The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-10-04
Full Report Of
the Grand Jury.

yesterday afternoon:
To Hon. T. A. Mcbride, judge of the
circuit court of the state of Oregon, for
, the county of Clatsop:
We your grand jury for Clatsop coun-
; ty, September term, 1893, beg leave to
submit the following report:
We have carefully examined into all
cases that have come before us of per-
sons held to answer by the justice
courts, and all charges presented to us,
and have returned true bills of indict-
ment in nearly all cases, rejecting those
that in our judgement the evidence
would be insufficient to convict
Other matters have come before us
for investigation, number of which
are presented in this report with the
recommendations of this jury.
The gambling question has been care
fully considered and we have returned
true bills in all cases where the evil
dence was sufficient, and it further APP
pears to us that arrests have been
made each month by the police officers
of the City of Astoria, and bail of $50
taken in each case which has been for
feited, We understand the authority
for this has come from the Police Com
missioners and is intended as license
for the privilege Of running gambling
games, We do not think this mode Of
collecting revenues from practices pro-
| ho
ing revenues for the city, especially
where the money is paid for the privi-
lege of running gambling games, max
ing it an incidental license.
In some instances the officers claim |
that it is useless to make arrests and
try and enforce the law in certain cas-
es, because a jury will not convict, no
matter how strong the evidence. We |
advise the enforcement of the law, and
so pave the way to it's repeal if it is
obnoxious. Any other course, either
through sympathy for criminal or
for any other reasons, belittles the re-
spect due the law and opens the door
tc that scourge of a civilized people,
Judge Lynch.
We have examined the public build
ings of the city and county and with
one exception, find them in good con-
dition, The county Jail still remains in
tact, and with care will probably last
until spring. 1t is we'll kept, consider
ing the building. The city Jail is in
good condition, well ventilated, neat
and clean and well managed.
We visited ST. Mary's Hospital and
found it in excellent condition and the
county poor well cared for. Too much
praise can not be given to the Sisters
in charge for the able manner in which
this grand institution is managed.
We examined the various county of
fees and found them in good condition,
and all the county records well kept,
and the books and accounts satisfac-
tory.
We examined the experts report and
find it to be clear and concise state
ment of the condition of the various
offices of the county and its financial
The report shows a number
Of errors in the accounts of some of
the officers, but with one exception, all
deficiencies have been made good. The
appear to be clerical errors
and do not show any mismapagement
Of the officers. From the report We find
that Sheriff Ross is indebted to the
oountv In tho c,,,,, of coOoO IN o,a ,,.o |
that the same be collected
from his bondsmen.' Sheriff Smiths ac-
count shows a balance due the county
Of $14.01, and the county clerk, a bal
ance of $22 These are simply clerical
errors. There is due from l. Bergman,
former county treasurer, $50. AS the re-
port covers about eight years, it shows
that the business of the county with
he exception of ex-Sheriff Ross, to
have been carefully and honestly man
lged. To some, the bill for exporting
he books may seem large, but when it
S considered that the time covered ex-
ends over a period of eight years, and
hat it has resulted in a saving to the
county of more than $500, besides the
AMOUNT due from ex-Sheriff Ross and
sX-Treasurer Bergman, 1t will be seen
hat it was money well spent
We have examined the Wallusld
bridge and inquired into the matter of
is construction. We find that it has
,een poorly constructed and does not
conform to the plans and specifications
md is not built according to contract.
dost of the piling was too short and
,ould not be driven, but simply stuck
n the mud and blocked up and spliced
)ne of the bents was left out, and in
,tead of driving spiles on the shore as
allied for timbers were set on blocks
nd mud-sills. The bridge was not half
'olted and the bolts left out were sold.
iome of the caps are not bolted and
lone of the sway braces are bolted ac-
ording to contract, and some are
'rol1en off. There are many other de-
ects in the bridge and we consider it
very poorly constructed one. The :
contractors are to be severely censured
s they were paid a price sufficient to a
onstruct a good bridge. but have
allied to build It according to contract :
he bridge should be adjusted and re-