The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-06
DUVAL COUNTY
BOARD TO BE
INVESTIGATED
GOVERNOR eILcHRIsT, UPON RE-
cEIPT OF REPORT OF GRAND
JURY, INsTRUcTs THE STATE
AUDITOR TO RETURN TO
JACKSONVILLE AND START
ANOTHER PROBE.
Special to The Journal

Tallahassee, DeC. 0.-GoVernOr SIlI-
christ this morning gave out copies Of
a letter to Hon. Ernest Amos. state
auditor, dealing with the Duval county
commissioners and the road work in
that county, about which the grand
jury of Duval county has made recon-
mendations to the governor.
The governors letter to the state
auditor is as follows:
State of Florida, Executive Depart
ment, Tallahassee, Dec. 5, 1911.
Hon. Ernest Amos, State Auditor.
Ny Dear Sir: / am in receipt from
the clerk of the circuit court Of Duval
eral presentment made by the grand
jury for Duval county at the fall term
of the circuit court, 1911.
The following is an extract from the
said general presentment:
I'm the matter Of the report of the
state auditor to the governor Of Flor
Ida, about conditions IN this county
relating to some of its officers. but
more particularly as to the acts Of the
county commissioners, this grand jury
has made an investigation and from
the evidence adduced, suggests and
recommends as follows:
In regard to specific items men
toned in the state auditors report, the
governor, having had an opinion from
the attorney general concerning the
same. will no doubt act as the nature
of the case requires. The auditor in
his report mentions the county funds
as being impoverished and county
script at discount; we find that this
is true and it does not speak well for
those who have charge of the financial
affairs of this county. Such conditions
cause those having accounts against
the county to add the necessary dis
count. We find that the highest prices
are paid for road work which is
carried on in every district of this
county. 1t seems strange indeed that
this district road work should be
deemed necessary especially in view
of the fact that such a vast sum of
money is in the hands Of the trustees
Of county bonds to be devoted only to
road purposes. We recommend that
this practice be discontinued and the
county engineer be allowed only one
gang for general road work. This to
continue as long as the bond money
lasts; by so doing, in less than ninety
days, in our opinion, county warrants
would be at a par and the credit of
the county restored. While it appears
there is no law specifically authoriz-
ing the county commissioners to en-
ploy an engineer, it is our opinion
that in view of the extent of the road
work to be done and the amounts to
necessary. Such engineer should be
thoroughly competent. and above all
things, should have the interest of the
county at heart. The present engineer
is allowed too much latitude; in addi-
ton to his salary, he has an expense
account which is not limited; he has
an Office force selected by himself, has
as many or as few employees as he de-
sires. Under the proper restrictions
and rules the present engineer may be
a proper person to perform such duties
as are required of such officer.
AS no county funds can be devoted
to the purpose, we would therefore re-
. specially recommend that in order
that the truth or falsity of any state
made relating to the acts of the county
commissioners may be determined,
that the governor of the state of Flor
ida cause an investigation to be made
in order that those who are not to
blaine be exonerated, and if any blame
there be, that the same may be placed
where it properly belongs.
In conclusion We suggest that the
business interests and welfare of this
county demand that the boards of
county commissioners give to the af-
fairs of the county at least the same
attention that they would ordinarily
bestow upon their own private in
CICSlS.
Charges Are Sweeping.
You will observe that the charges
embraced in the grand jury's said pre-
sentiment are, for the most part, in
very general terms and are largely in
the nature of q sweeping criticism of
the action of the board of county COM
missioners of Duval county. While
am advised that the said grand jury
had authority to return indictments
covering any malfeasance or misfeas-
ance by any Of the county officers and
had inquisitorial powers to investigate
, into any alleged misconduct of officers,
it does not appear that any such in
dictments were returned.
The said grand jury appears to ap-
prove the employment of an engineer
! by the county commissioners in con-
nection with the building of hard sur
: face roads, and seems not to criticise
the present engineers competency, but
. the extent of the authority. the ex-
! pense account and the office force al
Z lowed him. In my opinion, these de-
/; tails should be left to the sound dis
/. erection Of the board of county COM
missioners. l do not understand that