Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-03

raided, what is called a tip was given
to the house for consideration. and time
hf an TO
the rooms. We were deferred from finding
bills of indictment against these offenders
because these offenSeS were outlawed; the
statutes of limitation having run against
them. When further positive proof seemed
further r Gnv investigatom, i because @ % the principal
witness was taken out Of our hands by a
higher auth9EitX and paGsd in deange of
has been produced to implfcate the mem
bers; of the police commission, they have
tinuing in office police officials who coun-
tenanced immoral conduct on the part OF
some of their subordinates and IN many m
stances gave protection to the lawless ele-
ments, and we deem 1t our duty to rec
ommend that the Fire and Police commits
place the police force on footing that will
insure greater efficiency and an impartial
enforcement of the laws.
AS TO MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
Complaints and charges of official cor,
ruption in city affairs have been made and
investigated. and while considerable testi-
mony has been presented to show that
tuted their offices for Personal gain, and
performed acts that render them unnt Tor
holding positions OF public trust. yet the the
contradictory that the grand jury has not
felt warranted in returning an Indictment
city jails was made by the grand jury. We
find that the county jail is entirely too
small to accommodate the , large & nnmber ,n OF
ers are at present kept in the basement,
which is poorly ventilated, damp, dark an ana
that portion of the jail now occupied by
the family of the deputy sheriff or jailor
be converted into cells Tor @ the acc accommoda5 ng "a
imprisoned there. We would further rec
ommend that matron be employed to take take
charge of that part of the jail, and that
all female prisoners and boys under II
years of age be assigned to her immediate
We lind the same difficulty exists in the
city as in the county jail, Being located in
basement It Is dark damp, ,no poorly 3f ~ ven ven,
crowded. and boys. from necessity are fire,
quently put into cells with ~ the older Si6 and a.
tbem Which Is te better ct sS The female
departments, presided over by Mrs. Cum
mings, it's matron, shows evidence OF tht
| supervision of an experienced woman, pc
| culiarly adapted to her work, and Is the
| only humane feature of the JUL. We woule
| and work house be provided By the city fol
| the custody OF its own prisoners At tht
earliest moment possible, thereby relievini
are informed fully one-third of the pris
oners confined in the county Jail are city
prisoners.
AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL.
| After careful inspection of the county
hospital, we find that institution In first
class sanitary CONDITION; ldd & me inmates con con
dren, are apparently satisfied, and from
| numerous inquiries we find that they have
| plenty to eat, their diet consisting o
| good, wholesome food. Their bedding Il
in a clean condition, and among all tn
inmates, not one word of complaint wa
| made as to their treatment, The rooms
on the north side of the building are no
as warm as they should be-; especially II
the old ladies department. This is due t.
bad and defective work around the win
dows, which are In many cases poorl!
fitted, admitting currents of cold air, w
| would recommend that the commissioner
take such action as in their Judgment vii
correct these defects. We also find tina
is dangerous and unsatisfactory. TIL
| lights now used consist of coal oil lamps
We would recommend that the comm ssion
| ers put in a system of electric lighting
This would greatly lessen the danger O
loss of life and property and could be don
at a nominal expense
We further find upon inspection of tn
county store, that that department is con
Quoted in a businesslike and systemati
manner. thus furnishing TO the poor tn
county from the wrongful greed of the les
In the burnt district we find deplorabl
state of affairs exists in the way of reni
in some cases much as $50 per mont
being charged for such houses as in othe
month; and in most cases, houses wit
three rooms renting for $2O 10 $40 osr wee
that in other locations would rent for
to s. per month. We recommend that tn
abolished or enlarged. and that the preser
system of fines are unlawful, inhuman an
Infamous.
In conclusion the grand jury feels wal
ranted in saying that IL has worked hoI
J estly and faithfully In trying 10 uneart