New-York tribune., 1896-11-30
THE CHOICE OF GRAND JURORS.
CRITICISMS MADE BY DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
NO a. KNIGHTS OF LABOR

NO 40. KNIGHTS OF LABOR
me Board Of Grand Jury Commissioners will
no'o ther annual meeting to-day. and among the
oocuments that the members will find waiting for
'heir Official inspection will be supplemental me-
moral of District Assembly No a. Knights Of
LABOR. concerning the organization Of the Grand
jury. 1t was sent to the Board yesterday Among
o'her things. the memorial says:
c,i ,iS'd55nihg Tor the moment any questions of
tend that there is an uni ist geographcal dis dis
JI,mhaton I,, IN the present makeup OF the Grand
,nc city, as are ordinary trial jurors not one
twentieth par, Of the Grand Jurors are selected
rom the residential portions of this city south Of
t,ourteenth-st. or east Of Third-ave. or west Of
N,nth-aye. although fully onethird Of our popu.
IN IN me creation of the Grand Jury system it
intended that the locus or residence of Grand
selection: and for reason well defined by Mr.
When he so sas Of ns nsS 81 ties
Ter Ter OF the parties and witnesses by those who re-
them more fit to serve on ' Grand Juries. 'e'e''
,Ancther reason which urges us to petition you.
exist,ing tax laws. we do not hesitate TO openly
proclaim our discomfort with their administration
of taxation which ia growing so great in this city
d aTs bo i npG1 b ourselves ana @ the Hxs small
the opera. see more empty stores to-day than
there were before in the history of this city. and
expenses While many Of % US Believe E' that sS taxes
should be imposed exclusively upon land. yet
sonalty. and it is an indspu,able fact that the
r wealth in this city represented by personal prop
fact. through the farcical and preposterous ad-
ITO, of our "a tax laws AMI the rank decep
honcst-dollar business men. the total assessed
nc%dns and H
resident for 1 the purpose of taxation Is given at
porations alone would make Up this sum We con-
end that If me Tax Commissioners were 10 se take
and euutably and Justly these 100 individuals
according to their personal possessions 1t would r
sonalty for more than the entire amount returned
Oh the tax books for the whole city: or fTrther n
Broadway we contend that there. is more per
sSnSy M conaned therein ,hsn tns tax BOOKS
Again IT should be the highest duty Of the Grand
Jury TO see 20 the due and honest enforcement OF
$4,000 citizens. representing over 40 per cent OF the
voters, think one way. and two successive t Granc
Juries existed where not single member thereol
not even per cent of them was in political accord
with the 40 per cent of our people that such Grand
openly made in the public press and the issuing OF
criminal pay envelopes in the interest OF certain
political party. specific allegations OF which were
made in the public press. when there Is not soul
the Grand Jury to speak for the lSS 600 citizens
against whose choice this vile disregard of laws so
essential to the purity Of the ballot and an honest
vote was openly tolerated?
Again. a Police Commissioner. we'll known IN the
community for the guarded care with when ne
gives expression to his well-matured views. mas
openly said in n meeting In the Police Board that
his associates were guilty OF offences against our
law which If committed by their predecessors In
office would have resulted in their indictment ana
imprisonment and yet no Grand Jury has ever seen
fit TO investigate this matter.
When We suggested the names Of individuals ior
selection. did so merely 10 enlighten your dis.
cretion but with any desire or attempt 10 lols
individuals upon that body. We do feel that IN
kecning with every principle of justice equality and
common sense the Grand Jury should be made up
Of the men who have served on the petit Juries In
criminal cases That is the intent of the law; and
your own good judgment must tell you that they
would make the best Jurors Without intending
op disr,s q body say thdt the meet
ings of your Board heretofore have been purely
perfunctory affairs and so far as We can ascer
lain the question Of the organization OF the Grand
Jury has never been the subject or extended or
general discussion among you.