Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-03-01
Reducing Jury Fees.

We OO0ti VIC Sbdt W. .
has taken M the matte, of reducing fees
Of Jurors. aud making the same payable
hy The losing party instead of the coun-
ty. 1t strikes us that this is the correct
policy. Let those who must go 10 ia"
do 40 =, their own expense and not st
the expense OF those who have nothing
n do with il, and let those who sue
Give securities for the costs. We take
the following from the Journals Senate
proceedings:
Bus.ey reported back bill providing
for payment Of jury fees. recommending
its passage.
Mr.. Wilson Of Dubuque, said: "Tbe
first section of this bill provides for the
reduction OF the fees of jurors from two
dollars to one dollar snd fifty cents q
day. That provision / am in favor Of
At the last session of the General AS
sembly, it was my privilege to vote Tor
two dollars day for jurors. Times
have changed, moneyis very difilcuit 10
obtain prices of everything have been re-
duced, and am now in favor OF reduc-
ing the fees of jurors corrcspondlngiy.
The second section Of the bill pro-
yidcs for taxing jury fees to the losing
party. That principle is correct
'sIhosc who dance should pay the p'-
per-" Those who call for the jury
should pay for them. Counties should
not be required to furnish and pay jur-
ors for litigants. This great source OF
expenditure should be cut of, and the
taxes Of the people lightened in this res
pcct.
This bill provides that the tine that
the Jurors shall be engaged upou any
case shall be charged against it. Or that
the cost of jurics each day shall be ap-
portioned among the canses that shall
be tried on that day. This is also prop
or in nv opinion. The cost Of two jur-
les per day under this law would be 1876
II six small causes were tried that day,
there would be = tax Of six dollars to
each case. 1t is certainly great deal
better that the litigants, whose action
have made it absolutely necessary that
the jury should be called should pay
for the expense Of such Jurors, than that
the people at large, who have no inter-
est whatever in the litigation, should
pay their portion in taxes for such
jurors.
There seems to be a disposition on the
part of some gentlemen to cast invidious
remarks upon the members OF the legal
profession in connection with this bill.
This is not the first time npon this floor
that this same attempt has been made.
l desire to say once for all, that this
fling is an attempt to pander to 4 low
vulgar prejudice that, is supposed to ex-
ist against attorneys. Some gentlemen
seem to imagine that an attorney cannot
be a high minded honorable conscien-
tous person. | scorn such an imputa-
/ ton, let it come from what quarter it
may. The history Of all countries bears
testimony to the fact flat attorneys
have always taken the lead in all great
questions that tend to the amelioration
of the masses. They take the lead in
the great principles of reform. They are
generally an intelligent class, and l de-
sire gentlemen who choose to indulge in
these expletives, to study the past and
they will cease these exhibitions which
to say the least are in very bad taste.
A discussion ensued, participated to
by Senators Wilson Of Jefferson, Bussey,
Williams, Ainsworth, Drummond, Ham
mer, DC.
Johnston offered amendment, striking
out the words, 'said fees shall be paid
out of the county treasury" Lost.
The 18th rule suspended, bill read
third time and passed. Yeas 80, NAYS 4.