The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-31
NEWS OF A DAY IN
GEORGIA'S CAPITAL
FULTON COUNTY GRAND JURY.
MAKES CAUSTIC PRESENTOIENTs
ON MONEY LENDING,

The Grand Jury Also Finds Tba+
There Are Too Many Court on
cers-DisapprOves of the Fee svs-
tenn and Charges That 1t EncOur-
ages GrHft-MOney Sharks Reau-
ing n Rich and luxurious Harve.r
From the POOr-GordOn Monument
Committee in Savannah.
Atlanta, Jan. 30.-The grand fury
which has been in session for several
months past and which has been in
vestigating the money lending evil To-
day made its final presentments to the
court. These presentments are sharp
and caustic in some instances, and the
ak has fallen in many places.
The grand jury comes out with
strong criticism of the fee system
among court officials. 1t charges that
fees encourage graft, and that as a.
result of it many politicians are living
upon public spoils. 1t states that Ful-
ton county now really has half a dozen
sheriffs and clerks of Superior Court.
considering the many attaches of these
offices as such, whereas it should have
only one in each.
The grand jury says it has been
urged to approve the bills of these
county officers for insolvent costs on
the ground that their political obliga-
tons had been predicated upon their
receipt of this stipend from the county
1t states that many of the officers pre-
fer the salary basis and recommends
that stems fn oh
tenn.
In dealing with the money lending
business the presentments characterize
certain justices and bailiffs as boodlers
and assert that hundreds of poor bor
rowers are paying anywhere from $50
to $500 per cent. for small loans. The
grand jury recognizes the necessity fo.
some place where small loans might be
secured, and urges that a committee
be instituted to present the matter to
the Legislature with a view to finding
a remedy for the evil.
The grand jury recommends the crea-
ton OF office of county controller, the
incumbent to have supervision of all
the county finances. and says on ac-
count of increase in the county's GRIM
inal business a new Circuit Court
should be instituted.
Atlanta to Get a Share.
The gross income of the Georgia Rail-
way and Electric Company for the year
1903 has been found to be SLAP 767. AZ,
upon which. under the agreement be-
tween the company and the city of At
lanta, the city will receive one per
cent, or S14,127.67. This amount will be
paid Monday.
Wesleyan Memorial Hospital.
The Wesleyan Memorial Hospital
Association was organized here last
night, and the following officers were
elected: Bishop Warren A. Gambler,
president; George Winship. vice presi-
dent; DR.. Floyd McRae, secretary; w.
L. Peel, treasurer. The following COM
mittees were appointed: On Bylaws,
Bishop Warren A. Gambler, DR.. c. E.
bowman and DIR. L. G. Fisher; To Sc
Ca, G. M. Napier of Monroe, Ga. AS
soon as a charter has been obtained
another meeting will be called and the
board will go right to work, raising
funds and perfecting plans for the
erection of an up-to-date hospital to
be operated by the Methodist Church.
On the Savannah Committee.
President w. L. Calhoun of the
John B. Gordon Monument Association
to-day appointed committees in the
principal cities and towns of Georgia
to solicit subscriptions to the Gordon
monument fund. Those named for Sa-
vannah are: Hon. Herman Myers, Gen.
w. w. Gordon, Col. ]. H. Estill Hon.
P. A. Stovall, Capt. John P. Williams,
Hon. Peter w Meldrim; Hon. w. w.
Osborne; Glen r. SauSsy.