Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-05
COUNTY AFFAIRS.
The General Presensments of the
Grand Jury.

The grand jury Of the Superior Court on
Saturday closed their lsbors for this term,
and submitted their presentments, which we
give as follows, and which win be found Of
considerable interest:
The grand Jury for the December term Of
1881 having reported upon the Offices OF the
Ordinary and OF the Clerk of the Superior
Court, we have not considered it necessary
to repeat, at so cary date, the examina-
ton OF our predecessors.
We beg leave to state that the estimates
thereto appended) of the County Commits
sioners, for the expenses of the county for
he yesr 1882, amounting to $S4, $50, have
been examined, and. they are approved as
correct IN amount and as to the various oh
iects OF appropriation. Subsequent to our
inquiries on this subject, it has been ascer-
tanned that in consequence Of an increase
Of about four hundred in the number OF
colOred children in attendance on the pub
lie schools the present year, the estimate of
appropriation for the school fund must be
raised from S35, 900 to S3S 600. We there
fore recommend an increase of $1,000 to
this special appropriation.
We repeat, with strong approval, the
multiplied presentm ents Of our predecessors
as 10 the urgent need Of a new jail, and Of
better aud more complete court house ac-
dictated By the public interes'-the first by
humanity as well. We ven ure, therefore,
IN suggest that extraordinary measures
should be adopted IN such cases TO raise
the necessary means, especially IL this may
be accomplished without imposing serious
burtheus on the people. The County Com
missiOners now control a special Jail fund
amounting 10 SIS, 900. In our opinion they
should tske into consideration an issue, T.
~ bonds haead zai
sinking fund, the proceeds Of which, added
to the above mentioned fund, would be
sufficient to improve the court house and
to erect a new Jail. The present jail Is
well kept, the prisoners satisfied with their
food and treatment, the cells clean, the
premises well policed, the discipline good;
hut we present the building as decsyed,
ipconvenient. badly planned, made quate
and unsuited to it's purposes. Its cells are
low, narrow and badly COMMUNICATIONS
teen Of them wholly without light and ven
tIlation, and are unfit for the confinement
Of even the worst class OF felODs.
Examination of the books aud vouchers
OF the County Treasurer showed the az
counts Of that officer to be correct and prop
erlv balanced, but we respectfully suggest:
First. That all drafts on the County
Treasurer should not only state 10 whom
they are to be paid, but the SERVES per
formed.
Second. That no money be paid by the
County Treasurer except upon the receipt
OF warrant or of order properly signed
Third. That all money received by the
County Treasurer should in every instance
be deposited in bank, and that ali payments
shall be made by check. With the consent
OF the County Commissioners, a stamp has
been ordered for the future cancellation of
the vouchers Of this Office.
Tho Rannfver ~ T-X Raff1rnc Tc
gagged In making up the tax digest required
BY law, to be really by August LIST. An
examination OF his office at this time would
seem to be premature, and is therefore re-
ferred to the attention Of our successors.
The registration OF voters is satisfactorily
conducted by Mr.. William Harden, who re-
quires exhibition of the poll tax receipts Of
the applicants before entering their names
on the register.
We present the present method of exam
lining the Magistrates books by committees
from the grand juries, as being impractical
aud valueless. Such committees are neces.
sarily composed Of uuprofessional citizens,
not familiar, or wholly unacQuainted
with technicalities, with the forms
OF law, and the fees allowed by law. Such
duties should be assigned to examiners.
with competent knowledge OF the practice
Of the Magistrates courts, of the law itself,
and Of its special purposes in such cases.
We repeat the presentment Of our prede-
cessOrs as 20 the csuseway through Hugue-
Minis swamp, adding that no attention has
been paid 10 this presentment, and that the
caUseway IS now in worse condition than f.
was year ago. It's bad condition is caused
BY the cutting away OF a large portion
of the bank on the south side OF the rosd
to let the water pass into the neighboring
rice fields. thus f)oding the roadway and
foatirg off the road bed. Such violations Of
a public highway should not occur, and one
or more trunks Of sufficient capacity should
be laid thrru.h the cause to prevent
'u'ure washes. and 10 forb Z any parties
claiming water way through re causeway
any excuse for cutting or In al manner i'm
pairing the public use of the same.
Respectfully submitting this report, we
add cur grateful appreciation OF the UNI
form kind consideration of His Honor. of
the JUDGES who have temporarily occupied
the bench in his absence, and OF the Solicit
tor General.