The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-03
GRAND JURY CHARGED.
Justice Lippincott Calls Spe-
cial Attention to Munich
pal Expenditures.

The opening of the April term Of the
county courts was accompanied by the
usual floral displays offerings from the
different court officers to the respective
judges.
AT 1O:15 the new Grana Jury filed into
court headed by Sheriff euempler and
Foreman j. E. Hulshizel, Sr. Justice
Lippincott and Judges Blair and Nevius
were on the bench The calling of the
calendar for the term was temporarilv
suspended and the, oath of office was inn
pressively administered to the members of
the new grand inquest by Clerk E. w.
Gritten. Grand Jury Clerk James Clark
was then sworn in, after which Justice
Lippincott delivered the following brief
CHARGE
Gentlemen of the Grand .Jury-The
Grand Jury will during the ordinary pro-
gress of it's affairs be called upon to con-
slider almost every variety of violation OF
public law. A steady adherence to the
terms of the oath which you have taken
will lead to most satisfactory results. A
rigid enforcement of all criminal laws,
common or statute, is absolutely neceS-
sary for the existence of decent govern
ment, and the protection of the liberty,
person, property, reputation and life OF
the citizen. A constant vigilance and
action on the part of the officers OF the
in order to punish and suppress certain
demoralizing offences which will certain
ly flourish in the absence of such vigilance
and action. This county is not now free
from such offences in certain sections, and
your inquiry is directed to every portion
thereof in order that this county may be
absolutely free from such Violations OF
law. Your attention is also directed to
the violation of statutes relating to the
observance of the Sabbath day. Where
ever there is violation. of the sunday
laws. which is indietable IN us character,
an indictment should be presented.
Especially is your attention directed to
the exercise of great vigilance and super
vision over municipal expenditures. Where
appropriations and expenditures are made
under the statutes of this State in the
exercise of an honest and reasonable dis
cretion, they are entirely beyond your
jurisdiction, but wherever they are made
unlawfully and corruptly, or are 50 ex-
travagant as to lead to the inference that
they were made from improper motives
or corruptly, you should not fall to lndlct
those responsible. This is an important
subject, because it may be remarked that
for many years past, whatever the cause
may have been, the taxation upon real
estate in some portions of this county has
been so high that the danger line has been
reached beyond which taxation cannot go,
and the right of private property in such
holding be preserved. Whatever may pc
our personal views in relation to this sub
iect the true rule is that taxation should
he limited to the necessity of government,
good government it is true, but 1t should
not be permitted to go beyond that.
''The Court may take occasion during
the term to bring your attention 10 mat
ters upon which action is desirable.
your duties in personal sense are
not agreeable ones They are performed
by YOU independently, but under your
| oaths of office. You will have the assist,
ance of the Prosecutor of the Pleas at all
| times. The Court will cheerfully aid you
whenever you desire such aid.
"Permit the Court to express its conf
! dence that you have a deep sense of the
obligations imposed upon you by law,
| satisfaction of the Court, the public and
| your own conscience"