Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-18
THE GRAND JURY REPORT
GENERAL PREsENTMENT FOR
THE JUNE TERM.

Recommending the Consolidation Of the
City and Superior Courts-The Man
agement of the County Ofices-An-
other side of the Jail Questionable
Jury Concurs with the County Com
missioners in their views-The Condi-
ton of the county's Roads.
The grand jury Of the Superior Court
for the June term submitted its general
presentment yesterday as follows:
We. the grand jurors chosen and sworn for
/ the June term OF the superior 1O1rt o.
i Chatham county, respectfully IepIesSsht tn s
4 we have carefully examined the BOOKS OF the
/ county Officers. a. charged uE the court anu
/ ind them correctly and neatly kept. Inc
/ amount in the hands OF the treasurer OF the
/ county which as shown By his books. was on
4 Nav 81 sls.964 ~. we found safely deposited
1 in bank and properly accounted for. HIS
i vouchers and receipts were ali IN order, ana
the duties Of his Office heye been faithfully ana
/ honestly performed. We commend the lLn-
i provements made By our present Clerk OF the
| Superior Court. which greatly increase the
| faculties Of those having occasion to consult
I the records OF his Office. The valuable recorus
/ are put ia better shape for presentation, ana
/ the current books and papers are VIII KEPT
and Systematically arranged for easy ana
/ convenient reference. Inc DOCKS OF the
/ County Commissioners exhibit clearly and
correctly ali the financial transactions OF these
/ officers. We find the Commissioners have no
| fre-prOof safe in which 10 keep their books
| and papers. Their Importance. being record
I OF the HUAnE C0NQAttuH u kt-N - ~
/ great that we advise the purchase OF one as
/ early as the finances OF the county VIII
/ justify.
Il PAYERS and 10 the state and county, which
/ are the recipients Of the taxes, require tue
! enactment Of a general law providing Ior Tax
/ Commissioners in each county IN the otate,
/ who shall equalize the valuation OF taxable
/ property and make the burdens bear alike
/ and fairly upon all citizens and property
/ owners.
/ we call the attention Of our representatives
4 in the next General Assembly TO this ques-
ton, and request their active support OF the
/ same.
/ We attach here to the report of the com
4 mittee Of this body, especially charged with
/ this part Of our duty, marked a. We
| have examined the books of all the Justices
| OF the Peace except those Of Jefferson Roberts,
| who is and has been seriously Ill during the
| entire term Of our service. and thereby pre-
vented from coming before US; ana those OF
| Justice James DOOner and James J. FogdFty.
/ These Justices of the Peace have made no ap-
| pearance before Us nor offer TO exhibit their
books IS required by law. nor have they gwen
/ any reason for their failure to do so. W e call
| the especial attention Of the Sohcltor
| General to this violation OF the law
by them. The books Of the Magistrates
| submitted to us are well kept and neatly
/ written. We suggest that bill OF
| Magistrate costs should be furnished each
| grand jury on the first day OF ITS session. ms
| would facilitate the examination OF all mat
| tiers pertaining to their fees and charges. We
| append hereto the report Of our committee
| marked B.
| "A COMMITTEES OF this body, accompanied by
| one from the City Court and the County Com
| missiOners, visited the convict camp, GU Luy-
| leF's swamp, and report the conylets IN good
| health well clad, well fed, properly housed
| and guarded. and doing an Invaluable work
| in fastening the completion OF the canal. we
| cannot commend too highly the treatment OF
! the cOnyicts and the management OF me WORK
| they are engaged upon by our efficient ana
! esteemed Board Of County of Commissioners.
| We attach hereto the report Of our committee
| marked c.
