The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-02-16

Bar Associa ton Meets in the
]. G. Club and Discusses
the Question Of Sc
lection.
COMMISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Warren Dixon to Draw a Bill
Embodying His Views
Prosecutor speer's Two
Masters.
COMMISSION IMPOSSIBLE

/ At tue meeting OF the Bar Association,
held last evening at The Jersey City Club
house. President II A. S. Lewis presid-
ing, the minutes Of the meeting of the
previous meeting were approved as read
and four new members were elected.
When reports of committees were called
for, Judge Charles 4. Carrick, ons behalf
of the Committee on Ethics, handed in a
written report, in which the committee
condemned the quality of jurors who for
/ the past few years have served in the
Hudson County Courts. The committee
! also called attention to the fact that the
Prosecutor Of the Pleas of the county
acts as attorney for the Public Service
Corporation IN the trial of causes in this
county and questioned the prapriety Of
his doing 50. The report was signed By
the entire committee. Thepresident then
asked for suggestions for the bettering OF
| the juries, etc.
Among those who addressed the meet
ing were Counselor Alex Simpson, who
stated that the iuries who have served. in
this county during the past few years
were not Of the quality that was desired.
He could not say that he had been served
any less gently than other members of
the bar. He gave several striking in
stances of the want of capacity Of the
jurors before whom he had had to try
cases. He said that it was not entirely
the fault of the Sheriff Of the county, as
he believed he was doing the best he
could He explained the difficulties the
Sheriff has in securing business men to
serve on the petit jury, and Of the hard
feelings sometimes aroused by his insist
ing on such men doing their duty to the
State.
Mr.. Warren Dixon said he was willing
to vote for any measure that would cause
even the slightest improvement. He
doubted the eonstitutionality of any Jury
Commission, as the Sheriff is d constifu-
| tional officer, and among his duties is the
drawing Of grand and petit juries. The
Supreme Court in the. case Of Virtue vs..
Board of Chosen Freeholders Q64 n. j,
| Law Reportsl determined that among
other things the Sheriff was the eusto-
dian of the common Jail Of the county
! and that this Office could not be taken
from him by the Legislature. This case
arose over the attempt to take the Gus
todg Of the jail from the Sheriff and turn
i it over TO d .Jailor.n He said he thought
a. Jury Commission would fail within
this ruling and therefore any attempt to
create a jury Commission would be fu-
tile. He was of the opinion that the
present laws were ample to protect the
suitors, if there was an addition TO
i the statutes now relating to the drawing
of jurors allowing counsel to examine
the jurors before they we're sworn.
Acting on this suggestion, Col Fuller
offered a resolution that Mr.. Dixon be
appointed d committee Of one to draw a
bill embodying his views. ana to report TO
| the association at its next meeting. This
/ resolution was unanimously carried.
Among the other speakers were;--
Prosecutor Speer, who roundly denounced
the present system of drawing Jurors:
i George w. MeEwan, who gave several
instances Of the miscarriage Of JUS
tiee caused hy the stupidity Or malice
Of the jury; Mr.. Boyd Mclean, Henry
EwaId, DANIEL I. Byrnes and John
Grimm
Mr.. w. c. cudlip, on behalf Of the
Committee on Laws, reported that il had
taken up the snbject &c city records
at and read copy Of a bill drawn by
1 him and imfrotlueel at this session of the
Legislature thar fhe Board Of Finance
sh0lldSby resolution declare thaf all rec
oris relating 10 municipal lieus BE- re-
corded Ill one Office asssl thar shts SHOULD
liz .the amount 81 fee payabIe into tie
treasury 81 the city and that all records
uew Oh file iii any other office Shenld be
filed with this oiliee 70 be by then des-
ienatel
The bin also provided tllat should
Ills eeltisieate fail t. certify lien tae
city would ID estoispesl frsFn asserting
/ same HIS thought that shis covered the