The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-06
THE GRAND JURY's REPORT.

The report OF the grand Jury OF the pa fist
of Orleans. for the term embracing De- .pber
November and December last, is very Inter
eating and instructive document anf. worth,
Of the serious attention Of our leglF ,ators ant
city authorities, and Of the public at large, al
Il contains many valuable sugf xestions In re
lation to the correction OF Great and recog
nized evils.
Some IF the suggestions, however. In th,
report are not practical under the existing
laws, az. for instance, that In reference 10 th'
employment Of the labor OF the prisoners II
the Parish Prison upon public works. Th'
only inmates of the prison who could be made
to work under present laws are those WHIT
have been convicted OF crime punishable b,
Imprisonment In the Penitentlary or parish
jail, and who have been sent I'd th,
latter place. There are only q very
few of such convicts In the prison at an,
time, and their labor would be very small
affair. The large majority OF those con
fined In the gloomy old Bastile are men ant
women who are awaiting trial for otfenses o
various kinds, and until they are found guilty
they must be regarded as innocent and can
Ia competent for the Legislature to pass Q
vsgrant law that would meet the difficulty
and hahltual drunkards who become publ,
nuisances might be punished by being com
PEELED to work. There is vast difference be
tween compelling those who have been con
victed of grave crimes TO work, and those wht
have simply been charged with crimes OIL
which they may be Innocent.
The recon mendation In regard 10 the sepa-
ration In the Boys House Of Refuge OF the
criminal and Industrial departments ID one d
which the Administrator will doubtless reeog.
nize the force, and take immediate steps t.
carry into effect. Is exceedingly improper
that innocent youths. who are inmates of tbs
Refuge simply because Of their homeless
and friendless condition. should be contami.
mated by association with criminals. It Is
very safe to assume that the bad influences
exefted upon the better class of boys will
always be more potent than the example oi
the latter upon the hardened young repro
bates who have been incareeratsd for crime
Had the grand jury done no other thing
than call the attention OF the authorities to
this matter, they would deserve the thanks
Of the community, for every boy saved from
evil associations may be o man saved from
the gallows or the penitentiary.
The City Workhcuse, which has, II appears.
been converted into nero storage ware
house for city wagons, is rather an expen-
sve luxury at a cost of over $500 per year,
but the suggestion of the grand jury, that It
be converted into grand central pound.
where all stray animals from every d strict
Of the city shall be impounded does not strike
us as wise or practicable. A poor man losing
a pig or cow In Carrollton, or near the Bar
racks. would not fancy the idea Of being COM
PEELED to Welt the very centre of the city to
regain his property. The present system Ia
much the better one but the pound laws need
~ be vigorously enforced. rigorous en-
forcement OF these laws, after fair warning.
would do much TO correct the evil com planned
Of by the grand jury. The recommendations
In regard to the safety of theatres and hotels
are excellent, and will no doubt be complied
With 50 far as II may DO possible.
The finding la The matter OF the public
squares should serve to direct the city au-
tholities TO this NEST important matter The
Old and unsightly iron ratings should be
aiken down and removed, and some effort
made to make the squares what they SHOULD
De- ornaments to the city. by planting beau
itul shade trees and ilowers, by plaoins,
and useful benches In them. and
~ keeping the walks and grass la proper
rider.
There are, we Suspect, In the neighborhood
II each square a number Of gentlemen of
lmpe means who would willingly Sontribite
sinds to emheflish It, II they could be reason
bly assured that their money would not be
nisspent and that the city would do it's share
n the matter. An attempt to effect some
hange for the better In the management of
ur public squares should Mt least be made
Or they are neither beautiful n0r useful AZ
hey are now.
The subject OF concealed weapons engaged
he attention of this grand jury, IS 1t has that
numerous preceding ones. and the sugges-
Ion that the Legislature pass an act making
he penalties more severe is worthy uf serious
Something must be done TO
reak up this Tost pernlcious practice, which
as inflicted upon this community untold
lisery and has done much to disgrace us In
ne estimation of the country. As matters
ow stand, the aaw abiding and peaceful citl-
N who walks the streets unarmed places
imself at the mercy Of every violent and
isreputable rascal, who, with smpunty CON
erts himself iato a walking arsenal ready
, do murder on the slightest provoc alton or
lncied insult. New Orleans Is not singular
! this respect, fer the pistol Is every day do
" its deadly wsrk in all parts OK the coun-
y. but each community must protect itself |
ON this destructive implement The Legis- |
tlre will not, we feel assured, fail to take |
.riy action on tho recommendation rs to the |
ioption Of measures looking to the greater |
'curty Of deppsitors In savings banks. In |
lew Of our recent experiences La this regard |
is essentially requisite that greater safe
yards should be thrown around deposits In
svings banks.
There are other suggestions worthy of |
ote which we will touch upon hereafter.
ACTS AND FIGURES AS TO TIE
CLEMENT ATTACHMENT.