The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-28
GRAND JURY'S FINGER
POINTS THE MAYOR AND POLICE
COURT ALIKE TO NEEDED
REFORMS
SOME RESORTS OF I'LL FAME

Located I'm the Neiehborhood Of
City Schools and other Instftu-
tions Where Their Presence Is
Particularly Objectionable Come
In for Specific Mention by the Au-
gust Body.
The grand jury yesterday completed its
labors and submitted to Judge Jaggard
a final report condemning the conduct
of the municipal court, and the police
system that allows young girls to be
transported with depraved male prison.
ers. and recommending that the govern
ment Of the department be vested in a
police commission. Reference Is made to
alleged disorderly houses in the neigh
borhood of the high school and similar
institutions, and to the unsatisfactory
condition Of the county Jail.
After stating that the workhouse and
city hospital were found in a satisfac-
tory condition, the report says:
Municipal Court-After careful investi-
cation we have come to the conclusion
that change should be made at once
In the methods of the municipal court
1853, establishing the municipal court OF
the city of st. Paul, it is made the duty
of said court, as follows: He shall see
that the criminal laws Of this state ana
the ordinances, laws, regulations ana by
laws of said city are observed and eX,
eeuted, and for this purpose one OF SAID
judges shall open the court every morn
ing Sunday and legal holidays eXcepted).
and proceed to hear and dispose of in a
summary manner, in all cases which
shall be brought before him by the po,
lice officers of the city or otherwise,
either without or with process. for the
violation of the criminal laws of this
state committed within the county of
Ramsey, or of the ordinances, laws and
regulations and bylaws of said city"
Instances might be cited where the
| prosecution was rendered helpless by the
failure Of the court to perform the duty
imposed by the charter Ito hear ana DIS
pose" Of in a summary manner all cases
brought before him. 1nasmuch as the
right to appeal from the decision of the
court exists, the defendants rights are
in no wise prejudiced by courts hearing
all cases brought before him. for a vio-
lation of the ordinances. laws. regula-
lions and bylaws Of this city.
Police-In our opinion the police de-
mission similar to that of the fire board,
and that the chief of police should, I'M
der the supervision Of such commission,
have absolute control OF the men In his
it's efficiency.
We believe the police patrol wagon
should be covered vehicle. not only to
hide it's inmates from public gaze, but also
to prevent their suffering from the cold
and wet against which, as rule, they
are not protected.
We condemn police system which al
lows young girls to be transported with
depraved men. in the same prisoners. van
to and from the central station and the
police court, and from the latter to the
Workhouse.
In the opinion OF this grand jury a
female should be conveyed separately
from male prisoners.
Considerable testimony has been pro-
dueed to this Grand jury concerning Ger tha
neighborhood of the high school, relief
society and other similar institutions,
where they are said to exist. and we
forbid and cause to be removed any. such
houses in such neighborhoods. Our at
tention has been directed in various ways
toSthe place known as the Palm Garden,
at Eighth and Wabasha streets, and the
place known on Seventh street as the
Olympic theater, both of which, 1t Is al
legged. are frequented by dlsorderly char
acters. male and female. We believe that
such places as now run. are detrimental
to the best interests and fair name OF
our city, and recommend that the ex-
ecutfve and police department hold these
and all other licensed places strictly to
the requirement of the law governing
the issue of liquor licenses. believing as
we do the executive has ample, power In
the premises. We recommend that In
future cases of violation of liquor laws,
proceedings be taken against the bonds
in accordance with section 1894 Of the
General Laws Of 1894.
Abstract Offlce-In the abstract Of
! flee We find valuable records and books
torn and mutilated, to replace any page
of which, if lost, would cost the county
a large amount Of work and money. The
1s&I H1 1fISf
having free access to the files, or copies
ought to be made. The abstract clerk
complains that he Is not permitted to
cut the fee for furnishing the abstracts.
companies on this account, thus an In
come to the county Is lost for which
clerk could be hired who at the time,
could make copies Of the damaged record
books.
County Auditors Off1ice-The system
in the county auditors Office demands
immediate attention. At the present
present incumbent Of the office. any
clerk there could enter credits for de-
lfnquent taxes without much chance Of
being discovered, should he choose to be
dishonest. Some good check could be de-
vised by which errors AMI dishonesty
might be prevented or at least discover
ed. At present there Is no competent
tor expressed himself to US strongly in
favor of some such q necessary system.
The auditor is convinced that q large
amount of money for liquor licenses is
lost to the county which could be OBJ
tanned If a license inspector were ap-
pointed to look after the saloons In the
county which are, no doubt, running
now without license.
County Jail-The county jail Is In an
unsatisfactory condition. The hunks in
the cells are all vas-hammock styles;
have been used for many years, and in
filthy condition; prisoners complain OF
vermin. In questioning the officers i'll
charge We learn that everything possible
had been done to eradicate the trouble,
but without success. They explain that
many coats Of plaster and wi1itewasfl
had been put on the walls In the cells,
and that left cracks In which the YER
min hide The plumbing throughout the
Jail Is of the old style. and not as it
should be. Water closets haye apparent
" no provision for carrying off foul air.
The walls on the south and east por-
lions of the Jail bulge both in and out,
and look especially dangerous on the
third floor. where there. are large cracks
in the ceiling. We understand that the
county commissioners are now engaged
with the city engineer IN making a
thorough examination Of the building.