The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-21
NO BRIBERS INDICTED.
THE GRAND JURY RECOMMENDA-
TONS FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.


Barred from Bringing the Guilty to
Punishment and Urges Prosecution
for Keeping Saloons open on Sun
day-The Police Criticised for Unbe-
coming Conduct at the City Election
"A Wide Scope in the Work of the
Grand Jury Which Ended It's Labors
Yesterday and Was Discharged.
The grand jury brought in its final pre-
sentiment yesterday afternoon, without
| finding any new indictments, and was dis
charged for the term. The court took &C.
casion to compliment the jury for its work,
stating that the result of its labors would
be received with satisfaction by the people.
The duties Of tine grand jury had been
| especially oDerous, said Judge Adams, and
he commended them highly for the manner
in which they had conducted their investi-
cations, aud he said "tha5 great cd will
flow from the action Of this grand jury no
| one can doubt"
The report of the grand jury covers
wide scope, and some Of its most salient
points deal with matters which have en-
| listed attention during the present term of
the court w tn reference to election bribery
the grand jury say
BRIBERY CONFESSED.
In the matter Of the investigation of the
charges made by the public press and current
ruInor, Of bribery and corruption at the recent
county and city elections, under special charge
| from his honor, the judge, we would respect
| fully report to the court that we have pursued
| our inyesti atoms faithfully and diligently but
| have met with many obstacles and impediments
| by those Whose duty it should have been to aid
| in maintaining the dignity of the law and the
| honor of our community. While we have found
| b. our researches and Inquiries that there
| too much ground for the charges and current
| rumors of bribery and corruption, still it WAS
| impossible to fasten the guilt upon individuals,
| as witnesses whom we had reason to believe
could give testimony that would bring
TO trial those who were engaged
| votes, refused to give the desired evidence,
declining to answer the questions propounded
| to them, on the ground that in doing so it
| m ght tend to criminate themselves. We de-
| plore the fact that any respectable citizen Of
| this community should stand bar to an in
| vestigation Of this nature and thereby shield
| those engaged in corrupting the ballot. We
| earnestly recommend to the county commits
siDners and those having the elections IN charge
| that they devise some effective methods of pre-
| venting repetition Of what was too apparent,
| the bribery and corruption which characterized
| the last two elections held in this county; and
we would suggest that responsible and trust
| worthy persons be employed at all future cleo
| tons to act as detectives and to bring to punish
ment all persons found violating the law.
The action of the police force about the
polls on the day of the city election comes
| in for the following incisive thrust:
During the progress Of our Investigations the
| fact has been revealed that during the recent
city election the action of some Of the police
| around the polls was not altogether becoming
to the guardians of the peace.
SUNDAY VIOLATIONS.
The practice of keeping saloons open on
| Sunday is alluded to, aud an enforcement
of the law is urged. On this subject the
report says:
| We desire to call attention before closing our
| general preSentmentS to the constant and unre-
| strained violation Of the law in keeping open, in
| a surreptltIous manner, OF numerous barrooms
| on Sundays W1e the members of the grand
| jury do not feel it incumbent upon them to act
as private detectives, in ferreting out the
| persons violating this law, sill it is apparent,
| from the number of intoxicated persons fire.
| duenty seen in the streets on the Sabbath, that
| this law is constantly and persistently violated
| We therefore call attention to this matter, and
| earnestly urge upon the city authorities whose
| duty it is to see that the laws are enforced in
| is regard, TO so instruct the police force Of the
| city that said violations will not be possible
| without being detected and punishment melted
| out to the violators.
The poor ventilation of the public school
| buildings, and the lack of school accommo-
dations are thus considered by the grand
jury:
| FAULTY VENTILATION.
| In our visitation among the public schools,
and to the public school bui dings we find there
| is a want in nearly all the buildings of proper
| ventilation. On cold, damp and Indictment days
| the atmosphere in the several class rooms is not
| pure, and the children, who are compelled to
| remain in them, are Obliged to breathe vitiated
atmosphere, or if the windows are opened, are
| subjected those in proximity to the windows)
| to draughts of air We would sug4 est
| that this matter OF proper ventilation be
Inv hoo 4 aud
| if need be- submitted to some expert in such
| matters, with view of remedying the defects
even though it should require the outlay OF a
| few thousand dollars, as the health OF the chill
! dren is paramount to considerations of cost
There appears to be a lack of sufficient room
| or school accommodations for all the children
| who apply, and the classes are over-crowded
We find that st the East Broad street school
| about GOO applicants during the year had to be
| denied admittance, aud about 800 at the
| West Broad street school, for want of accommo-
| dations. We would, therefore, recommend that
| the building in contemplation to be erected in
the eastern portion of the city, be pressed for
ward to completion as speedily as possible, and
| this would relieve the overcoming in the
| other schools. The matter of Offering the best
Of school and educational facilities to the chill
| dren OF our county and state cannot be too
| strongly pressed upon the attention of our
citizens, for the higher our attachments in this
| direction the more forward will be our place in
| the state and nation.
The condition of the roads and bridges is
| dealt with In an exhaustive manner, and
| all that need repairs are mentioned. The
grand jury recommend that the Bourquin
road be straig tened and opened to the
public, as about thirty families depend on
sthe road to get to the city, and used on one
place only by consent of the owner, who, if
he would close his gate, would compel the
people to 60 three miles farther to get to
| town.
Regarding the Bay street extension the
grand jury not only indor5e the action of
the county commissioners in the matter of
extending Bay street westward to the
Augusta road, but recommend Its speedy
completion"
DON'T LIKE THE TOLL GATE.
They are opposed TO the present location
OF the toll gate and say:
! We think that some action should be taken by
the proper authorities to open way of free
access to the extreme southern limit of the city
and not compel the people living in that section
| to pay toll for their vehicles from and into the
| city proper or 10 go a long distance out of their
way TO reach their homes. This could be done
| by removing the toll gate to the extreme south
! ern limits OF the city.
OF the drainage around the city and
| county they say:
We find the sanitary condition and drainage
around the city aud county in very fair con
dtion. The low lands lying between the Louis
Vile and Augusta roads, about one and one
quarter miles from the city, need draining
very much, and should have immediate atten-
ton.
The report expresses satisfaction with the
examination of the books and records Of
the county officers. and the condition of the