The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-26
j. PS SCORED
BY GRAND JURY
CITED EVILS OF THE SYSTEM.
SUPPORTED BY FEES NAL PARC-
TICE is ENCOURAGED.

Grand Jury Recommended That Flu
ture Grand Juries Refuse to Rec
Ommend AppOintees for Offices
where Vacancies Occur Until the
Number i'm Chatham County he
Reduced by One-HaIf-Litigation,
which Is Profitable to the Justices
Is Encouraged.
The crusade against the prac-
tees of justices of the peace
throughout the state some time ago,
took shape in Chatham county yes
terday, when the grand jury in its
general presentments, recommend
ed the declination of future grand
juries to recommend the appointment
of justices to fill vacancies caused by
the expiration of terms of office.
The practices of encouraging
litigation remunerative to the JUS
tees was soundly rated in the pre-
sentiments. 1t was cited that the sys-
tenn of supporting these offices by fees
encouraged practices that verge on
persecution. There are sixteen jus
tees in Chatham county, but eight
are elected, and their offices can only
be abolished by constitutional amend
ment, to be voted for by the people.
Their appears to be no way of deter
mining the amount of costs that the
collected in cases where the principal
involved is often less than one-fifth
the amount of costs that are taken
from the victims.
Reports Are of Interest.
The reports of the various commit
tees nf interest On nanGinnS
definite report was made as the rec
ords are now in the hands of the COM
missioner in Atlanta. On public
buildings it was reported that all were
in fairly good condition. The road
committee called attention to several
sections of roads throughout the coun-
ty which need attention. Outside of
these few instances the roads were re-
ported in excellent condition. The ac-
ton of the commissioners in paving
the roads throughout the county was
highly commended, and it was recon-
mended that the historic names which
the roads have borne for over a CEN
fury be retained.
The Committee on Drainage and
Convicts reported satisfactory condi-
tons, with but a few minor excep-
tons. The special committee to ex-
anime the county offices, books, rec
ords, etc, reported everything in ex-
cellent condition. The recent sugges-
lions of former County Attorney
George T. Cam was heartily Endorsed
in the report of this committee.
Judge Cams Suggestion.
1t is a plan for having all realty
recorded in a special book, which
should be at once brought down to
date, and thereafter any change or
transfers of property should be noted.
This record should show the present
owners of the property, giving prop
er description and reference to old
record books, so that all titles could
be readily traced.
The Committee on Schools and
School Buildings recommended the pro-
vision in the next county budget for
much-needed improvements on the
Barnard Street School. The effort oil
the Board of Education to improve
! the schools of the county were high
| ly commended.
An interesting report was handed
in Iby the committee appointed to
examine the jury lists, as will be seer
by reference to the presentments.
The total number of criminal indict-
ments returned by the grand jury was
sixty-nine. The presentments were
not read, but were handed to the court
| for consideration.