Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-30
THROUGH IT'S WORK.
THE GRAND JURY MAKES A BIG
REPORT AND is DISMISSED.
A Lot of Recommendations Made-Most
Officers Found to Have Their Ac-
counts Correct-The County Treasurer
Scored.

tions and the views OF the jury on
nearly every topic under the sun. A
condensed, boiled down, and recon-
densed synopsis of the matter is here
with given:
In the matter OF public buildings, oc-
casion is taken to recommend that a
number of Improvements be made in
hotels, churches and theaters for use in
case of fire, and that policemen be ad-
mitted to places of amusement on a
written pass from the chief.
About the new court house, the re-
port suggests that before any more pay
ments are made to the contractor, "a
complete examination be made as to
the sufhciency of the remaining sum in
the hands of the county, to meet the
subsequent cost, and also a complete re-
vision of the architects certificates on
which allowances have been based up
to this date.''
The county farm was found to the
jury's taste, though the practice of rails
ing fruit is condemned as against the
interests OF the citizens.
The county hospital was found in good
condition, but a new building is recon-
mended.
The entire separation of confirmed
criminals from young prisoners, and the
placing of the sexes further apart in the
county jail, is recommended.
The dockets OF the justices OF the peace
were found generally well kept up,
though Justice Savage had not eaid in
to the county his fees for three months
past. In this connection the courts are
appealed to to make litigation less
costly.
The cost of the fifty-seven constables
OF the county was found to be $40, ,5S7. .95.
The city officers are all patted on the
back, though the cost OF the library is
thought to be excessive.
The board of education was found all
right, and the recommendation made
that the chairman be paid salary.
About nuisances the report calls "the
attention of the chief of police to the
hauling of decaying garbage at improper
hours, by Cinnamon and others, to
abandoned grounds on Mission street.
Also that of the sheriff to filthy slaugh.
ter houses on San Fernando road and
on Mission street, and that they cause
disinfectants to be used to reduce the
offensiveness."
A long chapter is devoted to roads
and bridges, which closes as follows:
"There has been expended about
100000 the past year by the county
road fund it seems to be difficult to
find where the money mas been spent;
$4,000 has gone to about fifty roadmas
ters. The statute makes it the duty of
the supervisor to see each roadmaster
in his supervisorial district to know
whether these rCadmasters do their
duty or not. These supervisors are over
burdened with duties. We suggest
radical change in the system of manag-
ing county roads. We believe that such
changes should be made in the statutes
as will give to the board OF supervisors
the appointment of a road commissioner
for the county, who will have the super
vision of the entire road and bridge bus
mess within it's bounds. Such commits
sioner should be a competent and prac-
tical civil engineer, with experience in
the line of business devolving ON him.
In his duties he should inspect all work
done and audit all bills OF road masters,
with power to direct where the work
should be applied, and the manner of
its doing. He should be clothed with
such power as to make our road system
unit instead OF having say one road
between certain distant points worked
by half dozen different road masters,
and each after a manner of his own
choosing. Until such radical change
can be made, we urge the board of su-
pervisors to substitute some such ade-
quate system as will obviaue, in some
manner at least, portion OF the glaring
imperfections OF the present expensive
system.
"Within the last year or two number
OF the eastern states have awakened to
to the necessity OF having good public
roads, and have passed laws permitting
counties to issue bonds to make a
thorough and complete system of well
built roads. II this county, by the ex-
penditure of $500, 900, would build roads
brought to an easy traffic grade and we'll
graveled, connecting all well settled dis
tricts with the city of Los Angeles, the
wealth of the county would be greatly
the gamer, in enhancing property
values in the wear and tear of horses,
wagons and carriages, while the bonds
could be paid by sinking fund during
the next twenty years at half the cost of
the present system, for which there is
always no practical return to the tax
payer"
In regard to the investigation of Tax
Collector Platt's accounts, the matter is
gone over again, and the conclusion
reached that "a large amount of money
has been spent to very little purpose in
this matter, which might have been
obviated by correct county book
keeping"
The public administrator, it is rec
commended. should hold Office for four
years, and that such officer should turn
over to his successor all estates not set
tied.
Coroners Meredith and Weldon are
commended.
Errors to the amount of $40 80 were
found in the county clerks accounts
and we're rectifed.
The jury recommends that the county
superintendent of schools keep his ac-
counts more in detail There is said to
be now absolute correctness in the con-
dition of the school funds.
Five warrants in the county auditors
office were found to have been "surrep-
titiously destroyed. abstracted or fraud
ulenty; issued" They have not been
paid. f,s~
The only road overseer whose ac-