Newspaper Page Text
Fitzgerald, Ga., April 13, 1916.\
To the Honorable Superior Court
of Ben Hill County, Georgia:
April Term, 1916.
We the Grand Jurors swornl
and served at the above term, re
spectively submit our prqsent-{
ments. ~1
We commend His Honor, Judge
George, for his eminent charge to
the Grand Jury, and the forceful
and emphatic manner in which he
insisted upon the enforcement of
law and the full discharge of ev
ery duty devolving upon every of
ficial and citizen of the county.
We also appreciate the valuable
and courteous services rendered
us by our Solicitor General J. B.
‘Wall and his assistant, Col. Jesse
Grantham. We have through the
proper committees examined va
rious N. P. & J. P. baoks through
out the county and have approved
same and made them a part of our
presentments.
Our Confmittee on Public Roads
and convict camps make the fol
lowing report, which we subngt
as a part of our general prcscx}-
ments.
The committee to examine the
official records of the county
make the following report, which
was adopted and made a part of
our general presentments.
We recommend that the fol
lowing persons be put upon the
Pauper list.
" We recommerd that Mra. Jesae
Gaff, Willie Paul be paid $5.00
each per month, and Jim Hamil
ton be paid $3.00 per month.
We recommend that Mack Pry
or be paid $5.00 for the use of his
automobile used by the commit
tee on Chain Gang and Public
Roads.
We also reconmmend that our
Clerk C. A. Newcomer be paid $4
per day for his services.
We also recommend that our
Bailiff, Mr. C. Floya, be paid $2.00
per day for his services.
We recommend that Clerk D.
W. M. Whitley be paid the sum
of $10.65 for issuing 71 suppoe
nas.
We recommend that Sheriff W.
H. Fountain ke paid $35.50 for
serving 71 subpoenas.
We recommend that these pre
sentments be published # the
Leader-Enterprise and that said
. company be paid $lO.OO for pub
-1 fishing same. §
. We your committee of the grand
erjury, appointed to examine the
whooks of the Justices of the Peace
Nof the several districts of our
. tounty, report as follows:
We Have examined the Books
of D. P. Adams and T. J. Luke,
Thv enamel finish of the steel
body can be restored to its
original lustre until the car
literally lnoks like new.
This is constantly being done by
i owners after months of use. The
enamel is baked onto the steel at
intense heat. Dust aud mud and
neglect may dnll In appearance
—but the glossy finish is still
there, waiting to be bronght back
by a simple process of cleaning.
It will pay you to visit us and examine this car
\v ‘ The gasoline consumption is unusually low
The price of the Touring Car or Roadster complete is
$785. --f. o. b. Delroit--
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% CENTRAL. FITZGERALD, GA.
of the 1537th. District and find
them correct and well kept. |
We have examined the books
of Judge Royal of the 16359th.
Dist. and find them correct and:
in good eondition.
We find the books of Judge S.
E. Leverett in Dist. 1638 fails .to
show the disposition of criminal,
cases and the entries on civil
docket are incomplete. '
We have examined the books
of Judge J. G. Minshaw in Dist.
1171 and find cost bills nat item
ized and incamplete.
The books of " Judge G. M.
Yourg in Dist 1171 in good con
dition.
We find the books of Judge A.
W. McCall in Dist. 432 are kept
correct and neat.
The above books are all that
have been presented to us for ex
amination.
Respectfully submittad,
}-B. SEANOR,
G. P. MINGLEDORFF,
H.H. JAMES. '
To the Grand Jury of Ben Hill
Fitzgerald, Ga., April 13, 1916.
County, Georgio :
‘ Gentlemen : :
We your committee g county
buildings and roads beg to make
the following report:
We have inspected the convict
camp now located at Mr. J. G.
Minshew’s farm and find same in‘
#rst class condition. The ward-.
en having in camp about 25 com
victs, and would recommend that
they stay in that part of the
county until the roads are put in
good condition.
We find the principal roads in
good condition and would recom
mend that the two bridges over
Otter Creek on the Dixie High
way be replaced with iron brid
ges and the road straighten at
that point.
We find the county jail in good
sanitary condition, the court
house 1s in good condition with
the exception of the Commission
ers and T'reasurer’s offices. The
floors of the rooms are in bad con
dition and we would recommend
that same be replaced with suit
able tile.
1. 1. DORMINY.
FOHN B. RUSSELL.
5.0, PRIOR.
We vour committee appointed
to examine the ofticial records of
the officiaks of the county find by
reference both to the adopted aii
ditr's report and a personal ex
amination of the records, as fol
lows: .
In the auditor’s weport wnder
ithe head of current assetw, we
find some items of public interest
that should have the immediate
attention of our county commis
sioners, and we suggest that said
commissioners investigate said
items and dispose of same accord
THE LEADER ENTERPPRISE AND PRESS, WEDNES DAY, APRIL 19, 1916
ing to the facts in each case. {
We find charged against Tax
Collector’s office an item $6,639.-
71 of uncollected taxes June llst,
1915, this however is no fault of
the Tax Collector, F. M. Graham.
