Year: 1877

The grand jury was impanelled Nov. z, and discharged Nov. 15 with the thanks of the court. They report;

 "We have found two indictments, one for manslaughter and one for attempt 10 murder. We have examined a number of charges and have ignored them all. We have examined the affairs of the county treasurer and recommend the following plan at the most desirable: that is, to fund the indebtedness of the county, payable in a certain numbcr of years, thereby starting the financial policy of the county anew on cash basis. This will have to be done by an act of the Territorial legislature and we suggest that the matter be brought to the attention of that body when it convenes.

 We find, on examination of the offices of justices of the peace, that the justices have been very loosely granting and issuing warrants without fulfilling the require ments of the statutes. We believe the practice should be discontinued. It has been the constant habit of the justices to issue warrants on the affidavit alone of the complainant, without taking the deposi- ton of witnesses to corroborte his state ment, as we believe is the intention of the law. Thus parties having any prejudice CT ill feeling against another have been enabled to gratify their malice through the medium of the power of the law, and much useless expense has been fastened upon the county by frivolous charges. We think the attention of the district court should be called to this matter.

 We find that it has been the custom for the Board of Supervisors to audit and pay claims brought against the county for the care and custody of United States prisoners confined in the county jail. We are of the opinion that this custom should not pre- vail, but that such claims be presented directly against the United States Govern ment.

 We have examined into the matter of providing for the indigent sick of the county and find that the present system entails great deal of useless expense up on the county. We are of the opinion that it would be in the in nterest of economy to build a room attached to and adjoining the county jail building, where the indigent sick could be provided for in body. This room or ward to be under the charge of the sheriff, and the patients to be admitted and discharged on inc certificate of the county physician. We recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt this plan.

 We have examined the condition of the public school and found affairs there gen. orally satisfactory, with one or two excep- tions. The room occupied by the female scholars is, in our opinion, too small, and an addition should be built We find, also, and we believe it a serious fault, that nearly all the conversation and instruction held between teacher and scholar is in Spanish. We believe this should not be so, but that as nearly as possible on all occa- sions, the English language should be the one in general use. We think also that the different rooms set apart respectively for the boys and girls should be so used, and that the scholars should not be allowed to mingle indiscriminately, without regard to sex. We believe there is some founda- ton for the many complaints of partiality being shown to certain scholars. In our opinion this is very objectionable, particu- larly in public school where all are SUD- posed to receive equal benefits - the rich and the poor These matters should be brought to the attention of the proper au- thorities

 Having examined; the offices of clerk of the district court. county recorder, clerk of board of supervisors, sheriff and pro- U bate judge, we found the offices of district