The morning call., 1894-12-09
Strong Report of the Grand
Jury's Inquiries.
A LEXOW COMMITTEE WANTED.
The Police Courts Charged With
Winking at Crime-The Sheriff'S
Office Is at Fault.

carry Tue reversal OF Inc Dgur6 TO tnaI de-
gree as to think of the Grand Jury in the
light of mouse. Nothing of the kind.
The report is voluminouS document of
sixty printed pages, bound in pamphlet
style, and is an interesting showing of
careful investigation. 1t covers wide
area, from the Fell-street sewer to the
mystery of how its own secrets escaped
into the newspapers, in which latter ii
takes occasion to blame the newspapers
instead of its own weak spots, which
were common knowledge to everybody ex-
cept the Grand Jury. 1t touches upon
many public evils of long standing with
sharp criticism.
In speaking of the County Clerks Office
the report says: ''In the handling of GRIM
inal cases received from the police courts
we find instances where large number Of
cases have been mislald and not been
promptly placed on the calendars of the
Superior courts. 1t is evident that more
care should be exercised in this regard
and some method devised so that this eau
not occur"
With regard to the Assessors Office it
says: "We find that MANY of he deScrip-
tons of Irregular sha led lots are imperfect
not at all such as would be onsidered
sufficient for deed-and bounded by lines
of subdivisions as made AID mum bered by
the Assessor from year to year. These
subdivisions are numb ered arbitrarily and
differently each year. Accordingly an eX-
animation of he books and maps for hat
year is necessary 10 determine whether
the taxes upOn any particular lot has in
fact been paid.
1--WE recommend that such cases he
looked up and proper and permanent de-
scriptions be made for such lots, so that
hi 10 90 tho dor cd
reference to the Asses or's books"
In the Re orders office the jury found
that In the book Of records of Dr. rs, now
in charge of the Recorder, interlineatons
have been made of births alleged 10 have
occurred many years ago, and to which
entries half numbers have been given.
Many of these interlIneations were made
in cases of alleged Chinese births. to ena-
BILE Chinese youths to claim to be native
born Americans, entitled to leave and re-
turn to This country at will. and TO vote at
our elections. Others we're made in the
case OF births of children Of American and
foreign parents of various naiionalites.
mo officer has the right to change the
records of his predecessors, and all entries
in any recurd should be mads consecutivey
and 10 the order in which the papers are
filed, without reference to the date, as in
the case of deeds, etc. AS title to real es-
tate might in some cases depend upon the
entries made in the register OF births, the
importance that might attach to such en-
tries is apparent"
In one breath it calls for the appoint
ment of a milk inspector, and refers to tn g
fact that the Spring Valley Water Com
pany Is required 10 supply all the water
allied for-tbis. however. for the flushing
of sewers. to which it is not put to suffi-
GENTLY frequent use.
The Home for Inebriates was investi-
gated and the public charges made against
its management are not sustained. The
Morgue is referred to as disgrace and
a transfer to a better location recon-
mended.
The reference to the Sheriff's Office is
spicy. 1t says:
cit is the general understanding that a
Sher If in this city expects to make large
fortune in single term. The expectation
of such extraordinary profits leads to i'm
mense outlay to secure a nomin alton and
election. which tends to corruption in poll
tics. There Is no reason why this office
should pay more than au Ordinary CON-
mercial business, and a very severe prun-
ing of the fees and perquisiies attached to
this Office should be made to reduce them
to a reasonable limit"
1t is expected that the new fee law will
remedy many such existing defects.
The jury thinks that no department of
the city government Is so open to i'm
The salary roll is almost 500, 600 wear.
other expenses to the city nearly $4,000
more, and no one knows how much the
perQuisites are. This should be changed
and a proper system of accounts estab-
lshed.
AS 10 the prisons, that the Old City Hall
is condemned and the Broadway Jail and
the prison for women are recommended
for abandonment and that the basement OF
the New City Hall be fitted for such pur-
poses as these are used, and to provide for
the Isolation of female prisoners. 1t Is
suggested that suitable building be cree
led on the site of the Old City Hall for the
police and criminal departments of the
GRIMM al court, the police DEPARTMENT, the
MOrgue and another Receiving Hospital.
The Tax Collectors office is passed with
a compliment upon its methods.
A sufficient appropriation is recon-
mended on behalf of the District Attorney
to enable him TO secure expert ana other
testimony.
quaie and the addition of at least 1875 men is
urged, with mounted patrol of sixteen
for service IN Golden Gate Park and on
the Ocean House and San Bruno roads.
The Iced of an investigating committee
with regard to the Police Commission is
thought to be evident, in that in the face
| of the recent removals of policemen. pre-
soners could supply the jury with no evil
dence upon which to indict.
With regard 70 the continuances In
saloon and other cases before the police
courts the report says:
The circumstances connected with such case.
indicate that bosses, ward politicians, political
managers, leagues ana corporations, claiming
TO control blocks Of voes enough to make OF
unmake Judges or prosecuting attorneys have
| an undue influence and interfere disastrously
with the administration Of Justice in these
! courts. The Judges can remedy this abuse IL
| they are so disposed without any additional
| legislation.
| 1t further says:
| great abuse has grown up In the Police
! courts, when defendants are convicted, o.
| entering up Judgment that they be fined sc
many dollars without alternative" The
Judges have the power under the law to fine
with or without alternative of Imprisonment
| The Intention OF the law, however. Is that when
| hue Is thus imposed 1t shall be actually col
| lected, and the general public is under the i'm
| preston that this is done. But In our Police
| courts II Is understood by those familiar with
| their workings that when a fine Is not re
| enforced with the alternative OF Imprisonment
| no attempt will be made TO collect the fine
| therefore such judgment is equivalent TO a dis
missal of the case. This naturally gives rise 10
| a susI icon and not infrequently to an oper
| charge that such defendant or some polItca