Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-31
GRAND JURY HITS
At INCREASE IN
PENSIONERS
County Roads and Bridges and
Delays in Criminal Court Dock
cts Also Criticised.

A rap at the ever-increasing num-
Der of pensioners in Fulton County,
criticism of the condition of a num-
Der of bridges and roads and a de-
mand that some method be reached
by which persons held in the county
Jail may be given early trials were
the vital features In the present
ments Of the Grand Jury before Judge
Pendleton Friday.
Assurances that under the new gar
rangements for handling the criminal
docket of the county by the appoint
ment of an additional Superior Court
judge, more rapid progress would be
made in the trying of persons on
felony charges, was given by Judge
Pendleton when he thanked the jury
fori is work
II believe that it will not be impos-
sible for every person arrested to be
given a trial within a week by the
new arrangement" said Judge Pen
dleton. with one branch Of the
criminal court handling misdemean-
or and the other one felony cases,
the crowded condition at the county
jail which you complain Of undoubt
eddy will be eliminated"
Pension Rolls Heavy.
The Grand Jury's recommendations
regarding the regulation of pension
disbursements drew an Endorsement
from Judge Pendleton. The jury re-
ported:
I'VE find there are 1900 persons on
Fulton Countys pension roll. This
work is being handled by the Ordi-
nary without pay, and we recommend
that the handling of pensions be
placed in~the hands of a special man,
who will have the time to make a
thorough investigation of each case"
That the pension roll should have
more persons on it fifty years after
the war than it did ten years after
is a most remarkable thing, and
dareSay that 100 years from now the
roll will be even greater than it is
now" remarked Judge Pendleton at
Is strange and NEST peculiar thing
and | think heed should be given to
your recommendations.
You gentlemen have undoubtedly
investigated the matters coming be-
fore you in business-like manner
and | think the county commissioners
should give heed to your recommen-
dations regarding the county roads
and bridges, and at least investigate
them; then if they find the repairs
needed as you suggest, and they have
the money, | think they should follow
them
The report commended the officers
of the Reformatory and Juvenile
Court for the manner in which their
work was being handled. This also
drew comment from Judge Pendleton.
He urged plan by which when a
rather, making a good salary, found
1t necessary to turn an incorrigible
son over to the Juvenile Court, he
should be forced to pay for the care
of the child.
Jail improvements Urged.
A total of 253 prisoners were found
in the jail by the Grand Jury. I'VE
found the Jail in as good condition
as could be expected; the conditions
surrounding some of the prisoners APP
petared to be better than among 9th =
ers, but we think this is due to the
prisoners themselves.
we recommend that a machine be
furnished for the handling of the
prisoners from the Jail to the court
house, rather than taking them
through the streets handcuffed, as is
now the case.
I'VE. also recommend that a few
padded cells be provided for the care
of insane persons"
The county hospitals, the Grady
and the Battle Hill tuberculosis San
itarium, received the indorseemnt Of
the Grand Jury.
The bridges referred to in the re-
port as being in bad shape were the
Roswell, Powers, Garrett and Mason
and Turner Ferry. Recommendations
also were made that the Howell Mill
road be repaired
A suggestion that man be APP
pointed to look after boys after their
discharge from the reformatory also
was made