The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-28
WORK FOR ALL CONVICTS.
The Grand Jury Wants to Employ
Them all at Home.

! Wet Lease Systematic Deplorable
/ Condition Of the Public Roads Called
to the Public Attention Twice Year.
( The Grand Jury Joins the City Court
1 in Asking a Repeal Of the Special
Law Governing Magistrates in Chat
ham County-A Charge That the Law
With Regard to Constablss Is
Abused.
The grand jury Of the superior court re-
turned its general presen tments yester-
day afternoon and adjourned for the
term. The supe4ior court also adjourned
for the term last night at 6 o'clock, and
the March term will begin next Monday
morning at 10 O'Clock.
The grand jury had no complaint to
make with regard to the books and the
manner Of keeping the county Offices in
general, but some recommendations were
made with regard to magistrates, similar
TO those incorporated in the present
ments of the grand jury of the city
court.
The grand jury joined the grand jury Of
the city court in requesting the repre-
sentatves of the county in the next leZis-
lature to ask for the repeal of the special
law for this county allowing magistrates
50 for each bond for appearance in court
and for keeping the peace, so that this
county may be subject to the general law
for the state.
The present law" says the present
ments, lis the source of great hardship
on our people, especially on the more ig
nOrant class We also rnFOmm and that
such legislation be secured as will reduce
the number of magistrates one-half."
ooNsTABLEs NOT PROPERLY APPOINTED.
Some complaint is also made with re-
gard to what is termed the abuse OF the
law with regard to constables being ap-
pointed by magistrates Under the law a
magistrate has the power to appoint a
special constable to serve not longer than
ten days, of whom bond is not required.
On investigation by members of the
grand jury it has been found that the
Sixth district has no constable; the Third
district has three not bonded and one
| bonded, the latter of whom is serving
also in the First and Second districts
although the First district has in addi-
tiOn the full number of regular consta-
bles and one special constable; one con-
stable is serving in both tho First and
| Fourth districts, and in the Fifth, Sew
|
have not filed their bonds.
The public schools of the county are all
declared to be in good condition, and no
complaint is made with regard to any of
the public buildings.
THE PUBLIC ROADS IN BAD CONDITION.
The committee made a thorough and
critical examination Of the public roads of
the county, and says nearly all of them
were found fit subjects for complaint.
Similar complaints have been made by
grand iurles, it is said for the past ten
years. The grand Jury states it as its be-
lief that such is likely to be their condi-
tion for all time to come, unless some
other system is adopted for the care and
maintenance of roads than the law pro-
vides.
The existing system, 1t is said was
adopted in colonial days, along with
patrol and militia laws, as the best avail
able at that time, but the efforts of intel
ligent road commissioners, under these
laws, have failed to produce any adequate
results, and the spectacle of badly condi-
toned roads is twice year presented to
the consideration and recognition of the
public.
TO ABRoGArE TIE CONVICT LEASE SYSTEM.
The remedy tor this evil suggested by
the presentments is the assignment of all
| the convicts condemned to servitude to
the board of county commissioners for
utilization lin public work. This, it, is
suggested would provide a basis for an
improved and effective system, and would
make a force sufficient to warrant the
inception upon carefully digested lines Of
a system OF road repair and construction
compatible with the requirements and
conditions OF advanced civilization.
From the chain-gang thus annually
| Increased" say the Dreseutments, there
could be organized a permanent aud suf-
| ficient force to work the roads as at
present existing, and maintain them in
| passable condition; likewise a force for
the construction of roadways, reserving
| to the prosecution of the work of drainage,
the work of paramount importance, a
/ force sufficient to continue the same unin-
| terrupted to a speedy completion.
! The preparation of a bill by the county
| commissioners authorizing the assign
ment of all convicts to their board is
| urged. This Of course is contemplated
as general law, and would do away with
! the hiring of state convicts to private in
/ viduals throughout the state if it became
/ law. The grand jury holds that no
/ private citizen should be the beneficiary
| of the criminal conduct OF his felowman,
! but that the utilization of convict labor
! in the advancement of public works is
| legitimate and is means of working out
| TO the public some restitution in payment
for the expense put upon the public by
means Of crimes and misdemeanors.
A GOOD DRAINAGE A PREREQUISITE.
The grand Jurors say, too, that a good
drainage is a prerequisite 10 the exis-
| tence and maintenance OF good roads, and
that there should be a rigorous and unin-
terrupted prosecution of this work. In
! this connection they urge upon the com
missioners the renewal of negotiations
with the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal
Company, which contemplate the utiliza-
tiOn of the canal as a conduit for the
| drainage of the Musgroye, and other wa
ter sheds.
In connection with the new plan of road
work suggested, the grand jurors say they
do not propose that those now liable to
road duty shall be exempted from that
service, but that such notifications shall
be made IN these requirements as will re-
suit in efficient work.
To carry out these recommendations
the grand jury appointed Messrs. Duncan,
Screven, Schirm and Bacon, the commit
tee on public roads, a committee to confer
with the county commissioners.
In conclus on the jurors called atten-
ton to the condition of some OF the county
! convict camp buildings which need re-
pairs. These have been frequently men
toned in connection with the county COM
missioners meetings.
a LAWYERS SAFE ROBBED.