The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-07-21


and salaries would respectfully report that
they have examined the matter OF the sal
arY OF the County Agent presented before
them and recommend the following: That
the salary OF the county agent for the next
ensuing year be fixed at six hundred dol.
lars.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
c. FISCHER. Chairman.
Supervisor Fischer, chairman Of the
special committee appointed to investigate
the jury system of this county, submitted
the following report, which on motion was
adopted:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen efthe Board
of Supervisors: Your special committee
on expenses of the jury system would re.
spectfully report that they have lnvestiga-
ted the matter and have consulted the
judges of the different courts IN regard 10
the unnecessary expenses OF calling the
juries. AT their request Judge Gilbert mas
written out some suggestions that he first
made verbally to your committee, ana we
beg leave to submit his communication as
part OF our report, as follows:
To Messrs. Fischer, Hoge and PAR: In
reply to your inquiries concerning ex-
pendltures for jurors tees IN the circuit
and county courts, l would respectfully
submit the following suggestions, which, |
am authorized to say, are fully concurred
IN by the Hon. Geo. w. Supp, Judge OF the
circuit court:
Suqqestions as to tie Selection If Petit Jurors
by the County Board.
very mucn unnecessary expense Is caused
by the selection by the supervisors of men
who are legally exempt from jury duty.
It is safe to say that at least one.fifth OF
the names placed IN the box are those OF
men who are exempt from jury duty or not
qualified to sit as jurors, either by reason
OF their age, physical or mental irtrmities,
want of sufficient knowledge of the Eng
fish language, or some other legal exemp.
ton or disability. Men are frequently
drawn from the box who have removed
from their townships or are about to re-
move and who do remove between the
time of their being served with summons
and the time at which they are required to
appear
The law in regard to the selection OF
Jurors is not complied with in other re-
spec,s. The practice heretofore has been
to permit each supervisor to give to the
clerk the names OF persons IN such super
visor's town and such names are placed IN
the box by the clerk. This practice Is un-
authorized and unwarranted by law. The
statute requires the jury list to be made
by the County B0ard, and not by the indi-
vidual supervisors OF the respective towns
To remedy the evils above mentioned
and to secure the selection of jurymen In
strict accordance with the provisions oil
the statute, the following plan is recon-
mended:
/. The appointment of standing com
mittee on the selection of petit jurors.
2. A requirement that the supervisor OF
each town should on the first day of each
september meeting of the Board deliver tc
the chairman of such committee
First, a list of not less than one-tenth OF
the legal voters of his town, such list to
only contain the names OF persons believed
by such supervisor to be duly qualified tt
act as petit jurymen and not exempt by
law;
Second, a list OF oil the persons In such
town who are either active members OF the
fire department, members Of the state
militia, pOstmasters, mail carriers, officers
Of the United States, officiating ministers
of the Gospel, school teachers, practlcins
physicians, constant ferrymen, mayors o
cities and policemen, and men having
served on a jury within year.
| 3. Upon receiving such lists such com
mittee should canvass the list of each towr
by calling before it the supervisor of such
town Tor when any town is also represent
ed by assistant supervisors by calling be
fore it such supervisor and asslstants) and
questioning him concerning such list, and
thereupon striking from such list the name
of every person who is not known by sucl
supervisor or an assistant supervisor, or t
member of such committee, to be duly
qualified to act as a petit juror and not 70
be exempt from jury duty.
4. When all the lists are thus revised
the committee should report them to tat
Board for its approval, which, when given
will make the lists the selection of h,
Board rs the law requires they should lie,
5. The clerks Of the courts should be
requested to present to the Board at eicf
meeting u list of jurors drawn and slm
moned in their respective courts, and vht
have been excused by the court, wl.h
statement OF the ground OF excuse and the
residence of the jurors excused.
To perform the work above outlined
would require probably not to exceed
three days work by an efficient committee
and this work, together with little extra
care on the part Of individual supervisors
would save the county II considerable por
ton of the money expended tor luIies
and would also ensure the selection OF
better class Of jurymep. 1t would aIst
afford certain method OF locating TIT
responsibility for the useless expenditure
OF the County's money, which is matte
of the greatest Importance. II every 81
pervisor knew that, in case he caused 10 b.
placed in the box the name OF person
legally exempt frem jury duty, OF incom
petent to act Us a jurymsn, the evidence o
his want of care would be presented to IN
Board, it Is reasonable to presume h
would exercise greater care in discharginl
his duty. On the other hand, If The court
were careless in permitting jurymen, VIII
, were discharged without strictly lega
cause, to receive pay for failing to act
iurymen, the evidence would he at han'
to throw upon them the responsibility O
useless expenditure Of the public money
Ii Is quite PLAIN that at least twenty pc
cent. Of the amount expended tor Jurorr
fees under the present system Is uselessl
, expended and might be saved 10 the couI
= ty, and there Is no surcr way OF preyentln