The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-12-13
GRAND JURY PREsBNTMENTS
Second Week. November Term, Cobb
Superior Court.

Second Week. November Term, Cobb
Superior Court.
MARIETTA, December q, 1853,
The Grand Jury for the second week OF
Cobb Superior Court, November term, 1888, in
closing their labors, make the following gener
al presentments
Referring to the action Of the Grand Jury for
the first week we would state that with one or
two exceptions we have directed our lab0rs to
matters not embraced in their report. Such
examination as opportunity has permitted us to
make of the offices and books OF the Ordinary,
Sheriff, Clerk of the Superior Court Treasur
err and Tax Collector, aud of the public build
ings and Aims House, though not carried as far
as we could have wished, ii Tina had allowed,
was efficiently thorough to enableu us to endorse
what wss said, after fuller investigation, by
our predecessors.
Among the topics of prime Importance which
have engaged our attention is
THE COUNTY DEBT.
The Clerk of the Commissioners of Roads
and Revenues has laid before us the following
statement of the financial condition OF the coun-
ty' The precise data cannot be arrived at at
this period OF the year, but the statement may
be- received as substantially correct.
RESOURCES:
Tax collected and in process of ,Ol-
lection ABOUT ---..Sl4,UUU
From which il to be deducted com
missions, insolvent errors, &c. 1000
$4,000
INDEBTEDNESS
County Bonds. ---.,----. ----------$l, oOO
County floating, passed up since the
commencement Of collecting tax
about, l,oOU
Then the expenses Of the present term
of Court, say twenty DAYS and it
will average 800 per day, 1000
$1,000
Then few accounts for coal printing
and aims house not passed ON by
Commissioners yet about. 400
S., 400
Will leave about .--.$6 Sc, 600
to run the county on for arother year
H. M. HAMMETT, Clerk,
Com. r d r.
This will be gratifying exhibit to the peo-
Pile of the county. Indeed the county is now
practically out of debt and another year we
ought to be able to materially reduce the rate
of taxation, and thus to tighten the burthens of
the people. With the public debt fully dis
charged, with ample aud commodiOus public
buildings all paid for. and merely nominal
tax in the future, with capable and faithful OH
GERS in charge wi h Just and equal laws and an
upright and fearless court to administer them
we see no reason why, with our generous soil
and unsurpassed climate, the people OF Cobb
county may not look forward to season OF
happiness and material prosperity such as they
have not experienced for many years.
DOGS AND SHEEP.
A former Grand Jury recommended the pas
sage of local act by the Legislature to su-
thorize the appointment of Commissioners OF
Roads and Revenues for the county. The act
was passed. and the county Is now enjoying the
benefits of the law. The same grand jury
general law to impose a tax on all dealers IN
pistols, bowie knives, dirks and other deadly
weapons This act, after much delay, has also
been passed and to the last Legislature is due
the credit for the same Encouraged by the
success attending these efforts, we would renew
the recommendation BY the same Grand Jury
that tax be levied upon the dogs in the State
The new Constitution makes special provision
for such tax and devotes the revenue mus
raised to the vital cause of educating the chill
dren of the State. All other property, WIN
scarcely an exception, is required to bear lts
due share of taxation, aud we fail to see why
dogs should be exempt Why not take the tax
off the sheep, which is producer, and place II
uDon the dog which is only consumer II
| i estimated that there are between two and
| three hundred thousand dogs i'll Georgia, and
that they annually destroy property worth
| $50, 900, or enough to pay all The expenses OF
| both houses of the General Assembly In the
PRESENT condition of society, the dog is not
without his uses, and it is not proposed to
destroy him-only to reduce his numbers, and
to tax him as other domestic animals are taxed.
1t is hoped that the Legislature, therefore VIII
yet be found equal to the duty OF adopting the
| necessary measures to this end, and that the
dog may be made to contribute his part. along
education OF his owners children What with
the food that is given them, and the number OF
sheep and hogs they destroy, it may be safely
estimated that the dogs in Georgia annually
consume enough to feed fifty thousand labor
| ers.
CONvICTs.
There is another evil to which we would
| briefly call attention. As the law now stands
criminals convicted of certain msdemesnors,
are allowed to work out the fines imposed upon
them, by entering the service of employers who
will undertake the payment OF The same. A
number of these couvics have been brought
| into this county from distance and put to
farm work here The presence of these crlml-
nails has created considerable unessiness in the
vicinity where they are employed. Some Of
| them have returned to their evil courses, and
now stand indicted before this court and one
We believe has been convicted at the present
| term and sentenced TO the rententlary. Wesuo
nit that the law should be amended, and that
| this class of convicts should be permitted tc
| work out their fines if at all, only in the coun
ties where their trial is had, and where they
are known and the people can guard against
| their depredations We protest against then
| importation and employment in this county es,
pecialy unless they are confined at night and
| on SUNDAYS The fresh crimes they may com
| ,ba ,,,oat Sorinua IF tho