Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-02-08
nARnlsnuRc coRnEsroNpENcE.
HaanIsnrae. Feb. {, 1867.

made to have an act passed in order TO enable |
the people Of the Commonwealth TO vote di- |
rectIy for or against prohibitory liquor law.
In ono sense, it would be well to have an act
Of the kind referred to, passed. 1t is well
known that there has been an agitation of the
temperance cause at intervals, for many years
past, and still there has been no general re
form, and the subject wiz continue to be agi-
tated until the people are permitted to decide
by ballot whether they viii have the license
system abolished or continued. Taking this
view Of the matter, the Legislature cannot
act too speedily, and if the proposed bill sub
mittiDg the question to a popular vote were
passed and carried into effect, there would be
a final decision reached, and the temperance
question would no longer trouble our legisla-
t4lres. ] have no doubt that the friends Of
prahibitory law, as well as those opposed to
snch measure, would be willing to abide
the verdict Of the people, let that be either
for or against suspension of the liquor traf-
&c. On the other hand, It is feared that if the
act referred to is passed this winter, it will be
brought to bear Hpon the fall elections, and
cause temporary rapture in the political
ranks Should this be the result it would be
better 70 have the matter dropped entirely by
our Lawmakers now assemb led at the Capt.
tol. Let us bopey however that the conse-
quences Of the agitation Of the temperance
question may be productive Of good, and not
of evil.
Mr.. Shoemaker has introduced IN the SEN
ate ssan act for the better aud more Impartial
selection Of persons to serve as Juror In the
several courts of this Commonwealth. = 1t
provides that at the general election III octo'
ber 1867, and triennially thereafter, the
qualified electors of the several counties,
shall elect las other county officers are elect
ed two sober, intelligent and judiciuus per
sons, to serve as jury commissioners in each
of said counties, for period of three years
ensuing their election, but the same persons
shall not be eligible for reelection more than
once in any period of six years-Prorided,
thateach of said qualified electors shall vote
for one person only as jury commissioner,
and the two persons having the greatest mum.
ber Of votes, shall be duly elected jury com
missioners, for such county. The Commits
! sioners shall meet at the seat Of Justice of
the respective counties at least thirty days be.
fore the irst term of the Court Of common
pleas in every year, and thereupon select al
teruately, from the whole male taxable citi-
zens of the county at large, a sufficient mum
Der Of the citizens of the sober, intelligent and
1 iudicious persons to serve as jurors in the
several courts Of such county during that
year. and as soon as such election shall have
been completed, the said Jury Commission
/ ers shall, in the mode and manner directed
| by law, place the names of the persons so
| selected in the Jury wheel The Jury Com
missioners and the Sheriff Of the county, or
any two Of the three, shall draw from the
Prorar .TurY wheel panels Of jurors for the
| trial of issues in fact which may be taken In
any action in any of the courts Of the county,
in the manner now practieed and allowed,
but before the said Jury Commissioners and
Sheriff shall proceed to select ordraw Jurors
in the manner aforesaid, they shall take the
oath or affirmation now prescribed by law to
be taken by the County Commissioners, be
fore selecting and drawing Jurors. The acts
or portions of acts that made it the duty of
County Commissioners and Sheriff to select
Jurors shall cease to have any force and effect
after the second Tuesday of October, 1867
Prorided, that all acts or parts of acts now in
force in relation to the custody, sealing and
unsealing, locking and opening Of the Jury
wheel, and all acts and parts Of acts now in
force, imposing any penalty or punishment
upon the Sheriff and County Commissioners,
or either Of them, for anything done or omit
ted by them, or either of them, in relation
to the keeping, locking, opening, sealing or
ureahIug 'He oval VI Guy JuIJ "IUrI' or IN
relation to the selecting or drawing of jurors,
shall be applicable to the Jury Commission
ers and Sheriff. The pay of the Jury Com
missioners shall be the same, per day, as is
paid to the County Commissioners, in the
respective counties, to be paid out of the
treasury thereof The penalty for neglect or
refusal to attend to and discharge the duties
of the Office shall be one hundred dollars for
each offense-to be sued for and recovered
before any justice OF the peace in the county,
as debts Of ike amount are recoverable ten
dollars to 60 to the person suing and the bal
ance to the county treasury. In case of the
inability of either or both of the Jury Com
nissioners, through sickness or otherwise, to
attend to the duties of their appointment,
the President Judge of the court shall fill the
vacancy by appointment--the appointees to
fulfill the same requirements and be subject
to the same penalties imposed upon the elect
ed Jury Commissioners in case Of refusal or
neglect to perform their duties.
| Gov. Geary has promulgateda set of rules
which applicants for pardons for themselves
or friends are to be governed by, hereafter
These regulations are calculated to prevent
the too free use of the pardoning power vest
ed in the Governor, and win be productive Of
a great reform in this respect They are as
follows
First. No pardon will be granted until no
tiee Of the application therefor shall have
been given by publication, once week for
two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper print
ed in the county in which the conviction was
had.
Second. No pardon will be granted unless
notice of the application shall have been Civ
en- to the Judge who tried the cause, to the
district attorney, or the attorney who prose
cuted, proof Of which notice shall be furnish
ed this Department.
Third. All applications for pardon must