Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-16
THE ACTUAL ABUSES
That Exist in the Present Grand Jury
System of Soldering.
AN OFFICIAL ON THE JUDGES ACT,
He and Judge Fetterman Think the Junk
citing Job an Unqualified Evil
WHY NOT FIND 30 OR 50 BILLS A DAY

The sudden discharge of the grand jury
by Judge Collier was commented on var
iously yesterday, but, by large majority
of the rank and file OF the people, and manv
officials also, favorably to the Judge. A
specimen was given by public man, who
said:
"You must not use my name, as l cannot
afford to quarrel with some of the people
interested on the wrong side.
''In the first place, the grand jury is an
institution which the people would not like
to have abolished, for it is a useful one, If
properly managed, but of late years, every
one who knows anything about it knows
that some matters connected with 1t have
been infamously managed.
''In the first place, the grand jury is
drawn with the petit jury. The judges
have a right to choose one-third OF the
Jurors and sometimes they exercise 1t and
at others they do not. The Jury Commls-
sioners are elected by the people, and they
only get 81 day for their services. They
must make a canvass, and that costs money,
and in the prosecution thereof they neees-
sarily fall under obligations to politicians.
1t NAV be said that candidates have no bust
ness to allow politicians to get pull on
them, butwe must look at the state of affairs
AS WE FIND IT.
"There should be some other method ofse-
curing Jurors and l think Judge Golfers
action will stimulate and expedite it. If
the Commissioners were appointed by the
Court, the Judges sense of responsibility
would be almost certain to work out better
results, and then the Commissioners would
be responsible to the Court. The improve
ment would come at once. Were it not that
it might be held to be in conflict with the
spirit of our institutions. would suggest
that the grand Jury shauld be drawn separ-
stely from the petit jury and only men
worth S10,0 900, or some other amount be al
lowed to serve. OF course such PROPOSE
ton would raise deafening howl of rage,
and would really discriminate against many
worthy poor men; but it would at least keep
bummers off.
"In this connection it is not amiss to state
that in Philadelphia, where the method OF
drawing Jurors is the same as here, the
grand jury disposes of an average of 40 to 60
cases day, and years ago the same celebrity
was expected and realized here. Often the
Jury made an average of 60 to 20 cases
dav.
Another custom has grown up that
should be abolish promptly, that of the
grand Jury visiting public institutions. 1t
is not authorized by law, and is an evil pure
and simple.
THESE JUNKEfING TRIPS
accomplishing nothing more than the
feastlng of score or two OF men perlodi-
cally. If there is anything crooked in the
management of an institution, an expected
visit of inquisitors accomplishes nothing in
the way of discovery. 1t simply admon-
ishes reCusants to sweep the dirt behind the
doors for few weeks until the grand jury
has adjourned"
If the name of this gentleman could be
given it would invest the statement with
more than ordinary interest, as he is one
who can speak ex-cathedra.
An attempt was made to get an expression
of opinion from Judge Fetterman; but he
was wary as to the main facts in the Sin
dictment, " as many people choose to call it;
but as to the iunket he was '66tspokenI Said
he:
''There is no excuse whatever for that,
save 81 90 and good dinner at the expense
OF the county per head for the visitors. The
grand jury in the infancy of the custom
merely visited the County Home. After
ward the penitentiary was added to the list,
and then one institution after another until
it has grown into an abuse for which there
is no law. At first the Home was visited
but once year. By and by it came about
twice year, finally quarterly, and now
many people have grown to think it part
of the grand jury's function.
1t will be seen that these visits cost the
county in salary alone some s., 200 a year
beside the cost of the dinners, and, esti-
mating that at so cents plate, which seems
to be quite reasonable, adds $500 year
more, so that if Judge Golfers example is
followed by his brethren the county will be
saved 81, 500 annually.