The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-29
SEPTEMBER GRAND JURY
MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS
Central Control of County Affairs and Modern Methods
Business Economy Emphasized in sOOWord Statement
Covering the Findings

Jury, called to investigate crimina
matters, after a two-WeekS session, re.
turned an 8O0-word report on its find
ings to Judge E. j. Kenny of the
District Court. County Attorney ThoS
j. Naylor. and members of his staff
assisted the jury in its investigation
and study of county affairs in ad-
dition to presenting evidence in several
criminal charges. Roy Frank, assistant
attorney general of the state, presented
the state examiners report on county
affairs, while members of the latter's
staff explained their findings.
The jury urged application of more
modern methods OF business in coun-
ty affairs, criticized the purchase of
expensive automobiles for county Of
ficialS and the use of the vehicles for
private purposes, urged the county
board to place in immediate opera
ton the unified highway control syS-
tenn, and recommended that the poor
commission insists on its executive in
charge giving courteous hearing to all
legitimate parties.
The report submitted to Judge Kenny
and which was filed with interested
governmental units for consideration,
follows in full:
We have investigated all matters
which have been brought before us, in
Guiding criminal charges against various
persons, also including matters relating
to the affairs of St. Louis county and
the conduct and management of various
offices of said county to which atten-
ton was called in the report of the
state comptroller and public examiner
on the examination of st. Louis county
for the years 1881 and 1882.
| Upon criminal charges we have found
number of indictments, which we
have returned and presented into court
We have investigated the charges
against E. M. Snyder, commissioner OF
the Second district of st. Louis county
for the purchase of two trucks during
the year 1882, the charges being that
an excessive price was paid for same
and further that the contracts for said
trucks were not awarded to the lowest
bidder The evidence submitted to the
grand jury did not support such allega-
tons.
Upon the investigation of county
affairs we report as follows:
The grand jury feels that the adj
nlinistration of county business has not
kept pace with the trend of improve
ment in the business methods of private
corporations, and that on account OF
this, a large amount of money is
wasted. In connection with county af-
fairs, responsibility is too much di-
vided as there are many boards and
agencies performing services without
being under centralized control.
In the past, several grand juries have
requested that the control of county
road operation be given over to the
county highway engineer, in compli-
ance with section %, chapter 1913, laws
of 1921. This grand jury is now in
formed that the county board has under
consideration a system whereby St
Louis county will be divided into two
systems one maintained on the range
and one maintained at Duluth, both
being under the general direction OF
the county engineer. This grand jury
earnestly recommends that such system
be put into effect Immediately.
This grand jury believes that a
centralized purchasing and distributing
system for equipment and supplies
should be installed in ST. Louis county
with Sub-StationS on the range, in order
to take care of the needs for such sup
plies and equipment in every depart
ment in the county which receives its
funds from the treasury of st. Louis
county. This grand jury believes, thai
should this system be installed it would
be to the advantage of the county in
that the purchasing of large quantities
of supplies and equipment could be OBJ
tanned at lower bid, and, as the sys-
tenn now prevails, practically every in.
dividual institution and department Of
said county purchases their supplies
and equipment themselves. The granC
jury further recommends that all de-
partments and institutions in this
county comply with the law in first ad-
vertising for bids before any purchases
of materials, supplies or equipment OF
over $500 be made.
4 1t is further recommended by this
grand jury that unified or central
lied accounting system should be in
stalled in the Office of the county
auditor, containing all the records Oh
all the departments and commissioners
districts in this county, as recommended
in the report of the public examiner.
The grand jury criticizes the practice
of the purchasing of high-priced auto
mobiles for public officials and public
employees, and further criticizes the USE
of these public automobiles by official:
and employees for private purposes Ar
investigation made by this grand jury
discloses that there are department.
which are receiving funds from the
treasurer of st. Louis county and which
have not kept an accounting of it.
costs and supplies of said automobiles.
This grand jury recommends that al
departments furnish the county auditor
an account of all repairs, supplies ane
materials used on said public auto.
mobiles in st. Louis county, and tina
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