St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-26

mon report that the business Of jury fixing
fourishes to an alarming extent in the dis
triet. 1t is asserted that men live, support
their families, and even become rich in the
practice of this nefarious profession. AS tho
jury system now exists, that INSCRIPTIONS
men should safely conduct legislative bust
ness should occasion no surprise. With but
twenty-six jurors, such as usually serve, an
active jury fxer would become acquainted
with at least two or three Of them in q few
hours, and that would give
him strong beginning in his efforts to-
thwart justice. With but twenty-six jurors,
serving for three months, it would not re-
quire One-third that time for a combined
force ofjury hxers to become thoroughly ac-
quainted with the habits, associations, char
aeters and business Of each Juror, and the
influence, If any, that could be used to
reach him and bring him within their power.
Then again, what is there TO prevent one or
more well dressed and apparently respectable
looking rogues placing themselves in with
the marshals, or his deputies, to be brought
into court as talisman, and serving upon
juries to acquit their friends or eonfeder-
ates.
The attorney general recommends that
the Jurisdiction of the United States circuit
and district courts for the judicial district Of
Maryland, be extended for the purpose Of
securing trial in such courts, and before
juries drawn from the entire state of Mary
land.
OF the cases involving crimes committed
in the district of Columbia, against the
United States, the national treasury, he says,
is the great center of allurements and temp
tation. Inroads are made upon it through
all the avenues by which it can be APP
preached. All plans to defraud the govern
ment, no matter where contrived, are mostly
eonsummated in Washington, and when the
guilty parties are arrested their trial must of
necessity take place before jury drawn in
the District. The arrest of one set of de-
PENDANTS brings TO them the sympathy and
active aid of all others engaged in
similar schemes. If the defendants are
wealthy, as is often the case, by liberal ex-
penditure of money they secure the acqUain-
lance and friendship of prominent men, who
are of social disposition and whose open
and public association and companionship
with the defendants is not without its hope
full effect. When the case is called for trial
the government stands alone and opposed by
many disadvantages, while the defendants,
aided next only by their wealth, the encOur-
agement and influence of their friends, but
by certain feeling of indifference which
seems to prevail in Washington, concerning
such crimes, are permitted to depart from the
court room, triumphing in their acquittal,
escaping punishment and scandalizing the
administration of justice. Such has been
the case before, and such will occur again,
so long as the national treasury is confided
solely to the protection of local iuries.
The attorney general renews the recon-
mendation that the system of paying United
States marshals be changed from fees" TO
salaries and that additional legislation be
had to protect executive civil officers of the
government in the performance Of their du-
ties, and against outrages committed upon
them because they have faithfully performed
them.
Attention is called to the fact that the
legislature Of Utah refuses to appropriate
funds for the execution of the territorial
laws under congressional legislation. If
legislation is 70 be maintained, he says,
special appropriations must be made an
nually to meet the demands of justice,