We are informed, however, by
the Clerk of the County Commis
sieners that some $5,000 of this
‘amount has been cotiected.
We regret to report that therel
is a misunderstanding between
the County Commissioners and
the Sheriff, W. H. Fountain, thatl
involves some $2,400 of the coun
ty funds, the same being held by
said Sheriff to reimburse himself
for certain expenditures claimed
to have been legitimately made
for the County but denied by the
said Commissioners, and said
Commissioners have entered suit
against said Sheriff for the recov
ery of said fund
We suggest that the Chairman
of the County Commissioners
with at least one of the other com
missioners be called before your
body to explain their views of this
matter and also that the Sheriff
be called before you to explain his
position in the premises. ,_This
being done with a view of settle
ment if possible without further
litigation. We find from the au
dit of Tax Collector’s books an
assessed advalorem valuation of
the taxable property of the coun
ty to be $3,455,576, which at the
fixed rate of 11 mills for county
purposes brings a revenue of $38,-
121.50. We also find that a tax
revenue for the corporation of
the county $4,496.10, making a to
tal tax revenue of $43,067.60 \We
find for the state a tax revenue at
the fixed rate of 41-2 mills, $l7-
569.16, making a total of $60,636.-
76 taxes paid on the property of
the county.
We are informed by the clerk
of the County Commissioners that
the county owes about $50,000.00
for borrowed money. In addition
to this the county owes a bonded
indebtedness of $57,500.00, mak
ing a total indebtedness of $lO7 -
500.00
In view of this rather large in
debtedness and further in view of
the high tax rate under nornial
conditions, and in spite of the in
creased valuation of property by
the tax equalizers we suggest that
your body recommend that our
Tommissioner exercise every pos
sible economy within the bounds
of reasom, in the administration
of the couuty affairs to the end
that our tax burden may grow
lighter if possible,
We shoald not lose sight of the
near approach of the 801 l Wee
vil and the very probable heavy
losses that will attend its invasion
and the consequent hardship upon
the part of our cigizena to liqui
date any public or private debts,
The Clerk of the County Com
missioners informs us that there
is on hand cash and available
funds to the amount of Eighteen
or ‘T'wenty Thousand Dollars
which will be sufficient to pay cur”
rent expenses for the next several
months. :
From a report furnished us by
the clerk of the County Commis
sioners we find that the following
expenditures have been made in
the interest of good roads,
This report covers a period of
nine months from June Ist, 191,
to March Ist, 19164
Salaries Warden and
aaaee ... .$2,334.61
Health and Sanitation.. 27904
Slothing, otc. .......... 9428
Euenione ... 2,553.97
BIOCR Feed ~ . ... 1,425.97
Horse shoeing and repairs 440.45
Small tools and hardware 788.06
Live stock and equipment 2,896,753
Sundry expense ........ 1,322.82
Building and maintaining L
B L 4,117.93
A S A
10l o $17,120.38
This is an average expenditure
of $1,902.00 per month and an an
nual expenditure of $22.827.00.
This seems an excessive expen
diture for the amount of work
done and the number of convicts
in the gang.
While our citizens are practi
cally a unit for good roads we
think this rate of expenditure out
of line with our resources and the
size of our county., |
We are informed that we have
280 miles of public roads, some.
of it in good condition :m(l‘mn.\‘!!
of it in fair condition, ‘
We further find from the audi
tor's repart the Tax Collector's |
record under * head of <t:llt‘l
tax, that the « ctor is credited
with a commisss, 1 of $425.47 and
also a commission of $419.51 mak.
ing a total of $844.98, when in fact
the item of $425.47 should be cred
ited to the tax receiver, the umis-l
sion of the comipilers to write the
° €6 * 99
The Store With a “Smile
| Our entire organizatign. works under such conditions that the
Store as whole ru& smoothly as a six eylinder automobile.
Our store force has a *‘smile” into their work and every one con
nected with the store is glad to wait upon you as to have you
come in to see us.
EVEN OUR BIG WINDOWS SMILE
when you stop to look at the merchandise in them, for they
are glad to render service to such a store.
BRIV @V TV ITVR Vi
\ & \{;‘éi(’;‘ % . :4// ' %7/ ‘
| N leiae ¢ ) D ez VAV /S
THAT WILL MAKE YOUR OLD SELF SMILE
SUITS OF PALM BEACH '
That will give you that light gpringy feeling, they come in Black,
Navy, Green. gome with pin stripes and various other mixtures.
Reasonably priced at $7.50
EASTER STRAWS
Never before have we had such
a superb selection of Summer
Straws. In all the latest styles
and shades-- s2to $5.00
Genuine Panama Hats
One you cannot duplicate in
town less than $5OO or $6.00.
In all the latest shapes
$4.00
words “‘tax receiver” in conjunc
tion with the item of $425.47 is
lthe only error in this matter but
lit creates a mismnderstandipg and
I\\'c suggese that the &@rk of the
County Commidsioners be in
structed to correct the report on
file in this particular.
