Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-08-28


For the territorial side of the court the
grand jury reported as follows:
That in accordance with the charge and
instructions of your honor we have made
thorough investigation of all matters
brought before us and called to our atten-
ton, and where the facts have justified
the same, have found indictments.
We have examined the books of the
sheriff and ex-oficio collector of taxes
and licenses, Francisco Chaves, and
have ascertained that he has been very
negligent in performing the duties of his
office relative to the making of semi
annual reports and settlements with
the board OF county commissioners,
and in failing to turn over to the
territorial treasurer the taxes collected
by him. We have asCertained that the
sheriff has collected upward of $4,000
since the 18th day of February, A. D.
1890, and has utterly failed to turn over
single dollar in that time as is required
by law he should do, of all funds on hand
on the 10th day of each month.
We have also examined into the matter
OF the collection of the poll tax by the
constables OF precincts Nos. and 4,
which tax is devoted to the school fund
in the two districts comprising said pre-
cincts; we ascertained that out of list of
| 800 persons liable to pay poll tax in
those precincts the two constsbles had
only collected and turned over to the dis
trict treasurers the sum of less than $500.
In our opinion, inasmuch as the law is
amply sufficient to enforce the collection
of the poll tax, and in consideration of
the purpose to which it is devoted, edu-
cation, the collectors should be compelled
to enforce the collection of said tax.
We have also investigated the doings of
the several justices of the peace in this
county, and find the outlying precincts
have been as rule very peaceful and
law-abiding. But few fines have been
imposed according to the reports filed by
the justices in the office of the probate
clerk.
We have also made searching inves-
tigation into the manner in which the
affairs of the county jail have been ad-
ministered. While the prisoners have
plenty of food and OF fair quality, we
find the accommodations 80 far as securi
ty is concerned very inadequate. In our
opinion the Jail and its conduct are dis
grace to the county. There are but two
cells, and these are miserable dungeons,
fit only for barbarians, and in every way
a reproach to the people. We have as
certained from testimony that the sheriff
of the county has permitted persons con-
victed and sentenced to imprisonment in
this jail by the various justices of the
peace to 60 about town, and while the
sheriff reports the prisoner as having
served out his sentence, in reality he was
free and at large and only in jail when
ever it became convenient for him 80 to be.
In our investigation of the affairs Of
Santa Fe county. we conclude that the
board of county commissioners has
violated the law in not compelling the
sheriff to make settlements with them
as the law makes it obligatory upon them
to do.
We beg leave to state that we have
made an examination into the territorial
finances, and find from the books the al
fairs of the territory are in very salts
factory condition.
We also find from statement made by