The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1909-03-05
WHITMAN COUNTY
GRAND JURY MEETS


we therefore DelleVe CnaC Cno occasional
converting OF grand jury ought to be
beneficial"
We adopt both these utterances and
for years the occupant OF this bench has
been Of the conviction that periodical
grand jury sessions, timed so that no
man should be denied hearing by that
body if he cared to avail himself of that
right, in it's returns to the public would
outweigh it's proper cost, and would
prove both beneficial and economical to
the county.
No officer or citizen, not even the Judge
upon the bench, is exempt from your in
vestigation; nor should you hesitate to
charge any person with any infraction OF
law which you find exists, and you are
clothed with complete power by law to
direct the course, scope and manner of
the performance OF your duty, under the
general guidance Of these instructions,
but, subject to your own determination,
| advise you that in my Judgment you
can best fulfill the purpose OF your con-
vocation by adopting the following gen
eral plan OF procedure
1. Investigate the specific matters
hereafter given you in charge by these
instructions and especially investigate
the conduct OF the public business by the
public officers.
2. Investigate the existence of all
such offences declared to you by your
fellows as shall appeal to the judgment
of the jury as worthy OF your attention.
g. Within the limits prescribed by
your own good judgment, investigate
any complaints made by any citizen or
denial by any officer, and particularly OF
the prosecuting attorney, OF action de-
manded by citizen.
4. Investigate such additional par
ticular cases, and only such ones, pre-
sented to you by either the prosecuting
attorney or a private prosecutor, as
shall appeal to your judgment as ones
in which the ordinary machinery of JUS
tice is inadequate to vindcate the law.
5. Refuse to spend your time and the
public funds in the investigation of
trivial matters, or OF any matters
founded in pique, spite, malace or frivol-
ity, bearing in mind that a grand jury is
an expensive machine to the public treas
ury, and that you are the especial guard
ians of that treasury.
6. Report to the court any criticisms
OF existing proceedings and any sugges-
tions for the better conduct OF the public
business or the administration of public
justice, or for the improvement of the
public veal.
When you have accomplished these
things your work will have been well
done and you will have fulfilled the pur-
pose for which you are called. =
In your report, let me caution you
against INDUCING in any communication
or praise of any officer. The absence of
criticism is the highest praise it is wise
that any officer should receive. In your
criticism OF the conduct of an officer in
volving the exercise of Judgment and dis
erection, be careful to make all proper
allowance for point of view, and remem-
Der that often the discharge of public
duties requires action at times that do
not permit the most mature reflection
In fine, your duties in this regard are
only to take cognizance of and mention
such matters as will tend to the improve
ment OF the public service and the course
OF good government, law and Justice.