Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-06-20
A JURY COMMISSION
County Attorneys Favor Change
in Present Method Of Draw.
Ing Jurors.
Will Ask Next Legislature to
Modify the Law..Tax
Ferrets' Pay.
Lawyers Want Ferrets' Pay Lin.
tied by Law to IS
Per Cent.


DEG Moines. June 2o.-The county att
torneys who have been in session here |
for two days, will ask the next legisla-
ture to pass three important mea sures.
They want:
"A law prohibiting boards of super
visors from making contracts with tax I
ferrets for more than the 10 per cent
allowed them by law.
The creation of commissions to draw
the Jurors at each term of court for the
next term instead of having them drawn
by county officers, as at present.
a law excluding persons who have
expressed opinions on cases from serv
ing on juries and not LAYING it at the
discretion of the court az at present"
at present many boards of s'upervis-
ors pay the tax ferrets the regular 10
per cent allowed by law and add Is per
cent additional for Legal work. The
county attorneys propose that if any
Illegal work is to be done in connection
with collection of taxes it shall be done
by the county attoroney.
The most important measure, how
ever, and the one likely to attract most
| attention ia the one changing the meth
cd of drawing jurors.
| ii is the idea of he association that
commission ought to be appointed by
the court al the close of each term to
Edraw the jurors. This would be done
/ directly from the poll books. and the re-
turning of names by boards of election
I dispensed with. The Jurors would thus
be selected whole term In advance: for
/ instance, the jurors for the May term of
court being drawn during the March
Hterm. No recommendations We're made
as to the personnel of this commission.
4 but its members are to b.. appointed by
4 the court in every case. 1t Is thought
4 that in this Way the forced selection of
.Einconpetent jurors may be alrnos. en-
ltirely ohyiated No man ould be se-
Elected BY. the commission, especially if
i il was composed of lawyers, who would
\ not beineined TO give a case a fair and
81 Intelligent hearing. AT present many Of
Il the names returned by the boards Of
u election are those of parties incompetent
10 serve ON a jury, vet the court has 10
power TO Interfere, except in the most
extreme cases
}. The association was of the opinion
tndlf uUusT tlle present laws many NJ j.
l.diced men are permitted to sit on
i, juries. This was declared to be due &c
the fact that a juror, If challenged be-
cause he admits that he has formed al
opinion With reference 10 the case IL
question, may be permitted to remain
:. on the jury, or he may not. at the dis
{ cretion Of the court. The passage of &
law making the formation of an opin-
J ion sufficient reason for excluding q
man from the jury Will be sought by tht
> attorneys.
1t was thought by some that the mum.
Der of jurymen ought to be reduced
I. from twelve to six when man wa:
t only on trial for a misdemeanor. Many
$ of the attorneys We're of the opinior
e t,at he would receive as fair tria
i with six Jurors as with twelve. and tn,
4 expense would be greatly reduced. NJ
. recommendations We're made regarding
s this. however.
e Officers of the association for the en-
. suing year were elected as follows
President, d. W. Telford. Cerro Cord,
county; vice president. j. E Wichman
Hancock county. Observation-Disclosures
John McLennan, Polk county; recordin.
\ secretary. W. ]. Taft. Humboldt county
This year all the papers and addresse
viii be published in the form of a re
J. and preparing them for publication, tn
: following committee was appointed: H
q F. Schultz. Buena Vista county; f. r
Harlan Van Buren county; w. j. Taf,
: Humboldt county.