The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-28
GENERAL PREsENTMENTs
OF the Grand Jury Of the Superior
Court Of Chatham County,

of the superior court, E. ]. c.. The
Grand Jury for the December term of 1893
respectfully submit the following general
presentments:
COUNTY OFFICERS.
The books of the county commissioners,
clerk of the superior court, ordinary
sheriff. receiver of tax returns and tax
collector have, as far as our examination
enabled US to Judge, been found to DE cor
rectIy and neatly kept up to date.
The books of the county treasurer were
found correct, with vouchers for all re-
CENTS and disbursements, and bank book
balanced, so as to verify the amount at
his credit with the bank.
The amount of executions for unpaid
taxes for 1898 turned over to the sheriff is
$50 ,03O 50 against S45,6 1929 0S for the year
iS92, which is not bad showing when
the recent financial stringency and the
General depression in business are taken
into consideration.
MAGISTRATES.
The books of the magistrates and ex-
oficio justices of the peace have been ex-
amined and the dockets of all these OFF,
GERS found neatly and correctly kept; and
the fees charged by them to be in accor-
dance with the amounts allowed them
BY law, as shown by schedule of fees sub
mitted for comparison with their charges.
We Join the grand jury of the city court
for November term of 1898 in requesting
our representatives in the next legisla-
ture to ask for the repeal of the special
law for Chatham county allowing magis-
trates 50 for each bond for appearance in
court and for keeping the peace, so that
our county may be subject to the general
law of the state; the existing law is the
source of great hardship on our people,
especially on the more ignorant class.
We also recommend that such legisla alton
be secured as will reduce the number of
magistrates one half.
CoNsTABLEs.
According to law, each district should
have two constables elected and their
bonds approved by and filed with the
county commissioners; the magistrates
should appoint constables to fill vacan-
cies, who should file bond with the ordi-
nary. Magistrates can Ito meet
emergencies) also appoint special
officers to serve not longer than ten days.
We think this privilege is exercised too
freely. On investigation, we and the
Sixth district has no constable, the Third
district has three not bonded: J. Kauff-
man, H. Wetherhorn and j. S. Hum
phries, and but one bonded. He is also
serving in the First and Second districts.
although the First district has in addi-
ton the full mum Der of regular and one
special constable; and we find one con-
stable serving in both the First and Fourth
districts. In First district Ed Coleman
has filed no bond. In Fifth district j. e.
Scott has not filed bond In the Seventh
district Reuben Morris and Robert
Rodgers have not fled bond. In the
Eighth district J. B. Small has not filed
bond.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A thorough examination has been made
of the county schools except those on the
islands. The teachers were found to be
competent and diligent. Some of the
buildings are unsuited for school purpo-
poses. Many of the schools (white and
colored) are conducted in churches with
no adequate facilities far teaching pen
manship and mathematics.
The health of The colored teachers and
scholars is imperiled in occupying the
houses at Rice Hope and Volambrosa
during The winter season.
At this season we find the average at
tendance on the country colored schools to
be about one fourth of the enrolled men,
bership. We believe the scholars are en-
ployed in. The fields, this fact induces the
recommendation that the term of country
schools be reduced from six TO four
months and the money saved used in the
SALARY o.
teachers, $3.50 per month, would enable the
board to erect two new houses each year.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The committee report having examined
the court house and found everything in
good order, except the plastering, which
is IN need of repairs in all of the rooms:
also the Jail, and found everything in good
order except plastering, in the residence
portion needing some reDairs
JAIL.
The building is kept in good order and
the sanitary condition is properly looked
after There are confined there:
Wnlte maIes. ....'........ .........,.........1f
COlored males Observation-Disclosures. A
White females. ........... .....,.. ?
Colored females Observation-Disclosures. 80. 6
Total rrr,,,o-
OF these 10 are serving sentence.
United states prisoners ..................7
The diet consists of bread co .ee, me4y
and vegetable soups, served in sufficient
quantities. The books of commitment
seem to be properly kept.
PUBLIC ROADS.
One committee made thorough and
critical examination of the public roads
OF Chatham county, and ind nearly all of
Uhem MT subjects for complaint, such as
we ma them, by reference to grand Jury
presentments for the past ten years, to
nave been in nearly every instance, aud
such, as we believe, is likely to be their
condition for all time, unless there be
ADOPTED some other system tor the care
ana maintenance of roads than that
which the present law provides.
Inc existing system was adopted in
colonial days, along with patrol and
militia laws. as the best available az that
Vlme, and has but in limited measure
suoseryed the public necessities The
altered conditions of the last quarter of
century make, practically, inutile the
!Soor previously available for working
!he roads, and the necessity for change
Is generally admitted
The provisions of the law under which
the public roads are now administered
are contessedly inadequate, and commits
siohers OF the roads declare them inopera-
i've; Assid uous and energetic efforts of
intelligent road commissioners fail to Sc
cure any adequate result, and the specta-
cIe OF badly conditioned roads is twice a
year presented to the consideration and
recognition Of the public. This evil will
continue until a change of system occurs.
simple amendment OF the present law
Will not obviate the difficulties
Inc assignment of all Convicts con
uemned to servitude to the board of
county commissioners for utilization in
pubic work Will provide a basis for an
improved and effaptiva svsrayn and