The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-20
THE GRAND JURY'S REPORT.
Continued from Eighth Page.


Continued from Eighth Page.
tion, except that the plastering in both
buildings is cracked and broken.
Obedieutly 10 your houor's charge, we
have looked into the matter of the insur-
ance on the county's buildings, and we
ind that the Jail is insured for $50 900
and the court house and It's furniture for
$1,000 each. We think that the insur-
ance on the court house and its contents
is insufficient, and we recommend thatlt
be increased to $4,000.
EDUCATION
The various public schools have been
visited, and their general condition and
administration are approved, except that
IN some instances notably, at the East
Broad street and Henry street schoolsl
the rooms are overcrowded. We find that
even with this overcoming, it is impossi-
BILE to accommodate all of the children
who apply for admission to the schools
Such being the case, and having in view
the prevailing financial stringency, we
consider it sounder policy to enlarge the
capacity of the present school houses
(where that can be dOne) than to provide
sites for structures to be built hereafter.
We recommend that, If possible, steam
or hot water te used for heating the
school houses in place Of the stoves which
are now generally employed. While the
first cost OF the change would be consid-
cradle we believe that it would pay in the
saving Of fuel, help and stoves, besides in
surfing an equable distribution of the heat,
which is unattainable under the present
system, and thus promote the health of
the teachers and the children.
We also recommend that the high
school be free.
CONVICT CAMPS.
There are at present in Chatham county
three convict camps, containing 1877 CON
victs, distributed as follows:
Camp No. l, on the County Farm, with
sixty-seven convicts.
Camp No. 2, at Southoyer Junction.
with forty-two convicts.
Camp No 3, at Sackville, with twenty
eight convicts.
No. is the permanent camp, and Nos.
and are flying" or tent camps.
camp No is in most unsatisfactory
condition, and we see no reasonable like
nhood OF amellorating 1t. The buildings
are old, badly constructed, and full of
vermin, and those used for dormitories
and hospital are so saturated with the
accumulated filth of years, that they
should be burned as soon as new struct-
ures can be substituted for them. The
tent camps are in better state than is
No. |, but the bedding at all is foul and
loathsome. The camps are uniformly de-
| ticient in water supply, and in the atten-
ton which should be given to the cleanli-
ness of the prisoners
| We found the food supplies to be of
good quality, except the bacon, which is
of the poorest kind.
The convicts appeared to be in good
condition, aud, generally speaking. con-
tented with their rations and treatment.
Only two of them made complaints, and
investigation of the latter disclosed moth
ing of serious character.
| We recommend TO the county commits
sioners
l. That they proceed at once with the
erection of a new aud permanent camp.
The location of which was pointed out to
US, for the latter seems admirably suited
| for the purpose, the plans for the Camp.
Submitted to US by the county engineer)
meet our approval, and we are informed
that an appropriation of 5000 is now
available for this much-needed work So
there should be no delay in pushing the
latter vigorously.
2. That better quality of bacon be
substituted for that now furnished TO the
convicts.
3. That each camp be supplied with
enough bed-tick to make two sets of mat
tresses, and that rule be esta blished
requiring that these ticks be washed reg
ularly, and sufficiently often to keep them
clean.
JUSTICES DoCKETs.
The books, containing the civil and
criminal dockets of the various magis-
trates and justices of the peace, have
been inspected and found correct, except
in the case of Magistrate Mcleod King,
whose civil docket shows no examination
since the 4th of August, 1898, nor any
civil business done since Oct. q, 1898.
IT, sa i L.,
the difficulty in getting criminal war
rants served by the constables, and we
recommend that prompt report of all such
cases of neglect be submitted to the
solicitor general for his action. We also
recommend that in all cases where war
rants and other papers are marked
turned over to the solicitor general"
proper receipts be taken therefor and
sent in with the books for examination.
We heartily concur in the recommends
ton of the preceding grand jury that such
legislation be had as will reduce the num-
Der of magistrates one-half Such a re-
duction would tend to elevate the dignity
and character of the Office and increase
the emoluments, as it should stimulate
the conservatism of the incum bents of it,
and it would check the disposition of an
ignorant class of our community to in
dulge in frivolous litigation. A law re-
ducing the number of magistrates one
half in counties of more than 40, 900 popu-
lation might accomplish the end sought
for.
MISCELLANEOUS.
We suggest to your honor that our com
mittees on roads and bridges, drainage,
convict camps and Justices dockets be
continued, so that they may confer with
the like committees of the next grand
Jury, and, If need be, with the county
commissioners. If such practice be estab-
lished and maintained, it will, we think,
be of benefit in keeping alive interest in
special subjects with which committee
men have familiarized themselves, and in
giving more permanent force to the
meritorious recommendations of future
grand iuries.
We feel it our duty to refer to an ed
itorial which appeared in last Saturdays
issue Of journal published IN this city.
The article is headed "Partisanship Vim
dicated." 1t reflects seriously upon the
Official character of your honor, the judge
of the city court, and the judge of the
court of ordinary, particularly upon the
first named A judicial officer to whom
such charges and insinuations might be
Justly applicable would be unfit for his
high position, and should be impeached.
The disingenuous attempt to draw dis
function between Judge Falligant and
Capt Falligant does not relieve the ar
ticle of its offensive and defamatory char
acter. Your honor, as judge of the supe-