The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-12-20
GENERAL PR[S[NTMENT

at the Fail Term Of the
Circuit Court
In the Circuit Court, Marion County,
Fla, Fall Term, 1911.
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 In 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
| day of the term.
| county O1nceS In uOO0 &OnultlOus
! 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-
Il quired by ,1aw. 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
III We recommend that the court sug-
gest to the next legislature that the
above section be repealed.
New Jail Approved
Ri We inspected the Jail and found II
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
instead of all over the floor. The wa
ter closets in the cells also need to be
fixed, as there is a leakage so that
I
in puddles on the floor in the passage
way between the cells.
81 County Judge
{t The committee appointed to inspec,
the county judges office beg to report
) everything in connection with same In
! good order.
! Superintendent Of Schools
II Having inspected the office of the
superintendent Of public instruction
beg to say that while our inspection
was of limited nature. we found the
books and records in very neat and
I satisfactory manner. 1t was explained
to us that in order to keep up with the
/ | office work great deal Of his time i:
employed that should be devoted te
outside work over the county. He ad
vises us that he cannot keep regular
help on the $500 per annum allowed
d him for this purpose and what assist
o ance he does have being only tenn
porary and entirely unframed in th'
duties OF the office, is not very salts
factory
:. Should Have More Clerical Help
This being one Of the most import
Il ant Offices In the county, we do no
believe that the majority Of the super
intendent's time should be occupied il
Office work, and as he tells us he coul
\ possibly obtain regular office assist
ance for $50 per month, we recon
mend that he be allowed the additiona
sum of $500 per annum.
Il we also find that the floor of hi
office is in very bad repair and is ap
narently in danger Of breaking in
not looked after in the near future.
Tax Collector
Our committee appointed to examin
the tax collectors office report as FOL
d lows: We find everything in excellen
condition with no recommendation
suggested or complaints made by tn
collector.
Poor Farm
- Upon complaint being made to u
that the inmates OF the poor farl
were being neglected we examined tw
OF the inmates Of same and they tes
titled that they had no complaint g
far as their personal comfort was cor
cerned but to the best of their know
IS edge the superintendent was somewhs
extravagant in the use OF the none
allowed for the upkeep OF the farr
where he is personally concerned. "
recommend that the county commits
sioners look into these matters ar
IL take steps to adjust all irregularitie
IL any
m Equa1fxe the Assessments
We beg to mention the followin
which we believe at present is a vel
- interesting subject to most OF the t.
- payers of this county. With the cou1
] ty at present heavily in debt and wi
no assurance to the tax payers that
will not increase instead of diminis
ing. We beg to call to the attentit
of the officials Of the county who ha'
,r. the power to determine valuation
that it is an indisputable fact that
a great many instances that tho
who reap the most benefit from Il
large expenditures of money are b
IN yond doubt more able to pay taxes, a
paying less in proportion to the nj
~ that is less able to stand 1t, and 7
are satisfied that if there was mo
equalization of assessed valuations
this county. there would be a reducti
in millage and the county'S reven