The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-17
THE GRAND JURY.
Results of Its Three Months Investi-
cation of Affairs.
License Collector Bates Methods Con-
demned-Also the Rickety Old
City Jail.

adjourned sine die. The report states
that they assembled November %, 1892,
Joseph Steffens being appointed foreman.
j. p. Cox, secretary, and B. b. Brown as
expert. 1t then proceeds as follows:
'On DECEMBER u, 1892, we proceeded in
a body to visit and inspect the Court
house, Hall of Records, County and City
Jails. We find the Courthouse and Hall
of Records in good condition, and the
several departments seemingly in good
order; also inspected County Jail and
found it in perfect order and clearly
kept.
THE LICENSE OFFICE.
1--WE visited the several city offices and
find the books and accounts of the officers
neatly and apparently properly kept,
with one exception, for which we make
the following presentment: The County
License Collectors Office is in very I'M
satisfactory condition. 1t has been
the custom of the County Audi
tor TO have printed from time
TO time such blank licenses as are
required; to sign them and deliver the
same to the License Collector when
called for, charging him with the same.
IL appears to have been the practice of
the Board of Supervisors to appoint
License Collector or contract with the
party for the collection of licenses, leav-
ing said collector to do the classifying
and to make out his own list of license
payers. While he is required to report
monthly the amount of licenses collected,
we ind no record that any official has
required the present collector, E. w.
Bates who has been in Office over one
year., TO report the amount of blank
licenses on hand until last month, when
he paid over the balance called for by the
Auditors books, 10 the amount of 50, l35.
CONCERNING Personal RECEIPTS.
"E. w. Bates has issued his personal
receipts, or collected and gave no licenses
TO the amount of $3.50 90, as per Exhibit
4; we also find instances where he has
issued TWO licenses Off one stub, to the
amount of S57 so, as per Exhibit b, and by
which same he retained one license in his
possession, which is q copy of his books
as we find them. While these were en-
tered in the cash memorandum, no notice
OF this book was taken in settling his ac-
counts with the Auditor.
I'VE are unable to estimate the number
OF personal receipts issued, of which he
has shown no record, but find receipts to
the amount of $50, as per Exhibit c. We
also find that wellknown persons who
should pay license, have not paid, nor
been called upon to do so, for year or
over. We condemn the system of col
=
money collected, such receipts being lille
gal. We therefore recommend that the
present Board of Supervisors and the
District Attorney thoroughly examine
The County License Collectors work in
the past, and report any further irregu-
larlties found in connection Herewith,
and report the same, including in said re-
port the amount of delinquent they may
collect and what portion was covered by
personal receipts.
eve suggest that the Board of Super
vlsors employ competent man to make
out a License Collectors book, in classes
and alphabetically arranged, with the
names Of the license payers. And that all
license payers in the city and county
when next called upon be REQUIRED to ex-
hibit their license or Collectors receipt in
order that the report may be as accurate
as possible. We also recommend that the
License Collectors books during his alb
sence be left i'll the Treasurer's office for
public inspection. We further suggest
that the Chairman of the Board of Super
visors, or the County Treasurer, be re-
CURED to sign all blank licenses and
charge the Auditor Herewith. That the
Auditor sign when he delivers and charge
same to the License Collector.
The monthly report which the License
Collector makes TO the Board of Supervi-
sors of the licenses sold for the month.
should also contain a statement of the
blank licenses in his possession at the
time of making said report We also re-
commend that the License Collector re-
port all delinquencies of thirty DAYS, and
the report so made should be sworn to
before the Auditor, as the law REQUIRES.
ard that the Auditor certify to the cor
RICHNESS OF same.
THE COUNTY HOSPITAL.
son December 10Th we proceeded in a
body to inspect the County Hospital, in
IL, f,r,V N.as -. l.
and cared for. We found the institution
in most perfect order. We visited the
various wards and found order and clean
illness prevailed throughout. We con-
versed privately with the many patients
and heard no complaints whatever; on
the contrary, all expressed themselves
entirely satisfied and pleased with the
kind treatment received at the hands of
the resident physician and his able and
efficient corps of officers and assistants
all of whom we found engaged in their
several duties and by whom we were
cordially received and escorted through
the entire building and grounds. They
also eXemplitied their eXpediency and
thorough discipline in fire protection,
and all information at their hands was
freely and kindly given. The several
jurors examined the food and clothing
and found the food of wholesome and
heathful quality, and amply supplied
with each.
LOOSE METHODS.
1--WE condemn the practice of the Board
of Supervisors of making contracts with
persons to perform official duties; we
md that the License Collector has vio-
lated the terms of his contract, and failed
TO properly perform the duties of his
office. We therefore recommend that the
contract existing between the License
Collector and the Board of Supervisors
he rescinded. We further suggest that
all the county officials be required, in
their report, to swear TO the same, as the
law requires them to do, which hereto
lore has not been the practice.
CITY JAIL AGAIN CONDEMNED.
.sWe have visited and inspected the
building known as the City Jail. 1t is
the Judgment Of this jury that the old
building referred to is unfit for occupancy
of any person. This jury find further
that the req uirements of our city demand
that q site be secured and new building
erected thereon for City Hall and jail
purposes, as early as consistent with the
site and building now in use be sold and
the proceeds applied 10 the payment OF
the new building.
STATIONERY AND PRINTING.
.sHaying made an investigation of the
several printing and advertising bills for
the last election, we lind that the law is
defective in allowing the County Clerk to
use his discretion as to the number OF
newspauers in which the election adver-
Using shall be made and the number of
times in which the said advertisement
shall be published. We therefore suggest
that the Board of Supervisors advertise
and receive bids Tor all the pruning anu
advertising to be done by the county.
~ ,.aoo,,,Tnend that hereafter the officiSlS