The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-01-16
GENERAL PREsENTMENT
OF THE GRAND JURY

ters brought before US and found
true bills in all cases where the evil
denee was sufficient TO warrant same
We have made examination of the
several county offices and the man
ner in which they are kept, also the
Jail and infirmary and find them in
good condition and we'll kept.
We recommend that the Jail be fenc-
ed with a good high fence and that
the windows~in the insane department
be screened as the glass is exposed
and liable 70 injure the occupants.
We recommend that the county COM
missioners look after the railroad
crossing between Ocala and Martin
which has ben reported as being
blocked for too long periods, thereby
impeding travel
We strongly recommend that JUS
tices of the peace and committing Of
fcers, constables, etc, be more careful
in the future in binding over cases 10
come before the grand jury where
there is not sufficient evidence to find
true bills. also binding over witnesses
who know nothing of the case. as they
cost the county a large amount of
money and time.
Owing TO the crowded condition of
the circuit court Of this county and a
great number of prisoners that are re-
quired to remain in jail for number
of months awaiting trial and at the
expense of the county and as Grim
inal court of record will save suf-
hcient funds from the caring for these
prisoners for a long term, and from
the great number of witnesses and
jurors who are compelled to wait the
trial of cases in which they are inter-
ested, to pay the cost of such criminal
court, and as such court will expedite
the administration of justice and will
in no wise be a burden to the taxpay-
ers we will recommend the establish
ment of such court at the next session
of the legislature
We recommend that the next legis-
Iature so change the laws that the
county commissioners Oh Marion coun-
ty shall appoint a board of appraisers
in each precinct to assist in getting
the proper valuation of all property.
l, The grand jury respectfully rec
ommends that the coming legislature
shall amend Section 772 of Laws by
adding to this chapter the following:
A failure of the clerk of county COM
missiOners to furnish the grand jury a
report of the county warrants as men
toned in this chapter. shall be deemed
a misdenneanor and upon conviction
thereof the court shall be fined no less
than one hundred nor more than five
hundred dollars.
2. And that the coming legislature
shall pass a law in harmony with Sec
tion 7, Article of the Constitution of
the state, compelling county commits
sioners and school boards to give
bond, and to name amount of bond
and under what condition the county
commissioners and school board shall
be responsible for Their transgressing
this law.
g. That the coming legislature shall
pass a law compelling the county
commissioners and school board to
publish each month the name and
amount of each warrant issued, the
total receipts for the month and total
warrants issued for the month.
4. That the coming legislature
shall pass law giving the county
commissioners and school board the
right to borrow money, none Of which
borrowed money is to be paid after ex-
piration of term of office or on longer
time than six months.
3. That the coming Legislature
should repeal and amend our road
laws so that county commissioners
cOuIu ana SndIl ODey the Ia w.
6. We the grand jury, respectfully
ask your honor to see that our terms
of court are put back to the proper
time thereby giving our citizens some
relief. for as now conducted we deem
same a great hardship, coming as it
does in the busiest seasons.
We would call your attention of the
representatives-elect from Marion
county to bill that will very likely be
introduced at the next session of the
legislature, which in effect is to pro-
vide that all taxation for state pur-
poses shall be derived from a tax or
railroads and other public service
corporations, the effect of which viii
be to deprive many of our counties o1
revenues now derived from this source
and will also deprive our educatfona
institutions of funds from this source
We would recommend that our repre-.
sentatives use their influence agains
such a bill becoming a law.
Inasmuch as the county road crew
was forced on account Of the high wa.
ter to suspend work on the road lead
ing from ocala to Dunnellon few
months ago, and as a condition O.
about ten miles of that road is very
bad, a part of which cannot be travel
tu anu NAoSG ASAAA5 NAAS Aodu AdNAIls
to travel several miles through tn,
woods over an improvised road, W.
recommend that the board of count.
commissioners complete this road a
the earliest time practicable.
We beg to call the attention of tn
members of the legislature for Marion
county to a law which was enacte'
some few years ago which prohibit
members of board of city or tow
councils from purchasing supplies o
in any manner contracting with an
member of such city or town council
We believe that this often works
hardship on the smaller towns as it i
almost impossible to get business me
to accept such offices on this account
We would recommend that the law
amended so as to apply only to cite
OF FIVE thousand inhabitants and up
wards
We recommend that the shelving I
the vault being insufficient to accom-
modate the books belonging to tn
clerks office, that ample shelving b
provided for the same. Also that
new book machine be provided for tn
office as the type in the old one is be
coming so worn as not TO make goo'
clear copy.
We take this opportunity to endors
the Hon. Edwin W. Davis for the pos
tion OF United States district attorne
for the southern district of Florfd