St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-27
Pool Rooms Declared to Be
a Menace to the Public
Morals,
And the Legislature Is Asked
to Pass a Bill to Close
Them Up.
Changes Suggested With Re-
gard to Collecting Fees
in County Offices.

TO the investigation Of county lnStitu-
tions, ETC., and the grand jurors asked
for further time to investigate matters
connected with the expenditures for the
current expenses of the county, and adj
journed by leave of Judge Kelly until
March Z. The grand jury delivers
roast on the conduct, or rather the in.
efficiency, of Martin Dries as expert
printer, and asks the legislature to stop
the pool rooms.
The committee that investigated the
county jail recommends radical changes
in the interior of the building. 1t went
SO far as to submit ground plan of the
changes recommended. This plan pro-
poses the taking of the female ward
for the use of the boy prisoners, and
moving the female ward across the hall
SO as to give more room to this depart
ment. The purpose is TO abandon the
large reception room, and to extend the
present boys ward so as to include the
present space of the reception room,
and convert it into a War6 for female
prisoners.
The County Printing.
The report of the grand jury on the
matter of overcharges for printing bills
is as follows:
'OWing to the Importance Of the case,
as we'll as to the wide publicity given to
certain charges of alleged fraudulent
transactions connected with the county
printing, the jury has given the most
RI
evidence as could be obtained bearing
upon the subject. This evidence, while
being sufficient in its estimation to
justify an Indictment against James H.
Burn, the late county printer. also de-
veloped the fact that the most loose,
unbusiness-iike and negligent methods
of auditing such bills and accounts
against the county have been practiced
by the late county expert on printing.
While we do not charge criminal par
tIclpation i'll the fraud perpetrated upon
the county, the grand jury is of the
opinion that such fraudulent charges
could not have been audited and paid
had the county expert done his duty. In
view OF the iheXcusabie methods by
which such fraudulent bills have been
approved and passed, perhaps ''incOm-
potency" on the part of the county eX-
pert, Is the most charitable construction
to place upon his acts. i'll which case the
reflection of this grand jury should APP
ply to the county officials who employed
him to perform this responsible work.
Under whatever construction. however,
1t is the opinion of the grand jury that
Martin Dreis, the recent county expert
on printing, is deserving of its cenSure
for the careless and negligent perform
ance of the important and responsible
duties intruSted to him.
10 Close the Pool Rooms.
The grand jury regards the pool
rooms as crying evil. and calls atten-
ton to the great injury to public morals,
as we'll as business and social interests
of this city resulting from these and
the gambling resorts. The body re
gretS its Inability to cope with these
evils, and recommends the legislature
to pass bill permanently closing all
such places i'll the state. The jury
states that it has several matters now
under investigation, upon which it de-
SlreS to report later.
No investigation was made into the
county and city offices because it says
that the state examiner by a recent re-
port gives the information that he found
them i'll good condition.
Changes Suggested for County Of
fees.
The Investigation of the offices by the
grand jury was confined to examining
the methods of doing business and the
possibility of checking Off so that no
frauds could occur. The following
changes are suggested, leaving the Ques-
ton of the law, in the matter of effect
ing the changes, in the hands of
the legal department. First, they
suggest that no credit be given by
fee offices. these being the sheritf's, reg
| lister of deeds and abstract clerks, and
they urge that il credits are extended
and so entered on the books the respect
! i've offices be held liable for all such
credits. AS there exists now no means
| of checking the abstract books, it is Sug
geSted that all abstracts be numbered
consecutively, and the abstract clerk
certify at the end of each the amount Of
| the fees, and before the abstract is de-
| livered that the clerk take it into the
| county treaSurer'S office and have that
official certify under the certitication of
the abstract clerk, that he has entered
| the fees as stated on the abstract in
| book kept for that purpose, and at
the monthly settlement the two books
be compared. 1t is also suggested
| that the Judge of the municipal court
| house furnish the city comptroller with
duplicate of their daily reports, which
they now furnish to the city treasurer,
| so that the comptroller will have
means of checking up the municipal
court and city treasurer. The grand
/ jury thinks there should be some city
officer to check up on all city Offices and
| books once month. The work in all
| city and county offices, with the eXcep-
ton of the abstract office. is up to date,
and in that office everything will be
caught up within thirty days.
| Hospital and SOrkhOuse
Upon visiting the city and county
hospital everything was found in excel
lent condition so far as cleanliness
| goes. bat more room is needed. There
are at present seventy-eight patients in
the wards, and many rooms contain
eight cots that were intended to hold
four. During 1892 LOIS patients were
treated. 1t is recommended that the new
wing be finished as soon as the funds
| is only $4,000, and the expenses of
1892 amounted to S2l, 400. The ill.,
crease in the number of pa
tients received. for several years back
| has been 100 year. and soon the hos
ptal cannot accommodate its patients.
unless the wing is completed. In Dr.
Ancker, the jury believes, the people
have a good and able man, who is the
right man in the right place, and the
hospital, when completed in all respects.
will be an institution to be proud Of.
| The poor-farm was never in better con-
dition. and the inmates are principally
old people.
The police stations and other public
| inc tiot n
ton.
j. C. Willard, charged with forgery,
was aqultted by jury after it had been
out IRON II d. NJ. Wednesday until yes
terdaY afternoon.