-
rles could be limited 10 the investiga-
ton of violations Of the law, we have
deemed II expedent TO 20 further and
examine the condition of the county
generally, Its revenues, the resources
from which they are derived, the man
ner and promptness In collecting, the
channels through which they are dis
tributed, and the economy used In
their distribution.
The public buildings have received
our attention, and the conduct and eff
ticiency of our officers, both county and
municipal, have been thoroughly and
closely investigated and we must here
express our pleasure and satisfaction at
the prosperity and general government
of the county. Our jails, city and coun-
ty, as to their condition and the cOndi-
ton of those confined therein, have
been diligently inquired into, and we
commend the officers In charge for the
neat and orderly manner IN which they
are kept, and from the prisoners we
learn only of kind and humane treat
ment. But, rs has been suggested by
former grand juries, our county Jail far
from meets the requirements of the
county. Three rooms only are used for
the confinement of prisoners, and here
from forty to fifty men, black and
white, of oil ages, and for all crimes,
are huddled together from term to term
of your court. The law recognizes
distinction between offenders, reg.
lating that distinction by the
grade of the offense and we think this
distinction should be drawn even be
fore conviction yet In the Dallas
county jail the prisoner inoarcerated
for o simple assault, and the prisoner
who has been committed for murder,
make down their pallets together The
Jail has always been thought to have
been insecure, and with the number of
prisoners constantly confined in itnoy,
there is no doubt of that fact. A strong
guard is required at all times to pre-
vent escapes, and the expense of this
guard, with the food, clothes, etc, fur
nished the prisoners, entails an ex-
pense upon the county of not less than
one hundred dollars per day. While
this enormous expense must enlist the
attention and astonish the taxpayers
0fthe county, as II has us, and cause
them to cast about for means to relieve
themselves of this burden, we, in con-
templating our Indebtedness, can see
no escape from it except by the legisla-
ture OF the state creating the county OF
Dallas district within itself.
We fluid from an examination of the
tax rolls that there is due the county
and state for the years 1871, 1872, 1878
and 1874 BY the delinquent taxpayers
of the county, the sum of sixty thou
sand dollars, about twenty-seven thou
sand dollars of which is due the coun-
ty. The confusion aud insufliciency OF
the present tax laws has rendere the
collection Of these taxes extremely
sheriff immediate activity in their col
lection, and that the law regulating
the collection of special taxes should
he literally followed and complied
with. We would suggest tothe county
court that when scrip is issued in pay
ment for work done ON the roads, said
scrip should express upon its face that
1t is drawn on the road fund, and that
this rule should be strictly followed In
all drafts on any special fund. The
Justices of the peace throughout the
county have II In their power To re-
lieve the grand jury from much of the
work that now comes before 1t. Al
petty cases In which they have concur
rent jurisdiction with the district cour
should be tried and finally disposed o
by them.
We have examined the conduct anc
efficiency Of our officers, and taxi
pleasure In expressing our satisfaction
with them. Their books and offices
are well and neatly kept, and but littl,
complaint has come before us of theii
conduct In the discharge of their Off
cial duties. We can point, though, {,
the manner in which some of the laws
VI thS CftJ dic thlbfttu. lHt DiitHttti'
against the ordinances prohibiting
gambling and public prostitution ar,
arraigned before the city court about
once month, nominal fine and til,
costs imposed, and they are turnec
loose upon the community to ply theil
nefarisus trades for, perhaps, a month
longer. This appears to us to amoun
In effect to license.
Our county is rapidly growing II
wealth and population, and the gener
al prosperity ELECTS the surprise of thu
whole country. We congratulate our
selves that those who are making thei
homes among US belong to an homes
and industrious class. and weshouldby
every means encourage their industry
commend their honesty and protect
them In their efforts to make good
citizens. Our future we feel to he great,
and by proper aud strict enforcement