The Portland daily press., 1884-11-26
FIXING JURIEs.
Some Of the Abuses Mentioned
and How to Correct Them,
WATH OTHER RECOMMENDA-
TEONs BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The annual report of
With reference to the chief supervisors of elections
in whose accounts over charges generally occur he
suggests that all accounts of chief supervisors
should be taxed in open court under the inspection
and examination of the District Attorney or his
sworn assistant, and that they ust then bs fer-
warded to the proper department for further exam
inaton and reduction if deemed advisable and nee
essary. The Attorney General directs the atten-
ton OF ConRress 70 want of proper legislation for
criminal cases In npreparing indictments he says
for offences against the United States it is found
necessary to follow the common law forms of ths
last century with ali the technicaities, verbosity
Of descriptions, repeitions and precisions state
ments formerly required whereby that which
should be simple and concise written accusation
becomes lengthy and painfully confused mass of
descriptions and allegations wholly unintelgble to
the defendant who is called upon to answer to
the jury selected to try the case To reduce plead
1ngs TO plain and comprehensive statement OF
facts would sore equally to the advantage of the
government and defendant. 1t is urged that the
law regarding the trial of an accessory before the
fact b. altered as to admit of the trial and pun
ishment of an accessory if he were principal,
also that the United States courts be powered to
make such correctioas in indictments during trials
s.are now permitted in state courts The Attor
ney General says that the evils that surround
the jury system in the District of Columbia de-
mand condemnation. He calls attention to the ex-
traordinary fact that service iurOr in the dis
triot means an enforced attendance at court and al
fourth of the whole year-a hardship sad il juslc
that ia not imposed upon citizens any other place
ia the United States and would not be tolerated in
any community where people have voice in franz
ing their own laws. He says TT is subject of be-
lief and common report that the business of fury
fixing hourishes to an alarming extent in the die
trct 1t is asserted that men live support families
and become rich in the practice of this nefaTi-
Gus profession. Such practice or profession exists
to extent in nearly every large city under the
best devised jury system and notwithstanding the
care, attention and safeguard thrown around juries
to prevent their being tampered with.
But as he jury system now exists. that unscrupu-
lous men should safely conduct lucrative business
in ebauchipg uries in the district should occasion
surprise, for with but 26 jurors such usually
serve an active jury fixer would become acquaint-
ed with at least two or three in a few hours and
that would give him strong beginning in his efforts
to thwart Justice With but 26 Jurors serving for
three months it would require one-thrd of that
time for combined force of jury hxers to become
thoroughly acqu inted with the habits associations,
character and business of each juror and the in1u
enees if any, that could be used to reach him
and bring him within their power 1t
is fact that unnecessary responsibility is placed
upon officers whe, although acting from
the purest and most conscientious motives
are liable at any time to censuee and reproach 1t
is recommended that the number of Jurors should
be increased to 48; that their time of service
should be reduced to one month; that where deAc-
iency exists in jury that deficiency
should be supplied from the box, and that an
improved system of drawing, selecting and sum-
monlng juries should be adopted without delay.
The Attorney General renews his recommenda-
tion that the system of paying United States mar
shas be changed from "fees'' to salaries and says
it is estimated that it costs the government $40 in
expenses for every dollar of marshal's emoluments
which show that it would be to the interest of the
government to give marshal a fixed compensation.