The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-10

PAYHHNr OF JURoRs.-A bill is before the As
senbly Of this State providing for the payment Of
Jurors, and hope il wlpass both branches Of the
Legislature 1t just and proper that jurors should
be Unidentified for the time they lose in deciding
upon the controversies of others. But why not
frame the bill so as to extend II to the whole STATED
There is no more reason why Q far mer should be
called from his sgric altursl labors to settle the
disputes of his neighbors at loss to himself than
that merchant in New York should be summoned
from bis counting house, to sit day after day in the
jury box, at sacrifice of his own in erests.
One of the results of the passage of bill COM
polling itigants to indie mny jurors for the loss Of
time incurred IN deciding upon their controversies
will be to decrease litigation In proportion otis
population, there is city in the world where
there are so many courts SO many law suits, as
there are in New York. In fact, going to law is a
luxury with some people, and suitors, in great
many instances resort law not for the purpose of
getting justice, but for that of annoying and in
juring their opponents. 1t is luxury which rich
can indulge in, bat which might ruin poor
one and we are satisfied that suits are often in
sttuted with other motive than that of resent
ing a supposed or real insult gratifying petty
spirit of revenge. There is no good reason why
jurors should be called fro their business and ia nj
-,
own cost
What has become of the Courts Of Conailiation, or
Reconcilement, which we heard much about
when the famous new code was framed! Why is
not this system of adjusting difficulties reduced to
practice, and why should SO much money be ex-
pended every year in feeling lawyers to make white
arpear black and black white II works admira-
bly, in other countries. According 10 intelligence
L H. l,.I ,el, frnp, haa
been attended with great advantage in Denmark.
By return recently printed by order OF the Eng
lsh House of Lords concerning the Courts of Re.
concilement in Denmark, it appears that during the
year 1896 to the NUM- Der of 2 65 were insti-
tued before those courts in that country, Of which
GEES were adjusted or stopped, 32j postpon-
ed s. 233 were referred to the law courts, and 26l
were tried Ii the l6,O6s suits which adjust
cd or stopped, had been instituted in the regular
la courts, it is easy to imagine the immense sum
of money that would have BEEN expended in paying
lawyers, judges, witnesses and jurors. The aim
of every country should be to reduce, as much as
possible, its number of non producers-men who
contribute nothing to the general welfare, nor
add t. the general wealth. tailor is of great use
so il shoemaker and carpenter, and every
tradtsman The farmer is the most valuable MEM
Der OF society, put VINO Will say tflit any country
is benefited by swarm of lawyers, who toll
not, neither DO they spin, and who pick up
a living merely on the contentious and disputes of
the community 1t is fact, that wherever a law
yer locates in the Western States decrease in the
value of property in the whole nsighhorhood is the
immediate consequence, and it is no uncommon
thing for a advertising piece Of land for sale,
to put, by way of postscript, such words as
! these-"N. B. There is not lawyer within five
miles of the property" There are other non-pro-
! ducers who are almost as unnecessary as lawyers;
but of these will speak on another occasion.
The truth is the people Of the United States, espe-
cialy of New York, are tyrannized by lawyers, and
! they will never thoroughly get rid of supporting
them until all laws for the collection Of debt
totally repealed.
! We hope this bill indemnfying jurors for their
loss of time in playing second fiddle to lawyers will
| be passed 1t is advance in the proper direction
Courts of Recon Element Cancellation ought to be
the next step. When they established, many
! lawyers will be obliged to earn their living ho-
Mostly by ploughing the land, instead ofquoting my
lord this aud my lord that, and puzzling jurors
with the;l Lc script and Lex non ,crita.