Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-03-24
Grand Jury Report.


Your Grand Jury met as per order of the
Court.
We had number of cases presented to us,
but after giving them thorough examina-
ton, we could not find a sufficient founda-
ton for an Indictment, and therefore have
nothing to present to this Court.
We have visited the Jail and court house,
and we cannot refrain from reporting that
both look more like Chinese rookeries than
buildings used for the administration of JUS
tice. The court house situated upon a little
back alley, fronting the rear portion of
grocer's store; q place entirely unfit. EX-
posed to fire, uncomfortable, announcement
and building the citizens should be asham-
ed of. In this connection we might say that
have recently paid one thousand dollars for
the lot upon which the court house stands.
This, in our judgment, was entirely too
much, considering that land in the same
block has sold for at, or about the same
time, and more eligbly situated.
We find the records of the county and the
courts so exposed that i'll case of afre of any
Importance, they, or a portion, would GER
tainly be destroyed.
We would recommend that the Commits
sioners sell the lots and the old buildings
now in use, and purchase an acre or more of
land in a portion of the city where we can
have grounds and buildings suitable for the
purpose.
The Jail we find in rs good condition the
building will admit. We think, however,
that better beds should be provided.
We counted the money in possession OF
the County Treasurer and find the amount
to correspond with the Auditors books The
amount in the Treasurer's hands is 81 10 3S
Tho delinquent list for 1880 is &c. 957 50, the
major portion of which will probably be col
lected. Prior to this time there was abou
len Thousand dollars delinquent. Taking
the money in the Treasury and the deiin
|'quint tax list in the aggregate makes sd,
40 80, as against this we find the county
owing about $4,000. This, we think, is
very cheerful outlook for our county finan
ces, and we have no doubt but that it will
be but short time until we will be out 0
debt.
We cannot help but congratulate the PEG
pie upon the efficient manner in which on
District Attorney is conducting the bushes
of collecting delinquent taxes, His collec
tons have been far greater than has bee
before in the same length of time.
| All our county officers appear to conduc
the business of their several offices with in
tegrity, and We believe are faithful to the in
terest of the people.
We feel that it is our duty to make mer
: tlon of our Baliff, and in testimony of on
esteem we hereby return vote of thank
for his unremttiug attention during tn
time we have been in session.
We would especially recommend to til
County Commissioners that they appoint
, competent expert, one who is sufficient
versed in the law to intelligently exami,
the books of the different county officers an
report thereon to them. That the expe
CA"iiiihC tue poohs CoHluietiCinS where u
i last experts work ceased, and continue it l
to the present time.
We recommend this, not that we ha'
found any wrong committed, but that Il
: citizens Of the county may know and be sa
t isefid that the affairs are correctly admin
e tered. One examination of the county of
e GERS books has been partial, and we feel tn
5 under the circumstances that 1T will be il
l. possible to give it the time it would nee,
sarily require to make it thorough.
n In our examination of the District Att,
n ney we found that he has expended abo
n $40 in informing delinquent Taxpayers, a
q has performed a very considerable amount
IL labor outside of what is required of him
n law, but which was great saving, besit
an accommodation to the people
o. Therefore we would recon mend that I
!, County Commissioners allow him a reason
> BILE reccompence for such services aud outli
A vote of thanks was rendered our Fo
o, man and Secretary for the efficient man,
RI in which they performed the duties of tn
r.. position. WIN. EWING,
Forman Grand Jury.
,e Gro. LANGpoN, Sec
us Lewiston, |. T., March 10. 1881.