San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-10-04
CONTRIBUTED SCRAPS.

1t is phenomenal how the same
persons are repeatedly selected as
grand jurors, and it is talked
about and canvassed consider
ably by the people.
The favored individuals and
standing grand jurors are, certain
ly, not conspicuous fer any promi-
nent fitness to serve on the grand
Jury, and this want of superior
qualificatio MS leads the public to
conclude these standing grand
jurors are selected either out of
favoritism, or jobbery.
1t helps the lawless and the
corrupt to have friends on the
grand jury, as they are often able
to prevent the finding of indict-
ments. The grand jury is fast los
ing the respect it commanded in
former years.
The District judges are bound
by their duty to give some atten-
ton to the make up OF the
grand juries, particularly, where
individuals are selected so fire.
quently as to deserve to be called
standing grand jurors.
Professional petty jurors is a
growing curse, and judges ought
to set their faces as fiints against
this abuse. They can easily put
a stop to this evil, If they really
wish to do so, by ordering sheriffs
not to summon professionals as
special jurors.
Judges, who properly respect
the ermine they wear, will throw
all their personal and official in
fuence into the scale of law, ord
or and good government. A
judge, who VIGOROUSLY breaks
the law himself, passes SEN
tence on the law breakers with
very poor grace. If they hap
pen to be acquitted, the public at.
tribute it to the sympathy felt
for them by the judge, on account
OF his being himself an habitual
violator of the laws.
The punishment of gamblers
and prostitutes has become farce
If not q persecution. They are
hauled up at every term OF the
court, and fined, but though the
officers know they are prosecuting
their callings at the old stands,
without any effort at concealment,
they are left unmolested till the
next term of the court rolls round.
II an officer, or policeman has a
grudge against the proprietor Of
either a gambling den, or a dis
orderly house, he persecutes them
by arresting them, frequently,
but never molests their next door
neighbors who are in the same
business.
This sort OF partiality to some,
and persecution of others, when all
follow the same calling, is dis
grace to the law and to its officers
and ought to be stopped.
II it is contrary to the law to
run gambling house and dis
orderly house why suffer them to
be run for months, without pro-
test, or molestation, and then snap
them up for trial? IT, the officers
wink at them for months, where
is the good to the public, or the
justice to the violators of the law,
in hauling them up for trial three
or four times year?
Every one knows they resume
business, as soon as possible, at
the old stands. OF course, 1t
would be exceedingly uncharitable
to suppose they are pounced on for
the sake of the fees, yet that is the
sensible solution of so very singu-
lar a proceeding as that of tolerat-
ing such establishments for
months and then raiding them
all Of a sudden.
A thousand prosecutions, re-
venges, shabby and dirty tricks,
and crimes are perpetrated in the
name and costume of justice
every month. Justice is shame
fully prostituted. The sardines
among the law breakers are
gouged and skinned, while the
whales escape with flying colors
and abundance of applause.
II the sins OF church members
Of both sexes, were blazoned to the
world, what sensation and row
there would be among the rigidly
righteous. What a number Of
divorce suits would be filed.
How many Corinthian pillars and
Doric columns Of "sanctity" and
of morality would be hauled
down into the slime and mud.
Skinf1int, in spite Of his pious
talk and aanctimOniOuS face.