| We ind the roads Of the county generally
| in fair condition. but number OF the bridges
| in bad order. some OF them so mueh so as 10
| be dangerous and require immediate atten-
! ton. On the Ogeechee road. the bridges near
| the three mile post, the four mile post, anp the
| one ten miles from the city need prompt re-
| pairs. On the Augusta road, the bridge near
| MOnteith. needs immediate attention. On
this road the bridge near the thirteen mile
post needs general and thorough repair. On
| the Waters road we also ind seFeral brluges
| recurring attention. The report OF our COM
| mittee. charged with this matter, IS very Iuli
and valuable in its suggestions. We attach
it hereto marked ID. and request that copy
Of the same be furnished the Road Commis-
sioners of the county. The county IAN mas
been carefully inspected. and we ma IL as
| clean and healthy as practicaDle 70 Aeep IL;
| and its inmates as cOntented and well cared
for as those in their situation can reasonably
| expect to be. The Jailer and his deputies
are giving proper attention to ther
duties. aud we are informed by
the County Commissioners that additional
| provisions for the comfort OF the prisoners are
| contaminated. and viii soon be MADE. W hlle
| we do not 90 so far as some of our prede-
! cessOrs in our denunciatiOn OF the present Jall
we do think il very desirable that It's sue oe
changed and that building better suited IN
| every respect to the progress or the age be
| erected. The location selected by the County
| Commissioners, near the Police Barracks, IN
| this city. seems to US the very best that can
be chosen for the purpose. We trust they
| will persist in their efforts to secure 1t, and
that the City Council will aid them IN their
/ rv-Hn IL hrtFan 2
| dav. this site NAV be secured and the Work
| begun. If this cannot be done, we recon-
| mend that the County Commissioners e&-
| pend the funds now IN mana TOT the purpose
| Of building new jail in putting the present
| one in such a condition as VIII meet the
| wishes of the people and abandon the idea OF
our attention has been called by His Honor
| Judge Adams, and al, o by jurors. TO the utter
unftness Of our court house for the purposes
| which it is put to. 1t lacks proper accOmmo-
| dations for the Judge. the Solicitor General
| for jnrors. and for the various county omces
aud records. Many villages IN our state
| have more commOdiOus, comfortable and
| respectable court houses than the county OF
| Chatham. To erect one now which would be
| fully adapted to our real needs would Involve
| an expenditure OF too large sum 20 De Dorhe
| by the taxpayers of the county. We need
| reduction If possible, instead OF an increase
of expenditures and local taxation. Inc rate
| of taxation on realty cannot be increased
| without serious detriment to every interest
| We think our expenditures could be largely
| reduced. the court mousse IGluouttCu anu
made to answer all county purposes, ana
| many burdens lifted from the people by
| the following plan, to wit: by concentration
| OF the City and Superior Courts and the pas
sage of an act making the county Of Chatham
| a judicial circuit by itself Let an act be
| passed BY the Legislature abOllshing the civil
jurisdiction Of the City Court and remlttlng
| all its civil business to the Superior Court;
| let this act make the Judge OF the superior
| Court eX-OficiO Judge OF the City Court, to
| dispose of misdemeanOrs or petty criminal
1 cas- eTgh a n aT a
would thus constitute the sole jurisdiction OF
| said CITY Court For these additional duties
the Judge should receive salary OF say Sz,OoO
| as Judge of the City Court.
One court and one set Of court officers would
| transact the business more eXpedltlOusly ana
| ffeciently than two and at much less ex-
| pense. Many thousands of dollars yearly
| would be saved to tax payers OF the county IN
| diminishing the amounts paid as fees Tor
jurors, fees for officers OF court ana other eN-
| penses incident to the holding Of two courts.
| 1t will also greatly tighten and equallze the
| burden of jury service. Now 1t frequ oc-
| ours that a citizen is drawn as juror In one
| Of the courts after just having served long
| and labOrious term in the other. rms IS
| hardship OF great magnitude, Is causing much
| complaint and calls loudly for relief. This
would enable US to attach to the Office OF Judge
| an adequate salary whereby may be obtained
| and retained the best legal talent IN this high
| and responsible station. ms IS the only plan
| which occurs to US by which we can accom-
! plish this object consistently with the cOnstl-
| tuition of the state. An act increasing the sal
| gal, but there is nothing in the constitution to
| prevent person holding this Office from being
| also Judge Of the City Court, ana, as such,
| receiving compensation. 1t viii save the ne
| cessity Of building a new court house. The
| present edifice. while entirely inadequate Tor
/ the purposes of the two courts, could, at mod
| crate cost. be changed so as TO fnliy answer
| the needs Of one and one set of officers. En-
| Pertaining these views, we feel 1t our duty 10
| call the attention Of the citizens OF the county
| TO this measure, and the great and substantial
| benefits which would result from its adoption.
/ We request our Senator and Representatives,
/ to be elected this fall. to present to the next
/ General Assembly, and press to final passage,
1 a bill which will carry this measure INTO
! effect. and that our Committee on Pubic
/ Buildings be continued in Office so as TO look
/ after the practical execution OF this recon-
/ mendation. We recommend that the County
| Commissioners take into immediate consider
alton such changes in the court house as VIII
/ add to the comfort and convenience OF court
/ officers and jurors and authorize them 10 ex-
pend therefor a sum not to exceed hYe thou |
/ sand dollars. and that they provide ample |
water couYeniences in the yard and court |
house. The plans and details of these inn |
| proyements we leave to their sound judy |
ment and discretion. We hereto attach the |
| report of our committee on these matters /
/ marked 'E, = and ask that copy OF II be iur- |
nished the County Commissioners.
We congratulate the people OF the county on /
| the diminutiOn Of crime in our midst and the /
| peace and good order that prevail. In taking /
| leave OF His Honor Judge Adams, we thank /
| him for his cOurtesies to US, and bear cheer |
| full and hearty testimony to the dignity, i'm /
| partially and ability which characterize his |
| administration OF the law.