St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-30

mental Charge TO the Grand
Jury-Duty of the Jury to See
That All the Laws Are Enforced
Very Able Charge on Child
Labor and Bribery.
The grand jurors convened yesterday
morning after little over two weeks
vacation, and listened to supplemental
charge from Judge Willis before retir-
ing to their room 10 continue an inquiry
into the peace and good order of their
bailiwick. During his address to the
grand jury Rev. Samuel G.. Smith,of the
Peoples church. occupied seat beside
his honor on the bench. After the
charge was completed the divine signl-
fed his intention to retire from the end
of the WoolSack. and was dismissed by
his honor with CheStertieldian grace.
Judge Willis arose and bowed him out.
Judge Willis expressed his pleasure at
again meeting the grand jurors. ana
took occasion to thank them again for
the efficient work done at the former
sitting in certain particulars. The
former work was alluded 10 with the
following comment:
1t contained, probably by reason of
inadvertent haste in its preparation and
consideration, sundry observations re-
garding the propriety of enforcing
certain penal statutes to which L
deemed it my official duty to declare
an emphatic dissent. 1t would be
strange, certainly, If tribunal which
is charged with the duty of enforcing
all the laws and is bound not only by
express enactment but by the highest
considerations of civic duty to uphold
the dignity and majesty of the law,
ShO uld allow to pass unchallenged a
for NAL declaration that certain laws
ought not to be enforced. Every law
must be enforced if possible. To say
otherwise is to impeach the sovereignty
of the people, 10 admit that any Law
may be properly nullitied or ignored IS
to reflect upon the intelligence or sin
cerity of those who enact aud those
who maintain that law. Ii a
law exists and is constitutional it
must be enforced. If its enforcement
is productive of i'll results, the necessity
for its modification or repeal is thereby
demonstrated. The power of modify
ing or repeating laws Is vested solely in
the legislature and is outside the APP
pointed province of the courts. The
grand jury is al adjunct of the
court. 1t bound to administer the la W
with fidelity. 1t is not vested with any
right to speak OF the law in terms of
disDaragement.
As regards the statutes providing pun
ishmeut for employing children Of ten
der years in certain occupations and
during certain times and seasons, and
duration of the daily tasks imposed upon
such children, permit me to say that
such statutes have been enacted in re-
spouse to the demand of the most
eminent and enlightened students of
sociology and the most eminent votaries
of humanitarianism. They are in ac-
cord with the general policy of our
laws; policy which contemplates the
attendance of all children under six :
teen years of age at school during
at least twelve weeks of each year
Ii the child leaves his wage-earning
occupation to attend school, he, per-
force, loses his situation, and the con-
sistent enforcement of our system of
compulsory education would. of itself.
practically destroy the rapidly expand
ing system of employing child labor.
Were the appropriate instrumentaities
of education wanting, no just complaint