The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-08
CRIME INJURIES
NAME OF CITY
PREVALENCE OF GAMBLING
HAS DONE MUCH HARM TO sAvAN-
NAH'S GOOD NAME.

Court Grand Jury Judge Cam
Touched On Existing EviIs-In
Matters Pertaining to Education
Careful Attention Must Be Given.
Good and Thorough Schools Are
Necessary-An Eye to Application
of Lessons Taught to Future Good.
Before the grand jury of the su-
perior Court, and large representa-
ton of the members of the bar, Judge
George t. Cam yesterday delivered
his first regular charge. The charge
was an able one. and treated clearly
all question, which are to come before
the jury.
The gaming evil was touched upon
and the laws against it read. To the
baleful influence of this practice the
court believed that much of the crime
in this country was due. ''It is this
evil more than any other. which has
caused our city to be held up as the
hotbed of vice and crime, and it's good
name as a law-abiding community in
jured," he said.
No recommendation was made by the
court concerning the vacancies in the
list of justices of the peace, though
attention was called to the recommer-
dations of the former grand jury. The
cause of education was also touched
upon, and the jury reminded that all
that was done must be done with
a view to it's future application.
Judge Cam. said in part:
The laws against gaming have been
on our statute books for more than
thirty years. The violation of these
laws have produced in this commune
ty other crimes, crimes of fraud and
crimes of violence, resulting in grief
and in death. The good name of our
city as a lawabiding, peaceful COM
munity, has been held up, at home and
of these laws, as a hot-bed of vice
and crime. These crimes are, there
fore, not only corrupting to morals
but menace our material progress and
welfare.
Probably more than so per cent. of
the crimes brought to the attention of
this court grow out of the pernicious
and what should be unnecessary, prac-
tice of carrying concealed weapons.
Probably more than 80 per cent. of the
homicides in this county, result from
the lOO IGduN resort TO the weapon
carried in defiance, or entire disre-
gard of this law. There should be no
reason why any one could feel justi-
fed, or required, to carry about his
person, in this county, a weapon in
manner prohibited by law.
Civil Duties to Perform.
We have thus far charged you as to
criminal matters. But there are other
Init
CURED to give you the law These
duties, and their faithful, careful and
thorough discharge by you, under your
oath of office, are vitality important to
our county and it's citizens.
You are charged by law with the
supervision and examination of the
governmental or administrative man.
agement of the affairs of the county
by certain of it's officers, chosen by the
people to discharge important public
duties.
Justices of the Peace and ex-Of-
ficio N. PIN this connection it is
proper that the court direct your at
tention to a vacancy in the office of
notary public and eX-officio justice of
the peace in the First district, to take
effect on the Sth instant. There is
also a vacancy in the similar Office in
the Fifth district. due to the resigna-
ton of the incumbent, which has been
accepted.
The grand jury of the December
term of this court made certain recon-
mendations touching such vacancies.
Those recommendations are on file in
the office of the clerk of this court
should you desire them.
Up to Grand Jury.
Under the law, you may or may not,
as you think proper, recommend the
appointment of persons to fill these
vacancies. The court cannot appoint
any one without your recommendation.
The grand jury has ample oppor-
tunity for knowing the wishes of the
people. They may consider the ques-
ton from many different phases. The
question of recommendation is, there
fore, wisely placed with the grand
jury.
Nothing can produce more quickly
the diminishing of vice and crime than
proper education. This education
should be aimed at the future practi-
cal application of the knowledge taught
the child. Our public schools should be
ornamental and suitable buildings. Our
public schools should be so good and
so progressive that no poor man need
send his children elsewhere to make
them a self-sustaining valuable mem
Der of our community. More than a
century ago this county was leader
in education. To-day she owes it to
herself and to her sons and daughters
to regain and maintain that proud po-
sition.
Faithful Board of EducatiOn.
We have faithful, jealous and COM
petent Board of Education, trustees of
academies and teachers. The present
school system is a monument to their
fidelity. We can have no doubt that
they will receive gladly and consider
carefully all suggestions whereby our
public school system may be bettered
or perfected.
The mere suggestion produces a
throng of possible splendid concep-
lions and lofty ideals. The distin-
guished history of our beautiful city;
her struggle for early existence; her
first encouragement of education; her
steady progress in spite of wars and
pestilence the pride of our people and
their devotion of principle; always
constant, honest, patriotic and gener-
Gus; the solidness of her material pros
perity and the bright promises for her
future.
In connection with the questions of
public policy you may, therefore, make
such recommendations as you may
deem wise. prudent, timely, proper and
expedient for the public welfare, for
the advancement and best interest of
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