The herald., 1894-06-02
THE GRAND JURY ADJOURN,
Parting Shots at Various City
and County Officials.
They File Their Last Report and
Are Discharged.
The Management of the Indigsns Sick
Funds Sharply Criticised-Oare-
Iessness and Disorder in
the City Hall.

The grand jury made Its final report
to Judge Smith yesterday, and after some
words OF commendstion by him was dis
charged. Their final report took up
various county and city affairs not
touched upen in their former partial re-
ports. The report was as follows:
sHERIFF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
The present incumbent seems to be
very active and energetic in the dis
charge of his duties. During the early
part of his term, through the efforts of
the district attorney all of hia outside
deputies were cut of, on the ground that
the law made no provision for the pay
ment of their salaries. No injury to the
service has to our knowledge resulted
from this economy. The testimony be-
fore us indicates a very unsatisfactory
condition among the deputies in the jail.
There is evidence OF bribery and of the
removal from the Jail safe of prisoners
property, duplicating Deputies Vignes
and Henry. Vignes has already heen
discharged from his position, and we
recommend the discharge of Henry.
The law provides that the sheriff shall
receive in addition to his expenses a
compensation OF 50 per diem Tor thc
transportation OF prisoners and insane
persons to different penitentiaries and
lected although the service was rendered
the county for 500 per month.
Another matter to which it is our duty
to refer is that while some of the depu-
fiau IN N baya pauaaa nav M faraa 0yar
the railroads upon which they travel in
Transporting these persons-especially to
Highlands-yet it appears in evidence
that the sheriff's bills are rendered,
sworn to in full, and collected as though
money had actually been paid for such
transportation We seriously question
the legality OF such proceedings.
CORONER.
The cost OF this Office for 1893 was
$4427.2O. Such an expense we believe
to be unnecessary indeed, it Is doubt
full whether it would not be better to
abolish the Office Of coroner and transfer
the duties and fees to the justices of the
county and public administrator. These
officers have ample leisure to attend to
the business. The law permits at pres
emit the work to be delegated to the just
ices. Their present lack of sufficient
work might we'll be filled by these du-
ties.
The coroner Of the county summons
and selects the juries to pass upon all
deaths from violent or suspicious causes.
During the present term 81 such deaths
have been due to railroad accidents with
in the cits limits of Los Angeles. The
character Of these jury selections must
largely govern the verdicte and deter
mine whether the blame be placed upon
the corpse or upon the railroad. Under
such delicate duties as devolve upon the
coroner he cannot be too careful to avoid
anything suggestive OF coIiGsi0l to de-
feat the end OF Justice and to hold the
railroads bsmeless for any criminal
csrelessness for which they are liable.
The officer now rides upon railroad
passes and Is regularly employed az
sistant physician of the Southern Pacific
railroad and the physician of the Con-
solidated Electric Railway company.
From each employee of the latter road
he receives a contribution OF 30 cents a
month.
''No man can serve two masters.
This officer cannot justly receive the
peoples pay as their hired officer to pro-
teot their interests. and the pay of the
railroad companies to protect theirs.
COUNTY SURVEYOR.
We found the Office OF the county sur
veyor in excellent condition. The rec
ords were not written up to date, but the
data is in such shape that the surveyor,
who personally writes up his books in
order to secure accuracy can easily COM
plete the records so soon "a he can con-
troll sufficient time. He has been en-
gagged steadily for some time past in max
ing complete survey of the San Gabriel
river, showing it's present channel and