The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-04-06
THE GRAND JURY REPORT.
County Poor House Condemned. Officers
complimented.

SeSAS xVVk 0VuSo NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Complicated.
| The kootenai county grand jury con-
Guided its labors Thursday of last week
and submitted to the court the follow
ing report.
In discharging the jury Judge May
hew thanked it in behalf of the people
! for its labors:
I'VE, the grand jury, assembled for
the March term, 1895, beg to submit the
following report:
I'VE have examined the testimony in
four cases sent up from various justice
courts; in these cases We have found
one indictment and dismissed the other
three.
I'VE have investigated seven cases
and examined Is witnesses, finding
therein one indictment and dismissed
the other six.
I'VE have visited the county Jail and
poorhouse. The Jail we found neat and
clean and well kept in every particular.
The poorhouse was in very bay condi-
ton, in that the floor was dirty and
dusty; Stop pals, partially filed, bear
ing sickening smell, were scattered
about the rooms. There were no sheets
on the beds, the bedding was old,
threadbare and dirty. The inmates are
kept in an upper story, where the cell,
ing is low and the ventilation poor.
There being no bath the inmates are
dirty and not properly looked after, in
that they are allowed to lie in bed with
their coats, vests, pants and hats on.
1T having come to our knowledge
that the board of county commissioners
contemplate the building OF an addition
to the present courthouse, we would
advise that no temporary cheap wooden
buildings be constructed, and condemn
the proposition as waste OF pubic
funds.
I'VE find that large, well lighted
han in a brick block, centrally located.
and sufficiently large to accommodate
all the Offices now scattered about town,
can be had for the sum of $40 per
month, thereby making saving to the
county of $3.50 per year, while the rem
tai would about equal the interest and
lnsurace on the proposed new building.
We condemn the practice heretofore
in vogue of allowing saloons to run
from three to six months before paving
their license, and request all good citi-
zens knowing of any one selling liquor
without first having made application
for license to at once notify the sheriff
of the same.
I'VE find on examination Of the de-
linquent tax :olis Of this county for
1894 that there is yet due and unpaid
s6,92oss Of personal property tax, not
lien on real estate. Time not admit,
ting US to go further back in the ex
animation of these taxes, we would call
the attention Of the county commission.
ers to the same.
1--WE denounce the practice somewhat
in vogue heretofore among justices of
the peace Of sending to the grand jury
cases such as msdemeanors, etc. which
are properly triable and punishable be
fore such courts. Whether this occurs
from incapability or desire to shift the
responsibility of decision, the practice
IS equally reprehensible, as being an
unnecessary item Of expense to the
county.
ave desire to call the attention of the
county commissioners to the records
and fee book of the probate judges of
flee for the past two years.
BOOKS ARE CORRECT.
ave We visited the Offices Of sheriff,
assessor and tax collector, probate
judge, surveyor, treasurer, and auditor
and recorder, and report as follows:
ave have carefully examined the
license register in the sheriff's Office and
compared the same with the register in
the Office of the auditor and checked
the same with the treasurers books and
found all balanced to a cent.
1--WE have checked up the books Of the
assessor and find that all moneys col:
lected by him have been turned over to
the county treasurer and credited to the
proper accounts as required by law.
1--WE have made thorough examin-
alton of the treasurer's books and
checked the same with the sheriffs
records, tine tax rolls and the auditors
books, and found every item correct.
I'VE have carefully examined the
bank account of the rounty treasurer
and counted the money on hand and
fil,d that the balance in bank and cash |
on hand compares to the total footings
OF our statement.
ave have found all the Offices neat
and clean, the various officials and their
assistants attentive and courteous.
"The books, papers and records in all
the offices excepting in the probate
judges office are models Of neatness,
i .rncss and mechanical arrangement.