The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-18
ERRORS OF THE GRAND JURY.
HOW THE COMMISSIONERS VIEW
THE PREsENTNENTs.

/ n
One-Drawing of Salaries by the
! Clerk stOppee-CharEes Made by
the Reconnaissance Not Sustain
ed, But Several Points Replied to.
Quality of Brevity Recommended
to the Grand Jury-That Body Com
sidered Too Expensive.
The reply of the County Commissioners
to the general presentments of the Super
| Tor Court grand jury for the present term
has been concluded, and copy was sent
to each Of the members of the latter body
yesterday afternoon.
| Some of the members of the grand jury
received their copies yesterday, while 9TH
ers will be received in the mail this morn
| ing.
The document consist of seven pages Of
| typewriter matter. and while quite in
| teresting, does not reach the point of
saltiness. 1t is rather a document calling
attention to the relations between the
County Commissioners and the grand jury
and the duties, in some respects, of each
of these bodies In addition to this, 1t
calls attention to some statements made
errors, and makes corrections of them
The reply states very plainly that the
report of the special committee of the
grand jury does not sustain the charges
preferred by ex-Commissioner Kehoe, but
considers that there are matters stated In
the report which need reply.
| The reply refers TO a report which was
/ nv rs
Chaplin with regard to some matters. and
this report has been attached to the Of
| iicial copy, which Will be sent TO the grand
jury as body through the clerk of the
| Superior Court.
The commissioners reply concludes with
a little jab at the grand jurors in the mat
ter of the expense which they put the
| county to, the inference seeming to be-
! though 1t is not stated that the expense
IS hardly justified by the results.
Several of the grand jurors who were
! asked about the matter yesterday, said
they had not had time 20 read over the
document received, while others said they
had not yet received 1t and could not,
| therefore, discuss it.
But I am glad to see," said one of the
! grand jurors, that the commissioners
! are paying some attention to our present
| ments. This, 1 think, is about the first
time they have done so. 1t appears to in
dlcate that this time at least, they con-
| slider them of some importance"
The reply of the commissioners to the
presentments of the grand jury is in full,
as follows:
/ The general presen tments of the grand
| jury of the June term of the Superior
/ Court presents a fitting occasion to refer
to the relative duties and powers of the
! nd ba
The former is required by law as \ a
special duty from term to term of Che
! Superior Court to inspect and examine
the Office papers, books and records of
the County Commissioners as well as to
inspect the public buildings, and ether
| property of the county including roads
and bridges, the county jail and convict
| camps.
The latter is invested with original and
| exclusive jurisdiction over many county
matters and a very large discretion in
the management of county affairs.
The visitatorial power Of the grand jury
is not dictatorial. one, and a due OBJ
servance and regard for the rights duties
and powers of these two bodies will pre-
vent friction, promote harmony and Sc
cure cooperation In advancing the inter-
est of the county.
To Illustrate our meaning: Under the
! law the examining, allowing and settling
all claims against the county are among
the exclusive powers of the County Com
! missioners, and their clerk may be au-
| thorized to draw the orders on the county
treasurer to pay the same.
It Is the duty of the county treasurer
to pay without delay when in funds, all
orders according TO their dates and when
there are funds enough to pay all out
| standing orders etc, the treasurer may
pay the orders Unfortunately without
regard TO their dates, yet you do not con-
slider this the proper course. The law
| does not require list of bills passed for
payment to be furnished to the treasurer,
but when the treasurer IS not In funds
ne should be furnished with "a Gull
statement of all orders Issued
1t has been the practice of the board not
to issue orders on the treasurer when he
is not in funds, and no such statement
becomes necessary so long as this course
is pursued but the present board has re-
sumed a practice that had fallen into
disuse by former boards TO furnish the
treasurer with list OF bills passed for
payment, which conforms with the sug-
gestion OF the grand jury, although not
required by law.
The signing of orders In blank by the
clerk has been done with the knowledge
of the board the order book in proper GUS
tody the clerk is a bonded officer, and the
signing of the orders by him In blank oc-
ours only when his absence from the office
IS pFO4OnSeu anu his pace teLipoIdIlly
supplied
Your preseutment described a book kept
by the clerk for his own convenience, con-
tanning statements of bills passed for pay
ment which does not meet with the APP
prevail of the committee, and which from
the presentment would appear 10 be the
only book of the kind kept in the Office
of the commissioners, when, in fact, a
book is officially kept which contains a
record-in whose favor, on what account
or fund, the amount, when passed for
payment date and number of warrant,
ard by whom received-a succinct state
ment of every claim passed for payment
The drawing of salaries by the clerk
prior to the passing of bills for the same
had been stopped. In only two instances
. thereafter was this rule disregarded and
the clerk was cautioned to observe the or
ders of the board.
The meetings of the board from its or
ganization have been held during the sec
ond week OF the month, and notwithstand-
/ inc . h.,