Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-02-22


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The Board Of Supervisors Of Poll
county issued a circular letter, on tn.
9th of January, to the various
Boards OF Supervisors OF the State
asking for q delegate Convention o,
the members At Des Moines, on th,
18th inst.
On the day designated, = Conven
ton of 36 members, representing q
counties, assembled. The Board con.
t,nued in session through,IT Tuesday
Wednesday and Thursday.
Early in the session, Gov. Lowe
being present, was called upon to ex
press his views upon the Grand Jury
system: He said the Grand Jury
system was a part Of the Constitution
and could not be reached by the Leg.
islature except as an amendment to
the Constitution. In his own experl.
ence, he had found the system op.
pressive in a pecuuiary way, but not
having gwen the subject Of a change
any consideration, he declined ex.
pressing an opinion. Various other
gentlemen gave the Convention the
benefit of their views on the topic
One proposition, which met with
much favor, wa in favor of q reduc.
ton of the number OF Grand Jury.
men to Eve or three. It was argued
that while tho Legislature could not
abolish the Grand Jury system BY en-.
actment, it could so far modify the
plan as to allow of q less number and
so curtail expenses. The Grand Jury
is y dark. lantern kind OF institution ;
it is anti Republican, and conduces to
causeless litigation. The fact that it
is an heirloom should have no weight
for sge which has outlived her useful.
ness is entitled to nc respect. On the
other hand, 1t was argued that the
substitution Of three or Eve jurymen
for fifteen, would not materially re.
duce the expenses Of the system, and
would entirely fail IN reforming it's
evils.
The question being on the ~fesolu-
ton requesting the Legislature to re.
duce the number to five, it did not
prevail.
A vote was then taken on the reso-
requesting the Legislature to
abolish the Grand Jury system, and
carried with only one dissenting
voice.
This report Of the Convention
is taken from the Registsr; below are
the resolutions the Board passed dur.
ing their session:
Re.olved-That this Convention hereby
memorislize the Legislature Of the State Of
Iowa, that they reduce the panel Of Petit
Jurors to seven, and that FIVE only be neces.
sary to find . verdict; that ignorance shall
not be . necessary qualifcat on to enable .
man to act IS . juror and that, In the tri.
al Of civil causes, the party calling the jury
shall be responsible for the payment Of all
the costs Of the jury during the trial, said
costs to be recovered from the party losing
the cause.
Resolved, That it is the sense Of this COM
qention. that the property Of Railroad CON-
panies should be taxed IS the property Of
individuals.
Rssolred, That the Legislature be request
ed to change Sec. 800 Of the Rsvis on Of $3.50
providing for the calling Of special meetings
Of the Board, 80 ss - provide that the re-
quest shall be addressed to the county Aud.
itor. instead Of the clerk Of tho District
Court.
Kesolved, That this Convention hereby
asks the Legislature Of Iowa that they
amend the election laws, 90 - to make il
the duty Of some member Of the Beard Of
Election to return the poll books to the office
Of the County Recorder.
Reso,ved, That this convention regards
the Registry law As useless and expensive
and therefore recommend its repeal, except
in cities exceeding . population Of 5000.
Re.olped, That this convention request
the Legislature now in session to repeal tn.
law, requiring the acls Of the Legislature t
~ -rbls.knA Ia AkA AsHANnnk ~>-sn~->~~
Of the diferentcounties Of this State.
Resolvod, That the Transfer Law should
be 90 amended that tho Clerk Of the Circuit
and District courts be requested to file Ger
tifcates with the Auditor, showing the tran
fer made in said county, by will or decree
Of partition.
Re.olsed, That 1t is the sense Of this con
v~ention, that it 10 the duty Of the Legisla'
tare to regulate rates Of freights and tariff
on railroads Of the State.
Resolved, That in the opinion Of this Con
v~ention, each county shall have its own 1t.
torney to attend to al criminal and civil
business Of the ccuaty, and who should b.
the legal advisor Of the county officers and
We accordingly reco nmend it to the Iegis-
lature. to authorize the amendment Of the
Constitution so - to provide for . County
Attorney, instead Of . District Attorney.
WHEREAs, There is . bill now pending be.
fore the Legislature. providing for the re-
movxl Of the Transfer Books from the Office
of County Auditor to that Of county Rscor
er, and
WHEREAS, Said change would enhance
the difficulty of the Auditor in making up
the tax duplicates, therefore,
Resolved, That the Legislature be respect.
fully requested to make no change by which
said books will be removed from the Audit.
or's Office, except in counties having two
county seats.
Resolved, That the Legislature are re.
quested to chan 90 the Road laws Of tho etats
50 - to conform to tho Recommendation Of
Governor Merrill. - found IN page SO Of
his biennial message to the Fourteenth Gen.
eral Assembly.
Resolved, That the Legislature be respect
fully requested tn change Sec, 746, Revis
ion Of 1860, 90 As to provide that the taxd u'
p~licafes shall be tnrned over to the County