Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-15

Grand jury Recommendations.
The report O: the grand jury, which
we publish this morning, contains several
excellent recommendations. For in
stance. the Que relative to the fee bills OF
certain officers Will he likely to command
the attention OF all who have any knowl-
edge OF these bills. OF course officials
are not TO be criticised or condemned for
taking ali the laws allow them, but why
should there be laws allowing greater
fees, in certain cases, in this county than
Ia other counties? Why should not the
general laws regulating fees prevail in
this county as they do in all other
countiesf Clearly, these fee bills, which
are described by the grand jury-and a
very leYel-headed grand jury it appears
to have been-as ''unjust, eXOrbitant and
burdensome," afford an opportunity for
our representatives in the next Legisla-
ture TO render the people OF this county
very valuable service.
The suggestion to the County Commits
sioners respecting the old graveyard on
South Broad street will be heartily COM
mended. No one appears to be able to give
any reason why this large square OF ground
should be permitted to remain IN Its pres
dlapldated, uncared-for and unslgntly
condition, aud vet no one who Is clothed
with any authority seems to have sufi-
cient courage TO take the lead in leveling
its walls, removing the remains
of the dead to graves that
can be cared for, if there be any desire to
care for them, and IN inaugurating i'm
Troyemen's that Will make it attractive.
The grand jury wants the County Com
missiOners to get possession Of 1t for
county buildings. Why should not the
Comm issiOners take mold Of this matter at
once, and see what they can DO towards
carrying out the grand jury's suggestion!
surely they are not likely to meet with
oppos ton which cannot be overcome by
persistent and well directed effort. For
years everybody has deplored the exist
ence OF this Old cemetery in the heart OF
the city. There is not single reason
why 1t should remain as it IS. In their
report respecting it the grand jury says
The place has not been used as a burial
ground for upwards OF thirty years, aud
It's neglected and diapidated condition
gives the Impression that few possess any
interest IN caring for II as a cemetery.
The disintegratiOn OF vaults and tOmbs,
with resulting exposure of decaying hu-
man remains, ana rank growth OF weeds
and bushes give IL the appearance OF
totally abandoned property. The few who
have for the place any Attachment OF
sacred character would be doubtless
willing 10 nave the remains now therein
removed TO one Ol the cemeteries now in
use. where there would be some assur-
ance of proper maintenance OF the graves
for many years to come, an assurance not
TO be counted on If left where they are.
Let movement for the removal OF the
old cemetery be made at once. and if OPP
position is SHOWN let it be crushed out by
the weight of public sentiment. II
grand jury reports unanimously against
1t there is no reason for thinking that any
considerable hostility would be encoun-
tered in undertaking to improve it and
put it to some useful purpose.
The grand jury recommends legislation
that will permit the county to issue
enough bonds to build a court house. That
a court house is badly needed no one Will
deny. The quarters of the courts and the
county offices are small, cramped and i'll
convenient. 1t IS time that the county
officers and the courts mad ample and con
yenient Accommodations for the transac-
ton OF the public business. The indica
tions are that Chatham county will de-
mand considerable legislation from the
next Legislature.