Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-14
CUTS ARE DEEP AND MANY.
County OTcIals Subjected 10 a Tor.
TibI1 Arrangement
CITY GOVERNMENT ALSO HIT AT.
Even unscaiiy Inatice- Of the Peace
ami the HrsWsrs Nuisance
Cos a hiuw.

The grand jury for the September,
1895, term OF tho Third district court
closed Il, labon today by nling the
following spicy docuriontj the Jurors
received the thanks Of tho couf; RnS
wero discharged:
To tho honorable district cur. OF
The Third judicial district o. Utah,
Hon. p. a. Merritt, G. j., presiding:
The grand Jury respectfully report
that they have been Ia actual session
slGty.OnB days, and have invcg,ig zted
oue hundred aud twenty-five cases.
Niucty.nlne Indictments have been
found under Territorial laws, and four
uudef those OF the Uuitcn States.
Nineteen Territorial and three UnlteI
SlRtBs cases were ignored.
Acting under tho instructions re-
ocived from his honor. the Judge OF
tuis court, We have examined INTO the
flare Of SAT- Lake county, DOth under
the administration OF thn present
county court and that OF llts prcdu-
cess0ts. Inis labor has been al enor-
msus Ouo and has occupied great
amount Of time aud attention, and haa
necessarily prolonged the term Of our
existence beyond cur anticipation.
Even now thcre IL sufficient material
W butily engage the stu ntion Of a
grand Jury TOT another month at least;
but We are reminded that the tenn 10
drawing toa CLOSE and compelled to
leave further inquiry into these
maitors 10 our successors, or 10 those
upon whom will deyolye this unpless-
ant duty.
The dishonesty, fraud and extrava.
gAncu OF tho Old county court are now
matters OF public nOtorlsty, aud need
not be further commented upon IN this
report; but u 10 unfortunate that tho
men Who were chosen 10 eupersede its
members, became, though In a lesser
degree, Infected with the same grasp
ing greed for gain.
In the matter OF mileage alone, many
thousands Of dollars have been paid
without any legal authority; and
while thors might be some excuse In
allowing n number OF these claims for
travelling In the Interest OF the county,
there IL absolutely no right, neither In
law nor equity, Ia allowing the many
shameless ana diagtaceiul claims that
have been paid Without SCRUTINY aud
without investigation, either as TO the
exorbithnoe Of the charges, the accu-
racy In extending ana footing OF tue
| figures, or as to whether tno service
had actually been rendered. We have,
however, raifained from indicting
where We believed there was no Grim
| inGi intent; hut We urgently TecOni-
mend that civil proceedings bo mad 10
recover to the county those Illegal anu
illgotton lees. We understand that
some Of the Interested par
ties have voluntarily obligated the,i-
selves 10 round, aud naturally tho
above recommendation does not apply
! TO them; but IL docs apply 10 all othrrs,
both Of the prescott and past, that come
| within the statute OF Limitation. Dur
lug the pact three VI four years all tas
seleotmon have MAZE these Illegal
charges Tor mileage; but the probats
Judges, with but ons exception, have
refrAlnsd from doing ~, though they
have failed TO do their duty In prevents
Ing their associates from receiving
these unlawful fees. The county At
toruey, upon whom devoives the duty
10 Institute proceedings Tor the fe-
coysTy Of this money, IL depeniont
upon the very men whom ho should
now vigorously prosecute, Tor the
| NlAluuhk ~ NNH NullAAAHANANAs Ahfn ~
m owl that snould DO rsmedied by tho
Legislature, liking the salary OF ooun'
~ Attorney.
Complaints have been made TO us Of
tho eKeeisiys and unlawful !oes
charged In the chloe OF tue cJuuiy
clerk. Inquiry intD the matter has
fully warranted the complaints; nut
we ftd that this abuAo has grown
out OF an improper construction
OF tho law, aud mat under loyal
advice; ana we're 1t not that the con-
siru otil made by the clerk. or by his
attorney, usually ltebled and some.
timeu Increased the lawful fJe tenfold
we might regard the contraction rs
being mads in good faith, but ~ both
clerk and attorney appear TO DO mu-
tualiy benefited by their own inter
rfetGtion, we feel that both should DO
severely criticized and rebukei.
During our Investigation Of city aud
county afiAiTs, We nave frequently
rUged tue disregard Or ignorance VI tho
law, displayed by officials Ia tho past
and present, Ia the matter OF being IN.
tofestei Ia furnishing supplies and
material OF various kinds " the city
and county. The violation OF law In
this respect has grown 10 DO one OF tho
abuses In our city and county and We
invite tho attention OF the court 10 ibia
subject, with toe recommendation that
tho next Luglslalute VIII define tho
utiense aud dix the penalty therefor.
This Will tend 10 raite tho Standard Of
public officials In the future,
Our investigation mas giso developed
the fact that the county court has been
~ tho habit Of appointing peace oticera
IN some Of the country precincts, hni
paying them a regular salary. We can
dad no authority whatever for auch
action, Rud we believe tnot the per
s1ns 80 appointed have no legal su'
tuouty TO serve process from any court
ana that the payment Of a salary Il