New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-28
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY, MARCH %, 1853

Discretionary power. the prsSeut Commissioner has
acted from good mosvee sad with an ere to the pI5
Interests but they are advised the, the power does no.
legally exist and most certainly should not be oi,cei
in the banda Of one person II IL sufficient to say IL
may be abused The Law In terms requires from every
citizen protesting the qualifications required by law
Tor JUROR and notexenpt ~ express provisions Of the
statute from the performance OF his necessa-y al
though at times onerous duty IL has provided far
possible for the equal distribution Of the burden an in
the hands Of the Courts hss placed power ofe1cu
ing for good and sufficient those vho are sun.
noned 70 the performance Of that duty a. any partcu-
lar Term There II belongs aud there il msy safely
rest. The duty Of drawing Jurors IL vested in the
County Clerk, and Of surnnonng when thus drawn in
the Sheriff. The presence Of the Sheriff or under
Sheriff and Of one Judge Of two Judges 10 required
81 such drawing. In practice this has been violated
and the clearly Illegal practice has prevailed Of many
Aldermen signing certificates In blank thus certifying
10 dra~ings at which they were not present and palp
ably violating the law For the future the practice il
is believed win not be continued and the law in that
respect properly carried out.
rensness 10 the returns Of some Of the Clerks Of
the Courts Of the panels showing who attended, who
were excused and who exempt has led also 20 non.
compliance with the law regulating the duties Of the
Clerk Of the County in reference such Jurors Prom
this remsness the Grand Jury are happy to exclude
the Clerk Of the Oyer and Termner and General SEES
sions, and the Clerk Of the Superior Court
In the sVrnmoing Of the Jurors II IL clear the nen
tiCn Of the law charging the Sheriff with this duty to
REQUIRE when performed by Deputy that it should be
done by sworn Deputy This has not been the case,
and the almost unavoidable result has been careless
ness and remssoess, and in many instances mistakes
and irregularities in the sunrnoning and returning Of
Jurors leading confusion and public inconvenience.
TIE attention Of the various officers charged with the
duties having thus been called the necessity
Of applying the appropriate remedy 1t ia 70 be hoped
the evils will hereafter be corrected
II should also be stated that the irregularities com.
planned Of are not Of recent introduction.
In concluding their p'esentment the Grand Jury
call the attention Of the Court 70 the necessity Of some
law providing for the prompt and speedy disposition
of all cases Of criminal offences Of less grade than
felony, without the necessity Of seDdng such be
fore the Grand Jury. This be consttutiOnaily
done and the right OF Trial by Jury al the time
preserved There other matters which the Grand
Jury were precluded from acting upon for want Of
time-snong which may be designated the ill con-
sIucted and entirely insufficient tenement buildings
occupied by the poor Of this City. The Grand Jury
deem tbis great evll calling Tor some Immediate &C
ton the part Of the authorities the Legislature.
And also that the Police Of the City should be placed
beyond political influences and their mode of appoint
nebt vested in hands with whom such considerations
shOuld not control their selection.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
tssued) JANIS n sICHOLSOS. Foreunab.
FERNANDO WOOD, Sscret.ry
CHAs. J. WATERBURY,. G II coLLADAT,
JOHN q. KIP CHARLES TOAL.
JAMES GALLAGHER. JOHN BOALLS.
RUSSELL. D.. GLOVER, GEORGE sCARFp.
JONATHAN Y. fLEET. JOHN fOiHAAUs
The Presentment read By the Clerk Of the
Court ard his Honor Judge Beebe assured the Grand
Jury it should have the appropriate direction and at
tention. He then discharged them. with the usual
thanks