The herald., 1894-05-02
led TO THE VERGE OF FELONY.
Grand Jury on Conduct of the
Public Business.
A Partial Report Made to Judge
Smith Yesterday.
city and County Onicisls Called to Ace
oount-Defective Oniciai Bonds.
County Assessor Gray
Criticised.

Yesterday the grand jury made q par
tial report to Judge Smith, calling atten-
tion to various matters that have been
brought to the attention OF that body.
That portion of it relative to defective
official bonds of certain city officials was
alluded to by Judge Smith from the
bench, and he directed the clerk to
notify the city council o. the recon-
mendations Of the grand jury. The re-
port is given in full as follows:
Hon. S. N. Smith, Judge Superior Court, De-
partment No. j, Los Angeles, Cal.
DEAR SIR:-Ths grand jury has ex-
amined and passed upon the matters
referred to in this partial report, and
still has large amount OF business to
deal with. The growth OF the city and
county, and the large volume OF pubic
business. together with the long gap be-
tween this and the last legal grand jury,
have imposed an unusually heavy labor
on this body. In the course OF our work
we have already examined 23b witnesses.
The general result OF our investiga-
tions thus far we may summarize as
follows.
Sufficient care is not taken in regard
to either the capacity or the character
OF the deputies and subordinatee IN the
public service. Merit should be the
sole reason for appointment to Bubor.
dnate public Office, and efficient and
b )nest service should be q guarantee
against partisan removal.
We find @ lack of method and system
in the pu Dlic business which inevitably
creates extravaganza and waste, and
IL III. k<sr< hos Iad IN
the verge of felony. No such tempta-
ton as the present lack OF system and
checks offers in portions OF the public
service should be allowed TO exist. We
call attention to the urgent need OF re-
form in this matter, not only to prevent
the embezzlement or waste OF public
property and public money, but to avoid
as far as possible the placing temptation
in the path OF public officials. We shall
particuarize ON these matters lii this
and subsequent reports.
The charter of the city Of Los Angeles
provides in many ways for an unbusi-
nesslike transaction of public affairs.
Under this system there can never be
thorough harmony nor satisfactory eff
cheney. A new charter removing these
objections 10 q crying need of our rapidly
growing city. We believe the time has
come when citizens must etudy and
etrive for q local government that will
have at least the capacity for an econom-
ical and efficient administration OF pub.
lie sffairs, and which can be firm and
just.
We report more fully on the matters
that have come before us in what fol-
lows, and file herewith the full report OF
details whenever these are deemed oil
sufficient importance.
BONDS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
The grand jury has examined the
bonds OF the public officials within the
county of Los Angeles. In some cases
the bonds are insufficient to protect the
public. OF these we call special atten-
ton to that of superintendent OF streets
of the city of Los Angeles. The bond of
this official lie $4,000. The present su-
perintendent OF streets has handled
$97, 1903 to February Is, 1894. and his
predecessor, Hutchinson. handled with
in the space of 80 days MAY and June.
1899 S69,875, and had all told, during
tho two years OF his administration,
S235, 845 pass through that Office. and
perhaps still more unaccounted for.
Among the bondsmen of City Treas
urer Shoulders We find John 3. Park and
A. d. Childress, formerly connected
with the City bank, noweinsolvent. A
new bond should be given by the city
treasurer with substitutes for these
sureties. Also, R. r. Brown, upon this
bond, is since deceased. There should
be some special official designated to lee
that the financial condition of the bonds
is kept intact where it would become
otherwise either by the death or failure
OF the bondsmen.
We find numerous cases where one
citizen is upon several bonds of public
officials. In some cases the aggregate
liability is very large. More care should
be exercised in this matter.
We recommend that in all cases where
aeurety for a public officer dies or be-
comes irresponsible during the life of
the bond the officer be required to give
new bond. We believe that substi-
tuting bondsman upon bond ia not
30 safe as making new bond.
We herewith give copy of the afida-
Wit used in some of the city official
bonds
''---, and whose names are sub.
scribed as the sureties to the within
bond. being ssverally duly sworn, each
for himself. depoaes and says: That he
is resident and freeholder within said