Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-07-06
GRAND JURY'S REPORT.
DELINQUENT COUNTY TREAsuR-
ERS.
They Charge Carelessness Of Ofiicial Duty
hut NO Malfeasance In Onlce- They
Recommend Change

AAEeltAsmG&S "
hut no Malfeasance In Onlce-They
Recommend n Change.
On Wednesday last, the day the grand
jury made its report to the Court on the
investigation Of the county officials by
expert accountant Rogers, we only pub
lished bries account of the same, not
being able at that time to get copy of
the report. Below win he found more
detailed account of the report as the
document with accompanying papers is
too long to admit of publication in full.
The jury comments in vigorou-
language on the lawlessness at Brooks
lyn, Curtis Bay and vicinity, and says
that only by vigorous enforcement
of the laws on the part of the police
can this lawlessuess be stopped. The
Jail and almshouse are reported to be
in good condition and well kept.
The major portion of the report is
devoted to a criticism OF the admin
istration of the school commissioners
office, showing conclusively to all fair
minded men, that the expert exam
ination was chiefly, if not wholly, di-
rected at that Office. aud especially at
Mr.. John Z. Bannon.
WHAT THE REPORT SAYS.
"The report of the expert shows
recklessness on the part of the exam
iner and n carelessness on the part of
the commissioners which the proper
authorities should be timely advised
of, and to that end we most respect.
fully suggest that your honors bring
this matter before the Governor and
request him to appoint in the place of
the present commissioners competent
and diligent men. The law defining
the duties of the examiner and COM
missioners is very plain il lies upon
their table, but seems to have gone
UNDECIDED.
Ii is not unfair to say that the late
examiner visited but small percent
age of tho schools of the county,
while 1t is in evidence that he received
$500 per anLum for travelling expenses
to the different schools-a work he so
persistently neglected. 1t is also in
evidence that under the administra-
ton of the present board he paid this
money 10 himself without the order of
the board, and that in the published
account this money is not charged to
travelling expenses, but is included In
other accounts. We are aware the
law gives the commissioners the right
to pay, or promise TO pay, whatever
sum they may see fit, but we claim it
is manifestly their duty to pass an
order for the payment of this money
and TO spread the same on the journal.
If this course had been adhered to. as
the law directs, the people of the
county would not have been in igno
rance of what they pay their examiner.
They suppose they pay 81 800, when
in fact they pay $500. This is a
most reasonable mistake, for the pub
lished account does not show any fur
ther money paid him than the 81 800.
eve have examined the school com
missioners and we find either n Won
derful lack of knowledge of their duty
or carelessness. They have failed to
see that the minutes were carefully
kept. They have allowed the treas
urer to pay himself for travelling ex-
penses without any order from .he
board. And as far as we can judge
they have been cognizant of the fact
that the treasurer has failed TO do his
duty in the respect of visiting the
schools, yet have allowed him to draw
the money for the same.
'sWe do not charge the late examiner
with dishonesty, but we do say that
the examiner and his board have made
a terrible mistake, for their own sakes
as well as that of the people, in not
keeping the receipted bills in the
Office and relying upon checks, for
not the most thorough examination
(such as we have just made) can be
satisfactory to either party without
the presence of the vouchers.
1--WE have also to report that the ex.
pert has finished the examination and
has completed his work IN both the
Offices of treasurer and board of
county commissioners. We find by
his examination that the following
sums are still due by the ex.treasurers
Mr.. Bannon, for the years 1885 and
1856, $l63S6, with interest; DIR. Geo.
Wells, for the years 1887 aud 1883,
$3.50, with interest II. b. CAN'T, for
the years 1889 and 1890, $3.50, with in
terest Owens, for the year 1891,
$l,2l1.30; Owens, for the year 1892,
2,729.5I; Owens, for the year 1891,
school fund, ST, ,70l.S0; Owens, bal
ance due school fund for 1897, 81 ,622 27;
total, So .958.74.
tThis balance due TO the county,
amounting to $7,958.54, by the above
named ex-treasurers, we wouldrecom-
mend should be accounted for as soon
as possible.
"If this grand jury has the right to
make the following recommendation
they would strongly urge: That an
expert be employed once a year
to examine the books of the county.
We ascertain from Mr.. Rogers, the
expert, that such an examination
would not take more than week, and
we believe that the cost to the county
would not exceed $50 or $40, which
would be money we'll spent for the in
terest of the county"
Benjamin Watkins, foreman of the
jury, after the report had been made,
disclaimed any intention of rejecting
either personally or politically upon
the gentlemen named. He said the
jury had done what it considered to be
its duty. Mr.. Watkins stated be had
heard threats had been made against
him if the jury had indicted some of
the persons, but these threats did not