Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-04
GRAND JURY REPORT.
THEY FIND no FAULT WITH ANY
OFFICIAL DEPARTMENTS.
An Advantageous Change of System in
the Recorders Office Recon-
mended-City Prison.

The County Grand Jury appeared before
Superior Judge Armstrong yesterday after
noon and filed their final report, and also
several indictments, which were not given
out for publication, as the parties indicted
have not yet been arrested. Judge Arm
strong accepted the report and then dis
charged the jury after thanking them and
eomplimenting them for the able and
conscientious manner in which they had
performed their duties. Following is the
report in full:
To the Honorable Superior Court. County of Sac
rdH1egto, State Of California: On Monday, Octo-
Der Z, 1889. this Grand Jury was sworn in, and
Nelson Wilcox appointed Foreman by his Honor,
John W. Armstrong, superior Judge After lis
tening to instructions of the Court we proceeded
to the Grand Jury room and completed the or
ganization by electing Anton Wertheim, Secre-
tary After the different committees of inYes-
tigation were appointed by the Foreman the
Grand Jury started out for inspection.
COUNTY HOSPITAL.
On October It'll, accompanied by Deputy Sher-
if Coagswell. we visited the County Hospi-
tai, and were received by DR.. G. A. White
and his assistants, and cordially invited to
go through the whole institution and in
spect every part OF the same. The Jury
COuulAtuCeu investigation In hdrQ NO. j.
and investigated everything throughout all the
wards, as there are nine large rooms for the
different patients The majority of the patients
were questioned by the Grand Jurors as to their
treatment by the officers of said institution and
about the food they received, and all expressed
the fullest satisfaction with everything and
praised the management highly. Some of the
beds were made on the floor, and DR.. White in
formed the jury that twenty new beds and forty
mattresses had been ordered and will be in by
next week.
ha fx-or do
males and y females. The rooms, kitchen,
wash-house, engine-room and grounds are in
the best condition, and the whole institution is
kept by the present Superintendent and his en-
ployes in excellent order. Everything was
found clean and neat in every department and
the county can be proud of such hospital.
We recommend the immediate construction of
new frame for the water tank as the present
one is very unsafe. We recommend the con-
struction of an iron frame, IN place of the
wooden one, and hope the repairs will be made
SOON,
COUNTY JAIL
On October sth we visited this institution and
were met at the entrance by Sheriff George Nc
Mullen and his deputies, who rendered every
assistance in our investigation. We are graft
he'd TO report the fine condition of all parts of
the jail, neatness prevailing everywhere. We
heard no complaints from prisoners as to their
treatment. The management OF Sheriff Nc
Mullen and the jailer, w. Fuller, is excellent.
The Sheriff brought a matter before us which
we recommend and hope will find an early ap-
proval by the Board of Supervisors. There
stands large steam boiler, which was used in
former years for the purpose of heating the
county Offices but has been out of use for the
last three years. as the different departments
have been supplied with stoves by the Board of
Supervisors. We therefore recommend that
said steam boiler be sold to the best advantage
and the space where 1t is located used for the
erection of a prison for women, so that they
may be separated from the male prisoners, and
receiving hospital for prisoners, as both are of
great importance for the county.
CITY PRISON AND POLICE COURT.
The jury were met by Chief of Police Timothy
Lee and cordially invited TO inspect every spot
and corner of the institution. They were shown
by the Chief all around the prison, the building,
yards and all the different rooms of the officers
connected with the institution.
We found that the building is not in the best
condition We recommend that the water fau-
Gets in the cells be repaired, and that the Chief
of Police look to it that the water closets in the
cells are kept in better condition than we found
them. The room for the jurors in the Police
Court ought to be put in better condition, and
tables and chairs placed therein. Police Judge
Buckley received the jury in the Police Court
room and rendered all the possible assistance in
inspecting said institution. We found every
thing connected with the Court in proper con-
dition.
sHERIFF's OFFICE.