We find on the Pauper’s list
the names of seven white women,
nine white men, and three colored
men, all of which receive $5.00
each per month and one white
woman and 2 colored men who
receive each $3.00 par month,
making a total of 22 persons on
Pauper’s list at an aggregate cost
to the county of $104.00 per
month. :
We find from the report furnish
ed us by the County Sd}ool Su
petinten(lelit, R. J. Prentiss, that
he has received from the state
lfunds .....$8.?51.51
Special Tax ... L i DR
l Total & viciiiivow i B 080
Paid to white teachers 9,285.00
Paid to colored teachers 2,240.00
Paid for repairs build
ings, interest and other
QERENEES i iy 3905
%Balance of-hatd il 59.47 i
Pl .o O
Report further shows average
salaires o white teachers to be
848.67 and colored $19.21 and that
the county owns school property
valued at $29,000.00. .
Respectively submitted,
. E.MARTIN.
G L. TAYLOR,
M. M. STEPHENS. !
Committee.
With reference to the misunder- !
standing existing between thc!
County Commissioners and the
Sheriff we recommend after in
vestigation of the matter by hav-|
ing said commissioners and Sher- !
iff before our body that said mat- |
ter be submitted to a board of ar-|
bitrators consisting of three mem-!
bers one of which is to be chosen |
by said commissioners and one by
the Sheriff or his Attorneys and |
these two arbitrators to choose |
the third one, a contract between |
the litigants to be entered into to |
the end that the finding of said |
arbitrators shall be final. I
In view of the fact that our tax|
records show that some of (mr)
citizens have not paid their pro-|
fessional tax and in view of thc'
fact that this is a violation of the|
law as well as an injustice to thex
rest of our citizens in that they
are refusing or failing to bear|
their part of the maintenance |
McCarty, Johnstone
Company
ol our government, we recom
mend that the proper authorities
call on said parties for said pro
fessional taxiand if they still fail
or refuse to Hay same shat debar
ment proceedings be instituted
against said parties.
GEORGIA, Ben Hill County.
To the Honorable Grand Jury of
Ben Hill County:
1 ereby submit by bill for serv
ing subpoenas to come before
your body hefore court convened.
71 swbpoenas at 50c¢ each $33.50
Respectively submitted, |
W. H. FOUNTAIN, Sheriff.
GEORGIA, Ben Hill County.
To the Honorable Grand Jury of
Baid County:
I respectfully submit the fol
loewing bill for issuing subpoenas
to come before your honorable
body before Court convened, and
ask that you recommend that the
County Commissioners pay same.
To issuing 71 subpoenas at
Idceach .. . v 0 0 51065
Respectively submitted,
DM W. WHITILEY,.C. 5. €.
Fitzgerald, Ga., April 13, 1916.
In the interest of public econo
my and efficient service and civic
progress we most earnestly urge
our representative to heartily co
operate with any measure, that
may be brought before the next
general assembly for the purpose
of enacting a law fixing a salary
for all county officers to take the
place of the present fee system.
All of which is respectively sub
mitted.
W. R. POULK, Foreman.
C. A. NEWCOMER, Clerk.
WORLD’'S HIGHEST
OPERATIC SOPRANO
FRANCES ROEDER
Of Royal Convent Garden, London,
WILL GIVE A CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL
On Monday Night, April 24, 1916,
AT 8:15,
For the Benefit ot
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.
TICKETS 50 CENTS.
For sale at Adams’ Kandy Kitchen.
SILK SHIRTS for EASTER
to go with that Palm Beach
Suit and the other Easter
clothes we know you are going
to have in Silk Madras, Silk
Crepe. All eolors and those loud stripes
that bring forth that Easter Feeling.
$2.50 to $5.00.
New Spring Shoes :
In Edwin Clapp, and Howard & Foster
styles, right up to the minute. Your Easter
outfit wont be complete withoutnew Shoes
$3.50 to $7.50
N TECE.
TAX RECEIVER'S LAST ROUND
I will be at m yoffice ia the cowmst- j
fiouse every working day during the ‘
month of April and at:
Ashton, Wiednesday morning, April
19th.
Dickson’s Mill Wednesday evenidg
April 19th.
Bowen’s Mill Thursday morning,
April 20th.
Vaughn, Friday April 21st
Williamson's Mill Saturday, Apwil
2and.
I will be at the above swated places
on the dates mentioned on my third
and last round for the purpose of
receiving state and county taz returns
for the year 1916, All parties are
warned to b- e their returns in be
fore Mav s the books close on
that 7
& J.DORMINY,
Tax Receiver.
Keeping everlastingly AT IT, wHI
bring FINAL SUCCESS to the ad
veritser,
E *
Casper Hide & Skin Co.
228-229 EAST PINE ST.
Buys Hides, Fur, Wool, Wax,
Tallow, Brass, Copper, Pew
ter, Aluminum Turpentine
Stills, Old Auto Car Tires,
Rubber, Etc.