The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-13
THE JURY EXEMPTION BILL.
The Military Taking Steps TO Defeat
Mr.. Hills Measure.

A Petition to Be Sent by the Savannah
Companies Protesting Against It's
Passage-The Provisions Of the Pres
ent Law and the Features That Mr..
Hill Wants to Do Away With.
What Representative Osborne Says
About It.
It seems that the bill now before tn e
House of Representatives to dOaway with
honorary members of military companies
who are entitled to jury exemptions in
consideration of the payment of a certain
sum annually for the support and main
tenance Of the company in which the
mem bership is taken, is meeting with de-
termined opposition and resistance from
every military organization in the state.
Several military companies at various
cities in the state have held meetings,
and have adopted resolutions strenuously
protesting against the proposed measure.
Others have drawn up resolutions which
will be sent to the members of the gen
eral assembly, asking them not to pass it.
Such a petition will go up from Savan-
nah It is being prepared now, and viii
be signed by the officers Of every military
company in the city and sent to the mem
DtHS Ol lllG RtIEAd al dooSAAAb l.fs
PURPOSE OF THE BILL.
The bill was introduced by Hon. War
ner Hill, of Meriwether county, and the
idea of the measure seems to be that the
present system works a hardship in some
counties. where it is a difficult matter to
secure juries, especially in certain cases.
Representative w w. Osborne said, yes
terday, that the bill, he thought, had
grown out of this fact. II is now before
the general judiciary committee.
Il don't think that there will be any
trouble about the bill, however" said Mr.
Osborne 81 am almost certain that its
passage, as q general measure, viii be de-
feated but if certain counties where the
Jury lists are small, insist on such meas
ure, it might be passed in such manner
as to apply only to those counties that want
it. 1t might be made a local
option law, according to the
wishes OF the people, but even
if it came up in the House and there
should be any danger Of its passing,
think it would be an easy matter to tack
on an amendment excluding from its opera
tions those counties that desired to retain
the jury exemptions"
THE EXEMPTION REFERRED TO.
The Jury exemptions referred to in the
bill are the fifteen that were granted each
company in the state under section II of
bNe atL OF NyCb. 10, 1880 ACLS, loOt-oD, page
So Under this section and act each com
pany in the state was allowed fifteen spe-
cial Jsay members, who were to be exempt
from jury duty, and this act prescribed
that the money derived from this source
should be used for company purposes.
Col. William Garrard has some very
decided views on this point 'That sec
ton of the act should by all means be re
tanned" said he, in speaking of the
matter
Col Garrard drew the law, and, at the
time, consulted with many of the most
prominent military men in the state as to
the advisability of that section in particu-
lar. These, as well as many public men
who were approached on the subject,
were all of the opinion that this section
was good one.
THE PRESENT LAW ALL RIGHT.
'oThis number" said Col. Garrard,
''was considered reasonable, and the
measure was considered a beneficial one.
The trouble has grown largely out of the
fact that there have been so many special
exemptions granted to certain companies,
and in this way the privilege has in some
places been abused. This is not the case
in Savannah, however. As a matter of
fact, the companies here have not, as
rule, reached the maximum of exemptions
allowed them under this law The Cadets
have only eleven ror twelve and the Guards
will not average more than ten or eleven
to the company.
THE theory of this law is that the
members exempted under this law pay for
the support of the company, and thereby
help the state, which itself does nothing
for the company These exemptions are
sold for not less than S25 each, which is a
total of 1915 in cases where all the exemp-
tions are taken. This money goes for the
support of the company, for armOry rent
and other company expenses, and if taken
away would deprive the companies of a
large part of their existence.
ORIGIN OF THE NEW BILL.
"The opposition to the exemption has
grown out of the abuse Of the law, which
has caused much criticism, but there is
no reason why each company should not
be allowed to get the revenue derived
from the number allowed under that sec
ton and in most cases it is necessary to
their support.
Il have written to the representatives
here and to Gov. Northen, alluding to
this matter, and am going to do all l can
to keep section - in force. l am OBJ
posed to large exemptions, but where the
companies are living up to the act the law
should be maintained. Fifteen is not too
many, and the revenue derived from this
source is in most cases necessary to the
existence of the companies
uT7n Il