The Rice belt journal., 1905-03-03
CALCASIEU GRAND JURY'S REPORT
EXamined 1902 Cases aud Returned 81

| AhI S"AId3iCu :. anu jury CpIlplCU0u
It's labor Friday afternoon and made
the following report:
10 the Honorable e. ID. Miller, Judge
of the 18th Judicial District court.
in and for tho parish Of Calcasieu,
State of Louisiana:
We, the Grand Jury, empannelled
for period of six months, beginning
on the 18th day OF February, A. D,
1903, beg leave to submit, nod, our
final report for our present session as
follows:
We haYe examined 102 cases for
which we have returned 81 true bills
and fl not true bills. No complaints
made to US have been ignored. One
case where we were unable to secure
the presence of witness, and a few
complaints on account of insufficient
evidence have been referred to the
district attorney for future investiga-
ton.
We have examined the poor farm
and find same in good condition the
Inmates therein well provided for and
the present system of management
satisfactory.
We have examined the jail and find
the building in clean and sanitary
condition and the prisoners properly
cared for.
AS regards the public roads we
have a few complaints before us,
whore canal companies are holding
water on same. and obstructing the
natural drainage, and we recommend
that all road superintendents and
overseerS be instructed to see that
all companies comply with the law
by making the necessary provisions
for drainage.
We have visited the assessors Of
flee, and we have had access to the
roll and find that all erroneous and
double assessment are being rene
died as soon as called to the atten,
tion Of the Office, and believe that
the system adopted by the present
assessor will relieve any further in,
convenience to the public in this
respect.
We have also visited the office ot
clerk of court, sheriff, treasurer anG
school superintendent and have found
same in good condition.
We have examined the financial
condition of the parish, and find that
a portion of the public debt has been
taken up. We still find a floating in.
debtedness aggregating some $4,000
in addition to the deferred payments
on the court house building.
We find that the parish is paying
per cent. on about $4,000 of the
$40, 900 above referred to, and which
is carried by the bank of Lake
Charles, while special funds deposited
by the treasurer which can not be
used in liquidation of this indebted.
ness, which at times more than agY
gregate the indebtedness upon which
interest is paid, do not receive cor
responding return. Therefore, we rec
ommend that the police jury make ar
rangements with the banks whereby
a reasonable rate of interest be al
lowed on daily balances to off set thi.
interest account.
We further find that there is ne
record kept in the treasurer's Office
of the Indebtedness incurred on &C
count of English bayou bridge, an(
recommend that the police jury fur
nish the parish treasurer with full
data of all outstanding obligations 0
which he is not in possession in orde
that a correct record can be kept 0
same.
We find that the court house build
ing is kept in repair, but would rec
ommend that o suitable lavatory b
set aside for the convenience OF ladie
I in attendance.
We find in some instances that Off
GERS of the lower courts have accept
. ed cash bonds, insufficient for pay
ment of expenses incurrd in securing
the attendance of the accused, and W
would recommend that their attention
} be called to this error.
} In view of the current criticism il
\ regard to expeditures of school funds
I we would recommend that the paris
I school board be required to pnblis
> their report in detail.
} In conclusion we wish to expires
our appreciation to all the officer
for courtesies and favors extended u
! during our session.
Respectfully submitted,