The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-12

the investigation IN line with the
suggestions here offered, and thor
oughly investigate and take such
action as is necessary.
Alleged Questionable Transactions.
One of the matters that came to
our attention was with reference TO
certain warrants drawn by the board
Of county commissioners against the
road and bridge fund Our attention
was called 20 warrants numbered
2205. 2206, 2207, 220S and 22O9. drawn
September 18th, 1906, rand to warrants
numbered 1881 and 1851, drawn in
February, 1907 These warrants were
drawn at the instance and sugges-
ton of County Commissioner James
NJ Andrews, for work reported TO
have been done, each of said warrants
being made payable to different par
ties, and ranging in amounts from
$14.00 to $4,000.
From the investigation that we
were able to make We find no salts
factory evidence that the work for
which these warrants were drawn,
was ever performed. Two of the
warrants were drawn payable to the
order of parties whom we could not
locate, and who were unknown to the
jury and to such witnesses as we had
before US.
Each of these warrants were en-
dOrsed on the back, by the name of
the person in whose favor they were
drawn, and by James NJ. Andrews. the
commissioner who suggested that they
be drawn, and that the labor was
done and performed by the parties TO
whose order they were drawn One
Of these orders was payable to one
w. Fell. We learn that Mr.. Fell had
performed no service on the road
about the time this warrant was
drawn, or at any other time.
Returned Sum of $1,000.
With reference to this particular
warrant which was for some $500,
we ascertained that some sixty days
after the warrant had been drawn anG
cashed, that the money for same was
refunded TO the county by Mr. J. NJ
Andrews. with the statement that it
had been improperly drawn, and that
the work had not been performed by
Mr.. Fell.
We came to the conclusion from
our investigation, that the manner OF
paying bills for road work was very
loose and unsatisfactory, and we
make this general report, in order
that the proper county authorities,
the county commissioners especially,
as a body. may investigate it and re-
fer it to the county attorney or so
lfcitor, if necessary.
We would urge that the county
commissioners be very careful about
the expenditure of money from this
fund, and from all orher funds.
1t seems to have been practice
with the boards of county commits
sioners, to Let each. commissioner in
dependently, contract with Tom, Dick
and Harry, for work upon the roads,
and that any bill put in by the com
missioner and o. KID. by him, would
be paid.
Finances Not Protected.
We are afraid that the county fnan-
ces have not been properly protected
by reason of this practice, and this
fear is based upon our examination
of the methods pursued in the third
commissioners district.
We would advise the county com
missioners to require each and every
bill for alleged services, to be made
out in itemiZed form, and that the
party making claim for services,
should attach to his bill. an affidavit
sta ing when the work was done,
where it was done, and that as a fact
the money claimed was for services
actually performed.
We also recommend that the
commissioners adopt rule, that no
warrant drawn in favor of any per
son, should be delivered 10 any per
son except to the one to whom it was
made payable, or to such person as
he might request in writing, that it
be delivered to.
We also recommend that the
county commissioners designate one
of their own number or the county
clerk as the person to make all neces-
sary purchases for the county, and
that a complete system of all such
purchases hereinafter 10 be kept in
permanent records in the commits
sioners Office.
Rumors of Gambling.
We hear considerable talk and
rumor that gambling houses are being
! operated i'll the city of Pensacola.
One conviction was had in the Grim
| inal court of record within the last
| few months, and there was one case
! in that court which resUlte>. in a mis-
trial
We are informed that about the
| 18th day of January. in the police
court OF the city of Pensacola that
! four persons were tried and convic-
| ted Of running gambling houses. but
we learn that no prosecution of these
/ parties has been instituted in the
/ criminal court.
! We strongly urge that the county
| officers whose duty it is primarily TO
/ look after these matters, take it up
/ at once and try to put a stop 70 all
manner of gambling and gambling
| houses in the city.
All viOlatOrs of the law should be
/ treated alike, and all punished where
| the evidence is sufficient for a con
victiOn.
Attention is Called.
! 1t is unnecessarily expensive for
| the grand jury to sit and investigate
miSdemeanOrS and minor felonies
where a criminal court exists and has
the necessary jurisdiction, and the
purpose of this presentment is to call
! TO the attention of the proper county