Imperial Valley press., 1924-02-06
Grand Jury S Annual Report Full OF Charges

one in the Colorado river dis
tricts, is advocated, though tho
abolition. of some would mean
the withdrawal of town con-
stables and in their place the ap-
pointment of deputy sheriffs.
The system of accounts in the
| county treasury office is commend.
! ed Technically these do not con.
form with the provisions of the code
but with bookkeeping machine
! the system is most commendablc
Recommendation is made that the
system be altered to conform to tic
provisions Of the state code. Tho
| amount of burglary insurance car.
ried by the county treasury is ei-
cessNc, is the jpry's opinion.
\ saving of $4,000 during 1929
over 1929 was made in the purchas-
ing agents department, according
to n special report filed with the
grand jury. Reference is made to
the number of deputy purchasing
agents appointed under the previous
administration and of the InVestiga-
ton conducted at the instigation Of
the grand jury regarding their ac-
| tiVities.
Deplore Crowded Jail
! A report on the sheriff 5 office
shows IT to be in good condition,
| particularly az far az accounts and
| expenditures are concerned. Crowd
/ ed conditions are dcplored, and re-
commendation made that portion
of the Jail which has never been
finished, be equipped with additional
cells to provide better accomoda-
! tons for those confined there.
! Affairs of the county recorder :
office are reported - hoiI% ia
! good condition.
Recommendation is made that
the horticultural commissioner sub
nit Il budget for his department
at the time Of making the tax levy
and that his department BE .equir-
! ed to work within. the budget The
office, is now operating s;JtiStacto-
! rily, though there has been consid-
| cradle criticism toward it in the
past because it was believed eN-
pcnsivc and Inefficient. \ change
of administr ration was made several
months ;gO.
Bonds are recommended for
several county Officers who
have been appointed but never
filed bond. These Officers
are believed to be Illegally hold.
ing office en- this account.
They include the seaIcr of
weights and measures, live
stock inspector, health officer,
county physician, srpcriLten-
dent of the county farm, con-
stables in Heber, INLAND and
Palo Verde, and the probation
officer.
A detailed report of the irvesti-
cations regarding the county de-
velopment agent is made. This
office is now vacant and the sag
gestion is made that il remain Va
cant until plans can be worked out
50 that it will function properly.
CO. Farm Satisfactory
The county farm supervision is
satisfactory and the present man
ton i'll per capita operating cX-
penses, while maintaining cfticien
cy. Plans must be worked out so
that children at the couHty farm
will not be confined with the older
inmates. The purchase of drugs in
large quantity and by several per-
sons is frowned upon. Attempts
of those seeking to live at county
expense, though able to work, are
to be discouraged.
The Children s Home at San Di-
ego has been under county opera
ton too short a period to make a
critical analysis of costs.
Payment of So per day for coun-
ty patients 1t the Ell Centre hos
pital is believed to be excessive
and the matter should be invcsti-
gated, to obtain a more equitable
rate, advises the report.
County highways and bridges are
discussed ut length, considerable
criticism being directed toward the
last county highway commission
for gross mismanagcmcnt; laying OF
pavement in small sections in seat
tered areas in hit-or-iniss pro-
gram; purchase of thc FraAk gravel
pit; construction Of pavement at
the exhorbitant rate of $4,000 per
mile in excess of bids on like con-
strnction, with the necessity Of
making repairs shortly after paving
was completed.
The oulv redaaming feature