The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-11-15
REPORT OF GRAND JURY
Concluding Portion Treats on
Various Subjects.
Good Roads, Bridges and CuIverts
Receive Attention Recommend
Sub Dividing Road Districts.

Last week The Gazette printed that
portion OF the grand jury report relating
TO the public prosecutors office, which
vindicated that office from any asper-
sions that may have been placed against
it. This week the concluding portion of
the report is given, which treats on vari-
Gus subjects of interest to tax PAYERS.
1t reads as follows:
From our general investigation we
find that Sunday closing laws are enforc
ed in varying degrees, or not at all, in
different towns of the county. This we
regard as a very unfortunate state of
affairs. We find that in some towns q
very open and liberal policy will obtain
for months, and even years, when sud
denly some active individual or orgaBiza
tiOn will inaugurate a crusade against
Sunday opening Of any business in such
town, and by procuring few warrants
OF arrest from some justice of the peace
will succeed, without the agency of either
putting the town on the other extreme
Of law enforcement, while, perhaps,
great majority of the people ant neither
extreme. So it happens that the people
are living under neither general and uni
form laws, nor have they local option;
but seem rather to be ruled on this sub
ject by the accident of spite, zeal or
whim. We think the law and it's enforce
ment should be uniform throughout the
county, at least. The chief fault for this
condition, we believe, is to be found in
the law itself. We believe that strict en-
forcement of the Sunday closing law is
not today applied to five per cent of the
population of the state. Why not?
Evidently the people don't want it,
Then, we think the legislature should
have the moral courage to overhaul our
so-called laws in aid of morality, and
eliminate the radical parts which make
it crime to do things that in them
selves are harmless, and actually diecom
and needIessly curtail and hamper the
personal liberty OF action of large per.
cfntage of the people. We believe that
such a modification of these laws would
please the great majority Of people, and
that a wholesome public sentiment would
then demand the enforcement of our Sun
day laws, as well as other statutes. We
think that but few will deny that law
that is not enforced against or obeyed
by half of the people oil the state should
be repealed. 1t is certainly no aid to the
morals Of community to become &C.
customed to the constant violation of
law We find that our county authori,
ties have 10 definite policy of enforce
ment Of these laws throughout the
county, and the disposition has rather
prevailed to leave such matters to the
option of the municipal authorities.
We recommend increased activity on
the part OF our prosecuting attorney ard
sheriff in enforcing the saloons OF the
county to conduct their business within
the bounds of law, both as to kseping
closed on Sunday and selling liquor to
minore; and further recommend the sup
preston of all nickel in -the-slot machines
inhibited by law.
The grand jury has gathered consider
able Information concerning the condi
ton of county roads throughout the
county, and has secured a report from
nearly all of the mail carriers in Whit
man county on the condition OF the