The record-union., 1892-02-13


combine in the last Legislature, and have ex-
amlned many witnesses in our enaeayor 10
| give the matter a full and thorough investiga-
tlon Whlle we have had some very posltl fe
ana damaging testimony, the preponderance
OF evidence whether true or false) has been OF
| such directly contradictory character that
we have been unable 10 find any indictments
| IN connection Herewith.
some OF the witnesses have become suddenly
| affilcted with loss of memory to such an eX-
| tent as 10 indicate mental imbecility.
| we appointed an expert TO examine the
BOOKS and accounts OF the yarious city and
/ county officers, who has Just filed lengthy
ana exhaustive report, which is hereunto at
| tached, and TO which we wife careful atten-
| ton.
Especial consideration is invited TO some of
| lhe more important points contained therein,
among winch we are pleased TO note his very
Hise suggestions IN reference TO the system OF
/ collecting city or county licenses; also his re-
marks upon the allowance OF claims by the
Board OF supervisors, which, in many IN
stances, are not properly itemiZed or verified.
Demand No. 294o, which was allowed and
/ ordered paid on the 9th inst, for the sum OF
! SS26 S2, furnishes most striking example
OF derellctlon of official duty in this respect.
IhlS demand Is not properly itemized, and
being for sum in excess of $500, is Illegal, on
account OF bids not having been advertised
| for, unless the same was clearly shown TO
/ have been d matter of urgent necessity.
The comments of the expert upon the publ
cation OF the semi-annual statement OF the
nnanclal condition of the county, the letting
OF contracts for stationery and other supplies,
are Well-t1med and TO the point.
bis very exhaustive review of the system of
collecting water rents is an able effort, indeed,
and proves his efficiency and untiring zeal as
an expert
To this portion of his report we earnestly
invite the closest attention and most careful
study.
COUNTY GovERNMENT BILL.
Some of our county officials do not appear
10 entirely comprehend the full intent and
meaning of that hybrid monsuosity com
known ~ 10 ,
Bill" notwithstanding five successive Legis-
| latures have racked their WebSterian brains
and labored strenuously in a vain endeavor
10 oflnS order out OF chaos, and produce O
! law that might be acceptable TO the different
| counties OF this State, although it may say
/ one thing and mean another.
inc sad county government bill essays to
qenne the duties OF our county officers, and at
! the same time fix the salaries they shall re-
| ceIye Tor performing the duties so prescribed.
| Under former provisions of our codes, the
| ofhcers frequently feel called upon to perform
| duties not enumerated in said County Gov
ernment Bill, and naturally enough consider
! they are entitled to retain the fees for such
service TO their own use and benefit.
Two instances of this kind are brought to
the attention of the jury by our eXpert-one
| IN the Office of the Sheriff the other in the
! Office of the County Clerk
The Sheriff is often required TO render serv-
! Ice IN connection with suits pending in
counties other than that OF which he is
! Sheriff, and 1t is a question of doubt whether
| lie could be compelled to perform such
! service at his own expense and turn the fees
! Iof Such service into the county treasury for
! the benefit of the county.
| Sner11 Stanley, during the first nine months
] OF ms 1ncumbency, retained the abOve-de-
| scrlbed fees to the amount of $500 04; but
| entertaining some doubt upOn the subject
! submitted the matter to the District ATTORNEY
! Tor his opinion, pending which he. on October
-, 1891, paid said amount to the County
County Clerk Rhoads also held out similar
fees fees during the year 1891 to the amount OF
$S1 rs.
This matter was, by this Grand Jury, re.
ferred TO the District Attorney for his opinion,
and upon the rendition thereof to the effect
that the county was entitled to said fees the
same was promptly paid to the County Treas
urer.
The District Attorney being the law officer
| of the county, and employed in the interest
! thereof II is Lrssumabie that he gave said
county the benefit of the doubt.
Our expert finds the aCc counts of the various
county officers generally correct.
Some slight clerical errors have been discov.
| cred. For instance, in the Sherih7s Office sew
/ eraI small items, amounting in the aggregate
| to 81 30, and in the County Clerks Office an
| aggregate amount of $50 so, which amounts
| were promptly paid to the County Treasurer
THE INDICTMENTS.
During our deliberations we have found
thirteen true bills of indictment, classified as
| follows: Murder, s; forgery, 2; embezzlenlent
l; Suoornatlon OF perjury, l; libel, l.
! Charges have been ignored in the following
| cases Grand larceny, 2; malfeaSance in Office
2; obtaining goods under false pretenses, /;
perjury, l; subornation of perjury, l.
Since being impaneled we have been in
session fifty-two days. Our session has been
thus prolonged owing to the fact that the
greater portion of our time has been consumed
| IN the investigation and consideration of mat.
tiers that necessitated the attendance of wit.
nesses from distant portions of the State. and
the extreme difficulty we have experienced in
| procuring the attendance of said witnesses
has proved source of great annoyance and
inconvenience TO this jury, and at the same
Tune mas been very expensive to the country
members, some of whom have necessarily
| made twenty trips from their homes to Sacra
mento and return, this body having taken
nineteen adjournments, most of which was
| compulsory on account of the absence of said
| witnesses.
IN conclusion we would respectfully recon
| mend that said country members be allowed
q reasonable sum, to compensate them for the
extra amount of travel thus imposed upor
them, All of which is most respectfully sub
mitted.
Sacramento, Cal, February 12, 1892.
JOHN STEVENS, Foreman.
W. w. CooNs, Secretary.