The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1898-10-29
Grand Jury Presentment
Continued from First Pagr

OF his office. and his quarters should ~ On
larged If possible. There Is safe place for
keeping III" tax rolls provided for this Office.
and they are constantly in danger Of destrUc-
ton by tire they are necessarily LIFT out OF
the Office safes on account OF their size.
The Offices Of the county judge. lh- sheriff +
and the county surveyor and registration "ri- /
We find in firSt-class condition. but the /
office room Of the sheriff. the surveyor and |
Trgistra ton officer We think wholly Inadequate"
70 their respective needs and the business !
transacted 10y them.
The county superintendent office find in |
excellent condition. and much pleased |
with tn" condition OF the public school system |
Of our county shown by ali inspection OF his
Office. We find also that the school fund has
been managed that ii Is now almost out Of
debt. and We think the superintendent and
the school board deserve much credit on this
( account.
The county assessors books are in already.
and we find the same to be in good shaIr.
. neatly gotten up, and in all respects satisfac-
| tory.
Before leaving the registration officer, We de-
sire to call attention 10 the published list Of
registered voters now required by law. This
list is necessarily very inaccurate, FOR the rea-
son that there is by which the regis
| ira ton officer can determine what voters on
| the lists are exempt from poll taxes on ac-
count Of age, or other reason, and We most
| urgently recommend and urge upon our legis-
! latOrS that they do all in their power at the
coming session 70 bring about the repeal Of the
law requiring this list to be published. as it
! appears to Us another useless expense placed
| upon the people OF this state from Which u"
benefit il derived save by newspapers. 1t Is or
| no practical public utility and should be abol-
| ishcd. In this connection we would urge upon
our iegisla tors further that they use their best
endeavors 10 secure legislation providing for
the letting Of public printing, ana Of p!! public
contracts, to the lowest responsible bidder,
The county treasurer's books have been sub
mittrd TO US, and We find them kept in n neat
| mlanner. 1t appears from these books that our
| present balances amount now To something
! like xI3 900, and with this amount on hand and
the tax books ready to go intG the hands Of the
! collector. we would ask the commissioners a.
consider the matter of reduction In III"
county tax rates especially would We ask that
| the fund known as the building fund be dis
continued or reduced. We desire on behalf of
the ettizeRS of the different parts of the
county from which Wa come to thank the com
missiOnfFs for the reduction OF O4e and GUAR.
ter mills already made III the tax rates, ami
| trust that they will if possible allow u further
reduction in accordance with our suggestion
PATPERS
We find on invcstig CATION Of the public rec
0rdS of our county, that the pauprrs of the
county have cost us in the last twelve months
the sum OF $lSI2.5O. Sufficient land TO cstab
li4h u poor farm in our county could be- pro
cured by the commissioners by donation In al.
most any section they may desire, could b..
purchased for II less sum of money than is paid
out annually for the support OF The INDECENT.
If the lands were donated as We have every
reason TO believe they would be If asked for.
the sum paid out in year for the support
! of pauperS would go far iowa rds, If IT would
not entirely equip, pauper farm in our
| county which soon would be, if experiments in
this direction are of any worth. self sustain
ing.
We know OF no complaints on account Of the
public roads. and therefore take il they are in
good condition. We would suggest TO the com
miaSioners, in this connection. that they keep
an itemizcd account of expenditures on the
, two public roads now being built a guide
| for future development of our roads.
This session OF the court commenced under
circumstances which brought sorrow to every
member OF this jury, we'll as To the court
and its various officers At the meeting of the
court We We're advised and reminded by your
honor OF the recent loss of our sheriff. B.
Dupre Hodge, and We, with the court and its
| officers, experienced in his death the loss not
only of faithful official but of n respected
| citizen and an esteemed friend. Nothing tina
We say would add to the respect and esteem
| for Mr.. Hodge which Was cherished by the
citizens of this county generally, nor can any
words OF ours make more plain to them their
! great loss which all so kecnly feel. We have.
however. appointed committee of our body
to draft resolutions of respect 10 Mr.. Hodge.
which resolutions as adopted by this grand
jury are hereunder written:
Your committee, appointed to draft resolu-
tiOns OF respect to the late b. ID. Hodge, sheriff
OF Marion county, which sad occurrence took
place in this city ut recent date. beg leave To
submit the following:
|. Resolved. That in the death OF Mr.. Hodge
W" have sustained serious and Il sad loss.
both in his capacity an official Of our
county and as one OF our fellow citizens. In
| him recognized respected and earnest
| Christian gentleman, faithful and conscrn
| lous oihcial. and man We might all be proud
to speak of as citizen Of our county.
! He has passed from earth to his reward, and
may the peace that remains to the people of
cod be- his. To his douhly orphaned children
We extend our sincere sympathy; and may The
God OF til" orphans preserve and keep them
under the shadow of his wing.
7. J.. COOPER,
joins PASTUER.
+. l.. KICKER,
Committee.
We ask that this paragraph OF our present
ment may be spread upon The minutes of this
| court.
We desire to extend To- your honor, and 10 ali
| the officers OF this court. our SINCERE thanks
for their uniform courtesy. assistance and con
sideration for us in the discharge. Of our duties
| at this term. Respectfully submitted.