The San Francisco call., 1897-02-20
SUPERVISORS MAY
MARCH To JAIL
Climax Is at Hand on the
Issue of Meals for
Jurors.
Judge Cook Sends in Bills
Which, So Far, Fail to
Be Approved.
Attorney Creswell Draws Fearsome
Picture of Courts and Yawn.
- ing Dungeons.

Judge Carroll Cook of the Superior Court
has sent in three bills for meals furnished
jurors in criminal cases for the City and
County to pay. Judge Cook notified the
Supervisors two or three weeks ago that
he would take this course. That there
might be no mistake about the matter, he
communicated his intention in a type
written document. On the other land,
the Board OF Supervisors have adopted a
resolution not to pay any bills for Jurors
meals after February l. 1897.
The bills sent in by Judge Cook number
three. Each one is for $12, the price Of
one meal for twelve men of good appetites
and keen appreciation OF the good things
of life. They are dated respectively Feb
ruary A. 5 and u, and representthe hunger
of the juries in People against Tully,
People against Lyons and People against
Reynolds. They are all made out in
favor of P. J. Techau & Co. The bills set
forth that the Deputy Sheriff also dined
in each case
Yesterday afternoon Supervisor Smith,
chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
and Supervisor Lackmann had these bills
called to their notice as they sat in the
com mittee- room.
IL nOI dppNONe lDem. SdlQ SuDer-
visor Smith. II will give you that
straight. the board has voted not to ap-
prove any of these bills after February !,
and I, for one, intend to adhere to that
programme. The jury fund Is depleted
and will be exhausted before the end of
the fiscal year. 1t is necessary to econo-
mize The board voted to economlze in
! this matter, and l had hoped that the
courts would appreciate the position
Clerk Russell made no remark but
automatically bundled the bills back into
| tin box.
Just then City and County Attorney
Cresweu came in. He heard what was
going on and made some suggestions
which seemed to bring mp vividly to mind
dungeon cells, prison walls, prison fare
and other conditions which would be un-
coneeniaI to Supervisors of this City and
County. He said that the Penal Code pro-
vides for the meals of jurors in criminal
cases; that the Civil Code. while provid-
ing for the com pensation per diem of
Jurors, does not in terms conflict with the
Penal Code.
Suppose" he said, while a grim smile
glazed over his features. 1.-The court shall
send down an order for the payment of
these bills and that refusal shall be fol-
lowed by the visits OF deputy sheriffs,
and arrests, and prosecutions for con-
tempt OF court, and inn prisonment|
Supervisor Smith did not seem to be ap-
palled by this possible contingency. On
the contrary, he stood to his guns.
az will not sign the bills" he said.
Supervisor Lackmann smiled benIgnly
and smiled more when suggestion was
made that when jurors are called hereafter
they shall be requested to bring their lunch
in o tin dinner pail with tin cup on top
from which they may drink their coffee.
CITY and County Attorney Creswell
shared in the general glee.
You know, OF course, that this might
be made continuous contempt" he said,
land you might remain In dungeons for a
long time"
"Seems to me- broke in Supervisor
Lackmann, that jurors feed well. They
seem to have a uniform price of 81 per
meal, which is little odd. Now he
added facetiously, II would agree TO sup
plv them with crackers and cheese at a
less plice.
The Judiciary Committee did not ap-
prove the bills; neither did they instruct
Clerk Russell TO write to the Superior
Judge to say that they would not pay
them They just washed their hands OF
the whole matter by voting TO refer the
bills from Judge Cooks court, along with
some Others from Judge Cam pbelPs court,
10 the Finance Committee, of which
Supervisor RottanZi is the chairman. Pos
sibly that committee will refer the matter
10 the committee of the whole, when the
entire board can have the choice of either
brayiny dungeons vile or resembling the
resolution which was calculated to let
Jurors go hungry or pay Tor their own
sustenance.