The San Francisco call., 1901-12-03
DEPLORES NEED
Of SOAP BOXES
Grand Jury Condemns
Use Of Ancient Desks
in Schools.
Finds Cause for Caustic Ref
erence to Methods in
Police Courts.

The Grand Jury which was impaneled
June by Presiding Judge Frank II.
Dunno completed its labors yesterday
and filed its final report. Judge Dunno
thanked the jurors for their services and
dismissed them.
In its report the Grand Jury says that
instead Of appointing the usual eighteen
committees only six We're named, in order
that the work might be more concentrat-
ed TWenty-siX meetings were held, hve
indictments We're returned, eight cases
were dismissed and a number of cases
that We're presented were not considered.
In ali sixty-fiVe complaints of various
kinds were considered and disposed Of.
4 he report SAYS:
Criticize Police Courts.
The department which has had our severest
criticism is that Of the Police Courts and the
prosecution Of criminals we regret that politi-
cal conditions have been such as 70 stand in
the way OF a prompt and efficient dispensation
OF justice with the criminal classes. The law S
delays are nrove bial, but the sloWness OF ac-
tion OF the Police Courts and the apparent in
sUf1iciency Of punishment in many cases have
not appeared TO Us e2cusahle-
This jury has been appealed TO to take up
Courts on the ground that the parties were de-
void of Iaith in these oe2arun lents. Such de-
mands doubtless come before many Grand
b-res but the courts should be conducted so
as 10 merit the confidence Of all the people all
the tiIne-
The Board OF Supervisors is requested to re
fraiE from granting licenses 10 so-called ath-
letlc clubs which are in fact schools for pro-
fessional Uugilism- Legitimate athletic clubs
deserve commendstion and support The Su-
perE-isors should realize tha- the encourage
ment OF prize lighting is injurious to the best
interests OF the community, and the class Of
exhibitions which are forbidden in other cities
and States should not be made welcome here
Considerable attention is given to the
workings of the Board Of Public Works.
Details are given of the rsporTS and eN-
pendiCures and suggestions are made as
TO more economic measures.
Regarding Justices Of the Peace the
suggestion is made that they should re-
main in their Offices ali day and not prac-
tice as attorneys while holding Office.
The report on the School Department
follows. in part:
Forced to Use Soap Boxes.
We have visited seventy-one school buildings
interviewed principals and hundreds of teach
ers and carefully Inspected the buildings
grounds and Outbuildings-a much more care
lul examination than is customary
No teacher should be called upon TO teach a
mixed grade, If ii can possibly be avoided, as
it bly, detracts Iron the best results
The general expression Of the teachers seems
TO be that there are too many studies for the
school hours and the larger the class the less
teacher De called upon to teach more than fifty
pupils in class. and the number should be
restricted TO forty whenever possible.
The school buildings have been so often con-
demned in public and private that 1t seems a
pity 10 repeat the condemnation Many of them
arr z disgrace 70 the city: a Continual tax upon
pupil and teacher alike. In many cases the
sanitary appliances call for immediate atten-
tion; the provisions for escape in case OF fire
are also entirely Inadequate
The old style desks and seats should be done
away wiki and replaced by modern ones, and
n ever case they should be adapted the
SIZE OF the pupil We saw children carrying
empty soap and candle boxes into school in
order TO have something upon which TO rest
their feet Those who are not so provided must
be in continual torture
The usual praise and suggestions as 70
the conduct Of the various Offices of the
municipality is embraced in the report
The Nagdalen Asylum comes in for a
special measure of cOmmendation and the
Police Judges are recommended to send
more unfortunate girls there.