We inspected the Sherifi's office and found
everything in the best order. The books are
keys 9rrect and elem, and credit is due to
Sheriff George McMulen and his deputies
COUNTY cLkRK's OFFICE.
We have inspected the Office and books Of the
County Clerk, and found them In perfect order.
The usual settlements on the first Monday OF
every month with the County Treasurer are
made promptly, and we found William Hamil-
ton very competent man for said Office.
COUNTY ASSESSORS OFFICE.
We visited said office and were cordially re-
ceived by the Assessor and his Deputy. We
found them busily engaged in making up the
map for the next assee sment. The books of last
year were just delivered to the Auditors office.
We found the Office clean and neat, except one
ROOM which was full OF old doors and frames,
and we recommend that these be sold to the
best advantage and the room used for better
purpose. We are satisfied that the Office is con-
Quoted properly.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
We found the books OF this office kept clean
and proper. The District Attorney reports to us
that he has 1926 81 on hand, money collected
for delinquent taxes since his last settlement
with the City Auditor, which amount he intends
to pay TO the City Treasury at an early date. In
response to our inquiry why suits had not been
commenced against such OF the county officers
as were reported by the last Grand Jury as hav-
ing been overpaid. the District Attorney replied
that he had submitted those matters TO the At
torney- General, who promised to give his opin-
ion before long, aud that he Will then bring
said suits, if so directed by the Attorney-Gen-
eral.
COUNTY TREAsURERs OFFICE.
We found the books and office in a neat and
fine condition. The books are written in a
creditable manner, but we deem it inadvisable
to employ an expert at this time. and will ac-
cept the report of the last Grand Jury.
AUDITOR AND RECORDERS OFFICE.
We find the Recorder and his deputies courte.
GUS and obliging in the discharge of their
duties The books are neatly kept, and We
deem it not necessary, as to their correctness to
employ an expert. As it has been an old custom
of the office 10 have instruments left for record
remain thirty days, at least, before being re-
corded and delivered to persons leaving them,
we think that by making an extra effort, the
Recorder pOuld hiring n the L gO q have
all instruments recorded inside of one week.
and that after having obtained that result, the
work could be kept up to that state OF perfection
by the same amount of work that is now ex-
pended in keeping the work thirty days behind.
We are sure that the present Recorder Will
rectify the matter, and we therefore recommend
that the Recorder use his best endeavOrs to have
all instruments recorded and ready for delivery
inside OF one week from the day of filing. We
found the Office in the best of order and condi-
ton.
COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
We have examined the books of this Office and
found them kept in good order and so as to be
easily understood.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
We have examined the record, minute book,
and also the demand book Of said Board from
January l. 1882 up to November 9. 1889, and
found said books to be correct and to CORE
spond also with the warrants drawn in accord,
ance to law. We recommend that full Board
of Supervisors should always be present when
there are any bills to be passed on or demands
against the county 10 De allowed. we lOund
the office in the best order and condition.
LICENSE COLLECTORS OFFICE.
We visited this office and find the License
Collector to be faithful and efficient in the dis
charge of his duty, and find the books to be
neatly and simply kept. We learn from him
that in the past butchers have not paid
county license, but that he has notified the
firms that they must pay in the future, and in
case of failure he proposes to bring suit to collect
the same. We iudorse said action in the matter
and recommend the District Attorney to interest
himself in enforcing the collection of said IL
cense.
CITY AUDITORS OFFICE.
We visited this office and found the books in
the best condiuon-kept clean, Systematically
and in a businesslike manner. We recommend
a more secure place, or vault to keep the city
records as we find the Auditor has not room in
his safe for more than the ledger and assessment
roll and another safe, no matter how large,
would not hold all the important papers. The
whole OF the Assessors books of all the past
years are lying around open and in danger.
CITY WATER WORKS OFFICE.
We visited the Clerk Of the Water Works, and
found said office in the best of order. The
books are kept in a clean and systematic man