The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-26
LAY JUDGES doom.
Bill to Abolish Them Signed by
Griggs-Is It Con-
stitutional z

TRENTON. March &c. 1ses.-The only
debate of the day took place in the House
at the afternoon session on Mr.. Voor-
hees' judicial bill, which according to
the caucus mandate came up under a
suspension OF the rules. Mr.. Queen ex-
pressed surprise that the bill had been
reported by the Judiciary Committee, of
which he is a member, without affording
him an opportunity to present a minor
ity report. He then opposed the bill in a
foreible speech. He said that criminals
would receive more Justice at the hands
OF a court composed of one Judge learned
in the law and two Judges from the
people and of the people. He related an
incident of a judge who was Of a dys-
peptic temperament and whose night be-
fore had not been all that it should have
been who was only prevented from doing
a prisoner al injustice by the two lay
judges.
He argued from his that the lay judges
were of great benefit to the people at
large. There was nc demand for the bill.
he said, and he did not think that the
people at large would uphold the party
IHsi passed it. He declared .aet ~
ocrats were opposed to the bill and SO
were the people.
Mr. Skinner. chairman of the Judiciary
COMMITTEES, FASTENED to answer Mr..
Queen that no ~discourtesy had been in
tended to him. The committee had re-
ported the bill without submitting it to
him because he was not in the chamber
at the time and the committee was anx-
lous to get 1t before the House.
At the request OF Mr.. Queen the House
permitted him to submit a minority re-
port auVerSestO the bill.
Mr.. Hicks said he was glad that the
House had given Mr.. Queen that privil-
state were going to lose such a valuable
as MIR. Queens minority re-
port He said that Mr.. Queens opposition
two classes-Democrats and criminals.
just why he should put those two in
such close juxtaposition he could not
see. rms produced a laugh in which Mr..
Queen Joined heartily.
Mr.. Cagney made esoun the echoes
that linger in the cups of the two god
desses in the States coat of arms way
against the bill. He said that he protest
ca as a layman; and he called upon the
lay member Of the House to protest
against the presumption and impudence
81 the legal profession in assuming that
they and they alone represent the INTEL
ligence of the people of New jersey. He
paid attorneys of corporations. and it
was necessary that there should be rep
resentat1ves OF the people upon the bench.
Mr.. Robertson said that the people did
not want the bill. The Republicans prom
ised it to them last fall and the people
had given them complete control of the
State. He claimed that the bill put the
Republicans in an enviable position, as
they propose to turn out a lot of Demo-
cratic Office holders and do not propose
to fill their places with Republicans. The
bill was in the interest of economy, and
the Republicans were not afraid to take
the responsibility of its passage. 1t was
in the line of enlightenment and advance
ment. and it was time that New Jersey
broke away from the traditions of the
past.
Judge Walling opposed the bill because
he said there were grave doubts OF ite
constitutionality. The Legislature of 1894
passed such a bill, but it was not to take
effect until some time after its pasage,
Tha allowed the Supreme Court to pass
upon it's constitutionality before it could
do any harm. But the present bill was
to take effect in six days after its passage.
and if judges were appointed under ii
and performed their duties and then the
bill should be declared unconstitutional
property rights. His ground for thinking
the bill Unconstitutional was that 1t was
snecial inasnuch as It did not apply TO
all the Judges.
The bill passed by a vote Of 36 to IA.
Several Republicans lodged the vote.
The Governor signed the bill last even
ing, and it was taken to the Secretary of
States office this morning and became a