Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-19

Grand jury Neutrality-suspicious..

Grand Jury Recommendations.
The report Of the ef4h4 gthry published
yesterday contains EXPERIMENTATION
Z which are entitled e. careful consldera-
! ton because they are clearly the result OF
thorough inquiry feshectine matters to
which they relate. Tooofs grand jury
reports fail to have any inhuspce upon
public sentiment. The reason'is perhaps
that they snow evidence OF having been
prepared hastily aud without clear I'M
derstanding OF the subjects treated.
One OF the recommendations OF the late
grand jury is that county officers shall be
paid salaries, where 1t is possible to do so,
instead OF fees. The reason
given for this recommendation
is the belief that certain officers encour-
age contentious among ignorant persons
Tor the purpose OF increasing their in
comes. 1t is to be regretted that the
grand jury did lot publish the evidence
upon which IL based this recommends
ton, We have no reason for doubling
that it is sufficient to justify the grand
jur}'s course, but the public ought to be
informed who these disreputable officials
are in order that the finger Of scOrn may
be pointed at them. 1t is not
possible always to elect good
men to office, but when bad
men get into positions of trust and re-
sponsibility they ought TO be exposed
and made to feel that they are objects OF
public contempt. While perhaps the re-
commentator relative to salaries is a
good one, it is probable that the officials
who resort TO disreputable means TO in
crease their incomes under the fee system
would neglect their duties if the salary
system were adopted.
In opposing the proposition to patch up
the court house, it is probable That the
grand jury is in harmony with public
sentiment. What is the use of throwing
money away on a structure that cannot
be made to meet the demands upon it
by the expenditure OF an amount that
would be sufficient to build new court
house having ample accommodation and
every convenience? If the people do not
feel that they are able to build a new
court house now, they will act more
wisely by waiting year or two than by
wasting money on the old court house,
and thus putting of indefinitely the
building of a new one. 1t is not i'm
gested it would be found that a majority
of the citizens are in favor of Issuing
at once bonds for new court house.
We have already discussed the neces-
sity for better means for searching out
murderers. and the grand lury's
recommendation with regard to this
matter touches something that has been
in the public mind for some time. Under
the present condition OF affairs il a MUIR
derer is not arrested a very soon
after committing the crime for which
he is wanted the chances are that he will
not be arrested at all, because it appears
to be nobody's business to hunt down
murdereBs or other criminals. The ease
with which criminals escape arrest is
doubtless an incentive to crime. There is
probably no need, however, for a corps
OF detectives. Great crimes are not COM
mitted every day, nor every week, within
the county. 1t is only once in a
while that the services of
detective are Needed. IL the County Com
missioGers were to make a small apprO-
priation to be used by the Sheriff in hiring
detectives in his discretion perhaps the
end aimed at by the grand jury would be
accomplished. A detective hired for the
occasion would doubtless do as good work
as one permanently employed.
The grand jury appears to have gone
into the school question very thoroughly
1t found the schools we'll managed and in a
iourishing condition. but without sufn-
Client accommodations to meet the wants
of the county The additional appropria-
ton recommended ought to be made.
Good schools are necessary to a healthy,
intelligent public sentiment, and such a
sentiment is essential to true prosperity.
If succeeding grand juries shall make
as thorough inquiry into county matters
as the one which has just submitted it's
report it will not be long before decided
improvements will be noticed in county
affairs.