The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-12-22
GRAND JURY PREsENTMENT


To the Honorable w. S. Bullock,
Judge of the Above Court: We, the
grand jury, empaneled for this the fall
term of the court, having completed
our duties, beg to submit this our
final presentment.
Increase I'm Criminal Cases
We are sorry to report that at this
term of this court we. have been call
ed upon to consider more cases than
have been presented to any grand
jury in this county in the last twenty
years and in most of these cases have
been compelled to return true bills.
We have been greatly hampered in
our work by the failure OF several JUS
tices to properly recognize witnesses
to appear before US and in other in
stances in recognizing them to ap-
pear on the second instead of the first
dav of the term.
County Offices I'm Good Condition.
Sheriff
Our committee inspected the office
of the sheriff and clerk and beg to re-
port same apparently in good order.
All books and records in good shape
as far as we could tell by our limited
inspection.
Clerk Of the Court
The clerk Of this court has furnish
ed US with all the information regard
ing his office and the action OF the
board Of county commissioners re-
Quired by law. This report is so
voluminous that it is practically i'm
possible for a body the size OF this to
thoroughly investigate same. Nor can
we see any benefit to be derived from
an observance OF Section 772 General
Statutes, requiring the clerk to fur
nish the grand jury an itemized state
ment of all monies paid out by the
county commissioners, particularly so
when the state employs an auditor to
go over the books of the county and
check them up.
An Useless Expense
We recommend that the court sug-
gest to the next legislature that the
above section be repealed.
New Jail Approved
We inspected the jail and found it
neat and in good condition with the
exception Of the shower bath floor
which needs a ridge in order that the
water can run back into the sewerage
inSlCdO VI d1l over the ne Wa
ter closets in the cells also need to be
fixed, as there is leakage so that
when the water is turned on it stands
in puddles on the floor in the passage
way between the cells
County Judge
The committee appointed to inspect
the county judges office beg to report
everything in connection with same in
good order.
Superintendent of Schools
Having inspected the office of the
superintendent of public instruction,
beg to say that while our inspection
was of a limited nature, we found the
books and records in a very neat and
satisfactory manner. 1t was explained
to us that in order to keep up with the
office work a great deal of his time is
employed that should be devoted to
outside work over the county. He ad-
vises us that he cannot keep regular
help on the 5000 per annum allowed
him for this purpose and what assist
ance he does have being only tenn
porary and entirely unframed in the
duties of the office, is not very salts
factory.
Should Have More Clerical Help
This being one of the most import
ant offices in the county, we do not
believe that the majority of the super
intendent's time should be occupied in
Office work, and as he tells us he could
possibly obtain regular office assist
ance for $50 per month, we recon-
mend that he be allowed the additional
sum Of $500 per annum.
We a1S0 And he doa~ 1F
office is in very bad repair and is ap-
parently in danger OF breaking in if
not looked after in the near future
Tax Collector
Our committee appointed to examine
the tax collectors office report as fol-
lows: We find everything in excellent
condition with no recommendations
suggested or complaints made by the
collector.
Poor Farm
Upon complaint being made TO US
that the inmates of the poor farm
were being neglected we examined two
OF the inmates Of same and they tes-
titled that they had no complaint as
far as their personal comfort was con-
cerned but to the best of their knowl-
edge the superintendent was somewhat
Iextravagant in the use OF the money
allowed for the upkeep OF the farm,
where he is personally concerned. We
recommend that the county commits
sioners look into these matters and
take steps to adjust all irregularities
| IL any.
EqualiEe the Assessments
We beg to mention the following,
which we believe at present is a very
interesting subject to most of the tax
payers OF this county. With the coun-
! ty at present heavily in debt and with
no assurance to the tax payers that it
will not increase instead OF diminish
ing, we beg to call to the attention
OF the officials of the county who have
the power to determine valuations,
that it is an indisputable fact that in
a great many instances that those
who reap the most benefit from the
large expenditures OF money are be-
yond doubt more able to pay taxes, are
paying less in proportion to the man
| that is less able to stand it, and we
are satisfied that IL there was more
equalization Of assessed valuations in
this county. there would be a reduction
| in millage and the county's revenue