The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-10-26
GRAND JURY'S REPORT.
THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY OF
THE CoUNTY's FINANCES,
And Score the COMMISSIONER Court fol
Their Action in Regard to the Letting
Of the Contract for Steam Heating
in the County Buildings.

. morning and at their request Judge
l Morris granted them a recess until
} next Tuesday morning. Following Is
the report they handed in:
81 To F. G. Morris, Judge of the Twenty-sixth Ju-
, dicial District:
The grand jury having concluded
its labors for the present beg leave to
submit the following as the result OF
investigations extending through a
period of three working weeks:
Indictments returned for felonies ,......... 81
Indictments returned for misdemeanors, . l44
Total Observation-Disclosures. 1ol
An inspection of the county jail
showed it to be in q reasonably good
condition as to cleanliness, but 1t is
believed that more liberal appllca-
ton of Whitewash to the inter-
ior walls would conduce tc
the comfort of the inmates and
purify the atmosphere of the
building. 1t is also suggested that
daily detail should be made from pris-
oners to clean and keep clean the
floors on the outside of the cells.
Many rumors have reached the
grand Jury as to the CONF iti0n of the
county's finances, and it has been re.
peatedly urged that committee OF
experts should be appointed to make
a critical examination of the books;
but other pressing business has occu'
pied the attention of the grand jury
and the matter has been unavoidably
nassed over. 1t has been learned,
however, in a general way through
examination of county officers that
the fund provided by law for the liqu'
idation of the county debt has been
diverted and used for other purposes.
Hence it is believed that the people
will soon be confronted with an
empty treasury, which will necessi-
tate additional taxation. This matter
demands thorough, patient and i'm
partial investigation.
And the attention of the grand jury
having been called to contract en-
tered into on Sept. 10, 1893, between
Travis county and Messrs. Geo. 7.
and V. E. Luhorn, whereby
the parties of the second part
are to contract and put in operation
and complete working order in the
county courthouse of Travis county
and the jail and jailer's residence a
steam heating apparatus, it was
deemed advisable to make thorough
investigation into the matter, with
the view of ascertaining the facts as
to the cost of such plant; the Necessity
for it and the ACCESSIBILITY of the ex-
penditure OF the money required topay
Tor it. The following is submitted as
the result of the investigation. The
grand Jury find as follows:
First-rhat the price to be paid for
the steam heating apparatus is $4750.
Second-That the work shall be
commenced within reasonable time
IF om Sept. 10, $685. and completed by
not later than Jan. ], 1894.
Third-That the specifications for
the steam heating apparatus, which
are attached to and made part OF
the contract, are so vague and indeti'
mite that in the language Of an expert
mechanic whose opinion was sought
by the grand jury, the contract might
be filled in 80 or more different
ways, and any of them would be in
compliance with the specifications"
Fourth - That the contractors,
Messrs. Assmann, Teagarden and
Luhorn, have not been required to
give any bond for the faithful per-
formance of the contract and that
there is no provision in the contract
by which the county can be reimburs-
Ell for damages resulting from delay
in completing the work within the
time specified.
Fifth-That there is no provision for
the uperintendence of the work when
being done by some competent me-
chanic or engineer representing the
county; nor is there any provision for
its acceptance by such skilled work
man or engineer when completed, but
when said work shall be completed it
shall be subject to the approval and
acceptance of the county commits
sioners court of Travis county"
Sixth-That there was no publica-
ton made inviting bids to supply the
"steam heating apparatus"
Seventb-That there was one bid,
viz: that of Messrs. Assmann, Tea
garden and Luhorn which
said bid was submitted
with the same plans and spe itications
which are attached to and made a
part of the contract.
Eighth-That if the bid submitted
was in writing the grand jury has
failed to find it.
Ninth-That no provision has yet
been made for the erection of suitable
building in which to locate the steam
heating apparatus and to store the
coal or other fuel necessary in gener-
ating the steam. In this connection
it may be remarked that while the
grand jury is not in possession OF
facts and figures as to the probable
cost of the building, it is believed that
the expenditure Of considerable sum
will be necessary in addition to the
81, 10000 already contracted for.
Tenth-That after questioning all o.
the county officers except the county
Judge, the grand jury has been una
BILE to ascertain that any of these
gentlemen asked for or advocated the
change of the system of heating the
buildings they occupy. On
the contrary while some
who were Intercepted wer'
Indifferent and expressed no prefer
ence for the new over the old system
some were decidedly opposed to tn,
| change and expressed deiermi