The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-21

incomplete in many respects. \ receiving
register shonid be kept in when should De re-
ported all arrests giving the name OF sne ar
resting officer, date, etc. But instead was
found q few sheets OF legal cap, Wnlch vera
changed each month The entries are not re-
liable, and In many instances transfers 10 lne
Jail record are not made after commitment.
This is an oversight almost unperdonable, Tor
the law contemplates a complete record OF
each commitment: No Textbook was kept, eX-
cept one combined with the register OF actions.
which failed TO meet the requirements oil the
law.
Considerable Justification was found in
the department of the School Superin-
tendent:
The examination of the books of School
Superintendent A. Harrell discloses a remark
able condition as to classification OF records and
embezzlement OF public funds.
The embezzlements have been accomplished
by drawing money from different school funds
Of the various school districts in the county
without an order from the School Trustees,
and very ingenious method of false entries
has been resorted to TO conceal these shortages.
We present herewith an itemized statement of
the defalcations discovered. on some of which
we have presented indictments.
The books and accounts of the County
Treasurer show that he was careful in the
disbursement of the public funds. But, !"
says the report:
In keeping the books and transactng the
business Of his Office as required by law, we
find that same disregard OF law, carelessness
aud negligence, characteristic. OF the offices re-
ported upon.
The Tax Collector is severely taken to
task for various msdemeanors. The Audi
tor, too, is charged with not keeping the
accounts as they should be kept, and with
drawing from the treasury the sum OF
$14, 546 90 as court reporter on criminal
work, contrary to section 407l, Pollucai
Code.
Tho aeeessor,s off;oa ap,,aore m no Grand
Jury to have been mismanaged, many
pieces OF property being incorrectly as
sessed and valued at too low figure.
In discharging the Grand Jury, Judge
Conklin said, in part:
II your work bears no other results, 1t Will
act as a check TO officers in the future. 1t Will
carry conviction to their minds that there Is
only one way to conduct the public business,
| and that is to do right. 1t will also show them
that there is great over-supervising power
which is authorized to Investigate them, ana
will hold them responsible.
/ do not feel that ii is necessary TO make any
further comment upon this acknowledgements
ment, being contented to permit ii to remain
as part OF the records OF the jury ana open 10
| the public.
| That there have been other disclosures in
| regard TO the transactions in the lury-room
| there can be no doubt from the reports upon
| the streets. In fact 1t has been creditably
stated that parties were well aware that they
were being investigated. and that they would
| be indicted, and had taken the precaution 10
have their bonds prepared for approval.
These things were wrong and the members
who made such disclosures violated their
oaths, and, if that is crime, they will stand
convicted before the public at large OF the vio-
lation.
That mistakes have been made is but nat
ural for he who did not err would be infalli-
BILE which is not to be expected, even in grand
juries But these mistakes have not been
made body, but by individual members
The error which we have referred TO we are
charitable enough to believe was more through
an ignorance OF the responsibility of juryman
than any intended violation OF the law.
Comment has been made upon the fact
that scarcely any of the County pa
pers have made any considerable reference
TO the work of the Grand Jury and its re-
port.