New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-11


Judges and clerks Of courts and with the Com
missioner of Jurors and his subordinates' We
have shown also how at other tines peihR CHI.
ployed long in advance of the trial OF IMPORTANT
causes, they have undertaken to influence tlo
selection of panel of jurymen ana the caiilnh
of particular set of twelve men 10 tfy tnc
particular cause they are set TO aiiect we
have shown how, in the corrupted service Vi
subpnnas by hangers-on OF the commissioner
of6ca mon Of character and intelligence are
ercnsed from Jury duty and ignorant and idie
persons supplied in their places. we nave
pointed out how men without other occupation
serve as professional jurors in courts having
Jurisdiction not only over mems purses puO
their very liberty and lives And we have recently
dwelt on the important fact that this prahch Vi
the judicial system has been for years past con-
ductrd bv politicians selected for political rea-
sons only by city Mayors elected on partisan
issues, and that both Commissioners and sys-
tenn are indeoendent of judicial control. This
bald fact of itself ought to be sufficient 10
warrant the earliest possible change III the
special law which makes such an lncongruouS
system possible and we trust 1t Will prove
sufficient. ,
But there is another reason why this faulty
system should be remodelled. 1t Is not only
old rusty and inadequate for the service re-
,ri,od hnt II was a device of the Ring hastily
odopted when Tweed and his tellow-rascals
were in their greatest jeopardy, ana their
former protectors on the Bench-Barnaru, NC
Cunn and Cardoza-had been deposed or rem
dered useless to them. Judges Barrett ana
Davis had come upon the Bench in their
nloc.s. and Mr. Phelps had entered the District
Attornev's Office in the stead OF Garvin. linen
rho Ring hastily turned to the system of select
80, irrors and hogan TO manipulate it to serve
their nurposes. The power then Improperly
given to the Commissioner OF Jurors remains
with HIM to-day and is daily exercised by Il man
who pretends to no judicial training ana VINO Is
independent of any Judicial control.
There are the strongest reasons why the
svstem so corrupted should be rcmorseiessly
,yined ont of existence and supplanted by
better one over which judges should nave com
nIete control. Lawyers recognize the evils OF
tbe avstem specially provided for New York
The clerks of the courts do not hesitate 10
speak of the infamous possibilities unoer its Up
GRAFTON. Judges of character are justly sus-
pcious of the jurors drawn uhder the pro-
visions of this special law. The Grand jury
has been spoken of as the fountain head OF
iustice.n and the dangers to society and liberty,
If the fountain be corrupted, have been pointed
ont. Here is a system which not only fouls this
great stream but all the lower ones OF justice;
and it is high time that it should be purified
Its reform worthy the most serious at
teption of the Bench, the Bar and the Legs
lature and we trust that before the Leglsla-
ture meets, the Bar Association will prepare
bill which will restore to the judges OF the
courts the control of, and also the RESPONSE
bility fer, the special jury system OF this coun-