The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-01
AFFAIRS UNSAT|SF FACTORY
County Officers and Township JUS
tlces Scored by the Missoula
Grand Jury
Tho Sheriff Charged With Adding
One Day Extra for Board
ing Prisoners.
renee "ihcers said to Have Manipulated
BuSihess-The Assnssor, Com mi ssionors
and Others Arc Scored.
Special tn Tho independent.

Special IL Tho independent.
MT5souLA, Fob. 2S.-The long expected
report OF the grand Jury WAS read in open
court to-day. 1t was u very voluminous
paper and showed that tho jury had been
thorough and considerations in their inves-
legations. 1t recommended changes in tn,
management of tho poor farm. that phy-
sician should visit it at least twice a week,
and that cleanliness should be enforced,
and that it should be one Of the duties Of
the physician to see that IL was. 1t recon-
mended that the county prisoners should
be EN- ployeo about the court yard in i'm
proving Its appearance and that certain
improvements should be made in the jail
and court houae.
The total indebtedness of the county WAS
reported at $3.50, 900. with $4,000 in the
treasury. Tho assessors office was ortiz
olsed to some extent in relation to the col
lection OF poll tax. The jury thought thas
$1,000 more could have been collected, bat
part of the blame WAS laid at the door of
the county commissioners in not supplying
enough clerks. Some recommendation
were made in regard to the county clerk's
Office. The county treasurer was compii-
The grand jury found that for the year
1892 Il large amount Of valuable property
mad not been assessed, such as mortgages.
real estate and personality; that aEsess-
ments varied largely i'll 1892 from those of
1891. In one instance ten acres assessed in
1891 at $l2,400, was in 1892 assessed at
$l.25O. The jury also found great irregu-
larity in the assessment OF lands lying con
tiguous and of equs. value. Land was as
sessed at 81. $50 while adjacent land of
equal value was assessed at S1,250. De-
scrIptlons of real estate were found in
many instances to be vague and indefinite.
In the sheritf's office an overcharge of
one days board was found in every instance
Of each prisoner confined In the county jail.
1t was found that police magistrates in in
corporated towns where petty offences had
been committed. which should hays been
tried under city ordinances, were tried m
der state laws, thus putting the county to
great and unnecessary expense.
1t was found that, with the passage of the
salary law of 1891, the criminal business of
Justice courts, for some reason unknown to
this grand jury. was almost wholly trans
ferred to the constables OF the county and
TO polcemeh OF the city, ana but littie
business was done by the sheriff's office. re-
sultIng in enormous expense to this county.
The county commissioners bad failed, act
ing as board of equalization, to find un-
assessed property or unequal assessments.
but made reductions and assessments not
warranted.
The report is regarded as a severe criti-
ciam on the methods Of some county off,
cials and justices.
Coroner Mills has received a telegram
from Thompson Falls that Phillip Miller.
of that place. had been shot and killed. No
particulars were given.