St. Paul daily globe., 1895-03-16
Grand Jurors, Dictum

The recommendations of the grand
jury, which were made to Judge
Smith yesterday, are well worth con-
slderation. The different matters TO
be reported on were divided up among
d1fferent committees, who reported
separately. The committee on i'm
provementS noted the fact that some
connection ought to be made between
the Sheriff'S office and that of the
American District Telegraph COM
pany's, that prompt notice of the need
OF assistance might be given the
sherlff'S office by outside parties. The
committee considering the methods of
transacting the grand jury's business
has two practical suggestions to offer
which, If carried out, will mean the
saving OF neat sum to the county.
The first is that the county attorney
should not subpoena witnesses before
the grand jury faster than they can
be used. On the first day of the last
session of the present jury 12O wit
nesses appeared, but few of whom
could be examined. The second
recommendation is that all jail cases
be disposed of before the outside work
is taken up, thus saving the county
the expense of boarding prisoners
longer than necessary and giving in
nocent men their liberty sooner.
AS an additional recommendation.
the committee thinks that it would be
advisable to hold a continuous session
of the grand jury throughout the term
of court, sitting one or two days each
week. In that way the Jail would not
be overcrowded and prisoners could
be better cared for. The workhouse
committee found things there in ex-
cellent condition as to discipline, clean
liness and quality and quantity of
food. The combination of the kind
and firm manner Of dealing with the
inmates contributed to the establish
ment of the theory of the institution
reform. AS recommendations. the
committee thought it would be a good
idea to sentence all prisoners to the
Workhouse instead of to the Jail. in
cludins all persons sentenced from the
justice and district courts. This plan
would prevent idleness, which breeds
crime, and would be a benefit to both
prisoners and taxpayers. The COM
mittee also suggests that the legis,a-
ture consider an act empowering
courts in any county in the district in
the state to sentence prisoners to the
Minneapolis workhouse instead of to
their own jails, if they so desire.
AS to the cost of maintenance. he as
serts that the cost of repairs alone will
amount in electric elevators to 20 per
cent of the original cost He has In
ms possession letter written him by
george Is. Phelps Jr., vice president of
the STANDARD Elevator company, who
says he talked with one of the iunket-
ing committee before their return 70
minneapolis, and that the gentleman
informed him that the committee was
unanimous against the Sprague-Pratt
machine. MIR. Reynolds also testified
that he saw Architect Kees in Chica go
Jan. H. when returning from New
YORK. and that KEGS expressed the
opinion that the Sprague--Pratt cleo
trio elevator was fake and a fraud I"
He rings in an interesting computa-
ton on the difference in price. The
difference between the two bids he
figures at SOL, ,215, and estimates that
the interest on this sum would he
enough to pay for all the material re-
qu1red to run the plant during it's life.
and that the principal would still be
left, and would be more than enough
to renew the plant throughout.
Thomas H. Mcclure, late consulting
engineer for the commission, makes
the affidavit on which the suit was
started. He tells of making his re-
port, and certifies to the correctness
of the schedules submitted in the re-
port, also the accompanying digest of
the bids. He says the Crane company
and the Morse-Williams company were
the only ones complying with the con-