Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-06
The Gran, ID Jury and CIV mo..,.

The Grand Jury aad City MoyaI..
The Criminal Court Grand Jury pre-
Sented a report yesterday afternoon
which viii commend itself to the CITY
authorities and furnish food for reaeo.
ton, The following on city morals is
worth reading;
We believe a great expense can 10
saved by enactng a law, giving Mayors
and Recorders OF cities and towns ex.
elusive original jurisdl ciion in all mis-.
aemeanor cases under tReufy-fye dol
lars, made violations Of town and eitv
ordinances, with power and authority 10
commit offenders forthwith 20 a house Of
correction or work-house, refusing TO
send their cases bafore an APPELLATE eonrt
unless good and sufficient bonds for costs
are given on the appeal from the deeis.
ion. Such a Law, We are informed was
passed during the last session OF the
Legislature, and failed for want of time
to receive the approval Of the Governor.
We earnestly call on those who will
represent US ia the next Legislature TO
aid and assist in the passage of such a
law that will bring more speedy ~iustice
to the offender, and greatly relieve The
Taxpayer. When that is done. our
Criminal Courtroom will be relieved of
many of the hangers on" and many of
the men and women can be spared for
the productive industries, whose pres.
ence is nov always at court W.
have had to deal with material spirits1
and spirits materialized," but the for
mer have proven to DO far more danger.
Gus to the peace and quiet of our CITY.
1t is notorious that saloons throughout
the city, with few exceptions, keep open
doors on Sundays, but we have to report
that upon the closest investigation, we
found very few persons who ever smile
on that day. We have found many dens of
infamy and vice in different parts of our
city-a disgrace to our city, and TO
humanity-and they should be broken
up at whatever cost. They are fire.
quented by the lowest characters. are,
the resorts for vile men and women who
congregate there, and daily furnish VIC
TINS for our jail, that justice would de.
mand oftener for the gallows. We be-
lieve that Memphis has more than her
share of gambling bells. Men will gam.
BILE, they will seek ventures and hazards,
aud, as other violators Of the law, should
be made to feel its severity. Ii seems
almost impossible TO control this growing
evil that almost defes the law. We wish
to call attention to two games called
keno" ard policy" which are drawing
into their vortex the youth and ignorant
portion Of our population, who are daily
spending their small earnings, and often
the money of their employers. We have
heard of many colored people who are
actually starving their families in patro-
nizing the game of policy" il we
have not legislation enough to cure this
evil, we respectfully pray for more and
better. On many delicate subjects we
have had to deal; we have tried to
consider them OIL the broad principles
OF humanity, and when possible clothe
them with the mantle OF charity. The
social evil" is a problem that better
and wiser men than we have tried to
solve, lessen and restrain. No class of
people are more prosecuted than those
poor, frail women, who are oftener more
sinned against than shining. He that
is without sin among you, let him first
cast q stone at her" Would it not be
best to make a virtue of the necessity,
pass wholesome aud proper laws for their
government, conine them to streets less
%frequented, remove them from the hear
Of cur city, and if they will continue to
sin, let them pay tribute for the privilege2
The women of the town should not be
permitted to parade their shame on our
th%oroughfars, by night or day, in sight
of our wives and daughters.