The record-union., 1892-02-13

their instructions, the same was quickly
aoated. Said committee report further that
Road Districts Nos. 3, Is. g and 21 are all
IN good shape, and the funds thereof properly
expended
That Road District No. has had but lit
tie money in the fund, to be expended upon
The roads during the year 1891, the funds
having been overdrawn TO the amount oi
about $1,000, or bills to that amount having
been presented and allowed in 1891, to pay
for work performed in 1890.
The jury ind several other districts even
IN worse condition in that respect.
LEyEE BUILDING.
The committee respectfully suggest that the
supervisors do not allow the payment from
any road fund Of bills for building levees by
private parties for the protection OF private
property, upon the plea that the county road
receives the whole protection.
The committee make a special mention OF
Road District No. 2, where few miles OF the
worst road IN the county has been made the
best.
They also report that large quantities OF
earth have been removed from the county
road, between the travelled track and the Sac
ramento River, earth that should have been
used 10 widen the track and elevate the same.
That the said track is now in need OF being
widened on account of increase of travel.
That the earth which has been removed as
complained OF has been so removed by private
individuals Tor private purposes, 10 the
amount OF one thousand loads to oneiourth
OF mile, all to the great loss, danger and
damage OF the travelling public. They also
encroached upon by parties living along the
line thereof, by building barbed-wire fence
thereon, thus narrowing the road to such an
extent that in many places vehicles cannot
pass each other.
We would respectfully request the honor
able Board of Supervisors TO take such notice
OF said district as viii cause the Road over
seer TO guard more carefully the welfare OF the
travelling public.
Said Committee also report that in Road
District No. 2 the road for a short distance
east OF Arcade bridge is in bad condition, and
should receive immediate attention.
Also that they are credlbly informed that in
some instances Road OveTseers work on the
roads, charging per diem therefor, and an
additional 50 Tor overseeing the same, which
should not be allowed.
They further condemn the practice of Road
OVerseerS all over the county drawing money
from the road tunus on claims without proper
vouchers therefor.
We would recommend that the funds o.
each district be applied strictly for the benefit
OF the district to which they belong, and not
loaned to another.
LICENSE COLLECTORS DEGREES.
From the report of the committee having in
charge the consideration of the system OF ii X
ing and collecting city and county licenses
we learn that the books and accounts of both
City and County License Collectors are neatly
and correctly kept.
They, however, emphatically condemn the
practice heretofore in vogue of allowing the
License Collectors to determine in many cases
the amount of business transacted by persons
required to pay licenses as such power in the
hands of an unscrupulous official would be
extremely dangerous.
We would therefore recommend that the
law be strictly adhered to- and that the City
Trustees and Board of Supervisors pay strict
attention to fixing the rate and determining
the class OF license that should be issued.
SHOULD BE DISCREET.
While we recognize the vast and unlimited
power Of the public press to do good, and
frankly acknowledge that the world owes
much 10 the well-directed efforts of our public
journals, for the rapid advance in art, science
and literature; also in the improvement in the
forms OF government and the elevation O
public morals; and while admiring the zeal
and energy displayed by reporters and news
gathererS in their endeavor 10 give to the pub.
lie the latest news at the earliest possible mo
ment, we would at the same time not be un-
mindful of the great evil that may be done by
the lnJudicious exercise OF their power
We therefore respectfully beg leave to direct
their attention to the fact that many of our
most hardened criminals have been aided in
their flight from justice by the premature pub
lication OF facts that should have been known
only TO the officers and detectives in pursuit
Oft times, when our poorly-paid officers feel
that their Gays and nights of exposure, ardu
Gus laDorS and SleepleSS VlglIS are about to bC
rewarded by the capture of some notorious
criminal, they are are suddenly thwarted anC
the value OF their labor destroyed by the pre-
mature publication OF items which appriSe
the fleeing outlaw of approaching danger ans
thereby enable him to make good his escape
In connection with the foregoing we would
kindly suggest to our peace officers and de
tectives that they should not, through court
eSy and the generosity of their nature, fall into
the very common error OF being too confiding
and disclosing too much to those who are
anxious to learn the facts which should bt
known only TO the officers of the law.
NELSON'S CASE.
Our jury are in possession of communica
ton from George Nelson, who win be remem
bered as the person unjustly and enormously
fPa win tod Cfh F1NuslX s-fsfNh Nhpr
After having referred the said communica
ton to our District Attorney for his advice il
regard TO the legal aspect of the case, and hav
ing learned from him that there is no lega
means by which Sacramento County can af
ford the said Nelson the relief sought by him
we would most respectfully refer the matter tC
the next Legislature OF our State, with the
recommendation that they pass q bill thai
will afford this unfortunate man the relief ht
seeks and to which he is justly entitled.
LIEU" LANDS.
In reference to the alleged frauds in obtain
ing state lands, ana especially that class o.
land known as lieu lanos,' we find that while
a large proportion of the applications for saiC
lands are made by bona nde applicants who
desire to purchase the lands they apply for
there is unmistakable evidence that there are
many others, that are properly classed a.
'dummy applications" /" that are made by per
sons who nave no interest whatever in the
lands applied for, prospective or otherwise.
Such applications are made upon the solicit
alton of drummers or agents tor the so-calle(
Gland sharks" and in their interest, that they
NAV be enabled TO tie up said lands in such s
manner that the bona fide purchaser is com
relied 10 pay from So to SO per acre therefor
while the state receives but 81 25 per acr
for the same land.
Thus it will be seen that for about CSC. OOC
acres of ''lieu lands" now being controlled
and handled by three OF four attorneys, tn
State viii receive but $350,0O0; while tn
said attorneys viii receive and retain for thei
own use and benefit about SS00,000, thereb,
defeating the intent of the law, which con
templates that the applicant should be per
mitted to purchase said lands for his own u.s.
at 81 %.
In our investigation of this matter we ap
pointed committee TO visit the Office of til,
Surveyor-General and inspect the books o
record, platbooks, applications, etc, therein
From the report of said committee we learl
that the Surveyor-General, his deputies anC
assistants, kindly and courteously rendered
power, placing the entire force and the record
of the Office at the disposal of the committee
sURvEYoR-GENERAL ExoNERATED.
Our committee also report that they find M
evidence whatever that the Surveyor-General
or any of his deputies, have in any manne
whatever allowed themselves to become par
! ties TO the aforesaid fraudulent practices.
/ They find that very few atfidavitS OF appIi
! cants have been made in Sacramento County
and in connection Herewith we have founC
1 much damaging testimony, but have been un
/ able TO find more than one Indictment, tina
! being for subornation of perjury.
We would most respectfully call the atten
1 ton OF the Attorney-General to this subiec
1 and suggest that he lay the matter before th
! Grand Juries of the several counties of thi
4 State with the request that they investigat
/ all applications accompanied by affdavit
/ made in their respective counties.
We are satisfied that many applicants com
1 nit perjury in making such affidavits, ant
I the persons securing such afidavits to b.
made are guilty of subornation of perjury
and while the principal attorneys disclaim al
/ knowledge of these criminal practices, W
! cannot conceive the idea that these crimes ar
! committed TO the extent we find they ar
/ without their knowledge and consent.
THE WASTE BASKET MATTER
We have spent much time and labor in con
/ sidering the report of the Attorney-Genera
and in the investigation of the subject matte
! therein referred to, commonly known as tn