The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-25
GRAND JURY SPOKE
OF GAMBLING, VOTE BUYING AND
SUNDAY LIQUOR SELLING
IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.
THESE KINDRED VICES HARsHLY
CONDEMNED.

Recommended by Grand Inquest.
Since Last August $4,000 Paid in
by Gamblers in Fines and Costs
and Much More in Prospect-MayOr
Is Roasted for Failure TO Enforce
Sunday Laws-What Politician
witnesses Failed TO Tell Grand
Jury.
The grand jury OF the Superior Court
turned loose some expressions in it's gem
eral presentments yesterday afternoon
that were like extracts from one of the
Rev. Sam P. Jones milder sermons.
Gambling and the methods of its punish
ment, vote-buying and Sunday liquor SELL
ing formed the burden of the grand jury's
caustic song.
The grand jury. proceeding from
statement of the amount of the fines and
costs assessed against gamblers and paid
by them into the registries of the City
and Superior Courts for the last eight
months, recommends that the system that
permits the convicted gambler to expiate
his offense by the payment of a fine hav-
ing proved itself ineffective in abolishing
or lessening the extent of the evil be dis
be punished by the imposition of a term
of Imprisonment. without the alternative
of fine.
The grand jury arraigns the Mayor of
the city for the continued violation of
the law prohibiting the opening of bar
rooms and the sale of liquor on Sunday.
I'm referring to the illegal opening of
barrooms on Sunday" says the grand
jury, I'VE can but think tina s-4he Mayor
has been very neglectful of his duty"
The grand jury calls attention to cor
ruptiou at the polls in elections conduct
ed in this county, which it refers to as
another alarming feature of the pres
ent day"
The grand jury had followed the prac-
tice of other grand juries and divided and
appontioned its work among committees
of its members. These committees made
reports to the grand jury and in each
case this report was adopted and forms
part of the general presentments. The
committee report with which the meat
of the presentments begins is as follows:
Profits to Court Officers.
THE committee from your honorable
body, appointed to examine the conduct
and condition of the offices of the ordi-
nary and clerks of the City and Superior
Courts, submits the usual report of ap
parent good condition and honest admin
istration of these three offices.
1.-THE short time at the command of ju-
rors for such Investigations renders a
more than superficial investigation i'm
possible.
"Regarding the information asked for
by the grand jury to the aggregate Of
fines imposed and collected for gambling
privileges, we find the amount collected
Ax.rr 40 e. he
This total does not include costs, amount
ing to $2,1S4.S0, nor fines imposed for Of
fenses other than gambling
"If the usual tribute of 81, 900 and costs
is levied per capita upon the nine gam
blers recently indicted by this grand jury,
the above amount will be increased to
Sls,75e.
"of the $1O,75O already collected. the So
licitor general receives 60 per cent. or S.
aJ0s of the item of S2,1S4, representing
costs already collected, the solicitor gem
eral receives S,560, making total fees
for that officer collected to date. $500.
'If, by reason of the indictment of the
nine gamblers above referred to- the
amount of s10,75O Is increased to $ls75O, go
per cent. of this amount plus $3.50, the
solicitors part of the costs, will make his
fees $l3,6S0. After deducting the solic-
itor's stipend, the balance of the fines and
costs are divided between the sherifrs and
Clefkb OF the TWO courts.
1--WE find that it is not the custom as
has been supposed. to extend credit for
these costs and fines, but that the bust
ness being lucrative, the cash is prompt
iy and cheerfully paid
The committee is under obligations to
the ordinary and the clerks of the two
courts, for their courtesy in facilitating
It's examination of their respective Of
hces."
This report is signed by T. F. johnson.
chairman c. B. Malone and f. II. Mar
shall.
OF the $4,000 collected in fines and costs
from gamblers, since last August IS 1000
approximately has come into the regis
try of the City Court and about s., 900 into
the registry of the Superior Court.
The reports of the several committees
appointed to investigate the condition OF
the offices at the Court House, show that
all Of these are in an unsightly and there
fore unsatisfactory physical condition. and
recommend that the rooms be renovated
These matters have been brought to the
attention of the County Commissioners by
several past grand juries." says one of
the committees in it's report but 1t
seems 20 be of little benefit. as no atten-
tion is paid to any recommendation that
might be made"
The Committee on Drainage reports
that it called the attention of the County
Commissioners Ito the need of opening
the lateral bitches in Minis swamp. which
needed immediate cleaning. They have
considered our request and excellent work
there has been the result"
For Free High school.
Complimentary illusions are made by
the grand iury's committee on public
schools to the condition and operation of
the school system OF the city and county.
The committee found that the schools
were economically administered aud was
favorahly. impressed with the cleanliness
and sanitary condition Of all the schools.
the good order and discipline required and
the evidence of patient and competent ef-
fort by the teachers to impart knowledge
10 the little people under their care the
impress Of whose teaching will be stamp
ed upon the future parents of our city
and county"
The grand jury recommends, in adopt
ing the report of this committee the aboi-
ition OF fees for tuition in the High
School "As has been pointed out by the
Morning News" says the report "it is
legal 70 use school taxes for the support
OF a high school, and as one is now be-
ing maintained at the public expense for
the education of colored pupils, without
any charge for tuition. your committees
recommends that tuition in the High
School for white nupflg ba rnada free