The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-01
otber court. are not subjected to inspection by
any accounting officer from without.
REGARDING FEES.

REGARDING FEES.
The report then goes on to tell OF the
%beh 81 the IS spes passed over
a few lines. Under the head Of fee officers.
the report says that the Grand Jury believes
ing universal the rule that all disburse-
ments must be made through the treasury.
OF the eleemosynary and penal institu-
tions the report says:
The jury visited the Jail. Workhouse the House
Of Refu:e. the Penthouse the Insane Asylum: I.
conditions at these Institutions are well known
te the public ha, no good can be
The helpless and hopeless inya.ids and paupers
sa ha IS o. to IN an
nunity-to humanity. The Institutions e.with-
M" men, et' can make up for lack Of room and Of
ports from each Of the superintendents.
FORFEITED BONDS.
In the matter Of taking and enforcing Of
bond obligations in criminal cases the
Grand Jury says 1t finds that the publics
interests are much better safe-suarded now
than in former years, and cOmmends Cir
cult Attorney Folk for the stand he has
taken in this regard. The money collected
for bond forfeitures goes to the school
Board, and Judge Rombauer, counsel for
that body. assisted the Grand Jury in max
ing its investigations along this line. 1t
was shown that the board has received a
large Increase of revenue from this source
in the last four years.
From the record Of the Circuit Attorneys
office 1t was found that there were twenty
Folk took office: that forfeiture was TAX
en- in every case: that In seven cases the
money. amounting to $s.02. was collected.
preceding four years; that in ten cases
(out of twenty-six) the judgments were re-
turned as worthless; that in seven cases.
amounting to $26.9O0, the judgments are be-
ing resisted, with good prospect Of collec-
tion. and that two defendants return and
had the tudgments set aside, and ID. one me sure @
others are awaiting trial for perjury.
FRAUDS IN COAL WEIGHTS.
The Grand Jury also investigated the need
Of better safeguards against fraud In coal
weights. and the report states that the
scarcity and high price OF fuel at this time
that the work of the Collector Of Revenue
in detecting evasioM OF the Weighing law
has ACCOMPLISHED much good.
The report recommends that by common
agreement between the Judges Of the Cir
cult Court and the Circuit Attorney the
Grand Jury be % relieved OF the ;o Consideration is
ent rule Of procedure devolves upon 1t. In
brief the report says in this connection:
II. instead of devotins their days to hearing
comparatively trivial cases. the grand 1urie. Of
the ; ten 9Sd haze " given Is
ods-financial. elective and legislativeIthere can
Relief From Tedious Routine.
We do not desire to be understood asking
that this inqusitorial body should be relieved OF
all OF its old-time duties In the matter Of hear
ing specific cases. All of Its powers could
main unimpaired. and It could always be free to
consideration. whether brought from the inferior
court communicated originally through the
Circuit Attorney Its own membership. But
b Of S dSts' To- v ans
and aggressive power for public good.
In rural districts Grand Jury can ready
law. In a great city It cannot. We trust that
our good purpose and the proportions OF the re-
form we seek to effect will commend this propo-
sition to your Honors respectful consideration
and will acauit US Of the suspicion of presumptu-
ousnese
We beg to acknowledge the courtesy and at
Mr HANCOCK the Assistant Circuit Attorney.
We regard the salary paid to the very efficient
Grand Jury stenogra pher as inadequate. The work
is more laborious than q court stenoGrapher and
his paw IL less. The LEGISLATURE should put his
the same basis as the court