The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-18
Power Lies With the
 Governor. WAS INCLUDED IN THE
 EXTRA SESSION CALL It Is Asserted That the New Sys- tenn Will Save Money. Abolishes Forever the Practice of CaIi- ing in Bystanders in Court
 for Service on
 Juries.
 

mem bers for the most part sat in court capacity to decide the two upper most propositions of the day. These were the new jury system proposed in the Governors call for the extra ses- sion and the effort of Houston County to be relieved of proportionate share of indebtedness with which Henry County, out of which she was carved, proposes to charge her offspring.
 But naturally the greater interest of the day centered on the jury law as 1t contemplated the repeal of all local laws for the regulation of juries and substituting therefor the bill which initiates the Dallas County system and which has had the approval of the State Bar Association Committee. And after a debate of more than two hours at the morning session the House, by large majority. enacted the new law.
 The only fight of consequence was led by MT. Long. of Butler. supported by MT. Tunstall, of Hale, to take from the Governors hands, the power of ap- pointing the jury commissioners. of whom there are three provided in the flaw, clothed with the exclusive duties of filling the jury boxes in all counties. There are three such commissioners appointed in each county by the Gov ernor and their compensation Is fixed at $5 for every day in which they are busy.
 MT. Long pleaded strongly for let ting the pewer remain in the hands of the commissioner courts of the coun- ties or boards of revenue, as the case may be. urging that such would pre- serve local self-government and save actual expense. He declared that the people of each county were competent to choose men for their boards, who could exercise the functions that are required by the bill of the special com missioners. He objected to creating so many new officers.
 He was answered by MT. John, of Jefferson the bill's author, that 1t would tend to decrease the cost of the jury system in all the counties and he declared that the Governor would not likelyndfBF6gard the wishes of the com munity, effected in the appointment of competent men to serve as commission CTS.
 Long Amendment Tabled.
 The Long amendment was tabled, as were all others which attempted mate Tially to alter the bill.
 The bill Is of considerable length. It abolishes forever the practice of call- ing in bystanders in court for service on juries after the veniremen have been exhausted. To complete the jurtes in the event of not enough men being drawn the court SnAll QtreCL thAL Iuo talemen be gathered from the sur rounding territory by drawing from the metal box into which the commission CTS have put the name1 of all men in the county who have the qualifications of jurors as the commissioners may determine.
 Under this system 1t was claimed by. it's friends that 1t will relegate to ob- ltyion the jury pickers" and the "jury Jumpers" This evil which was de- nounced as a curse to our Jurisprudence was well used by the advocates of the measure in their argument for It's pas sage Instances were related of where Justice had miscarried because by po- litical pull a certain man was put on jury when he was known to have been fixed, thus causing a mistTial in two successive trials when eleven jurors were of the opposite conclusion on the cause In issue
 The provisions of the bill call for the diligent search of the county for the names of all persons having the quali- fcattons of a juror as fixed in the bill and the compilation of their names and places of residence by the commission CTS through a clerk, which shall be se- lected in each county. From these names at tspeclaed times the commits sioners draw a given list at random for the use of the court in making up the venires of petit and grand jurors
 Thus it Is hoped to conhne the jury selection to no coterie of jury habitues or professional servers" And there are exacting sections defining the du- ties of the sheriff and accusing him of negligence if he wilfully fails to sum mon the jurors drawn.
 Morning Session.
 The House adopted joint resolution that the rules committee meet with the like committee of the Senate with a view of fixing a day for adjournment It was stated by the speaker that If the House got down to night work 1t would be possible to adjourn by the end of the week
 This statement came after a report from the rules committee that the House meet daily at 9:So o'clock and recess from l to o'clock. recess at o'clock and meet again at 8 o'clock adjourning again at 10 o'clock for the day.
 Among the favorably reported bills was one by MT. John to protect mem- bers of the Legislature front arrest during their attendance on the sessions.
 Also the bill to allow Confederate veterans to peddle articles of any kind without a license was reported favor ably.
 Al bill was introduced by Mir. ston- enwerck, of Montgomery, prohibiting any sale of fowls that have been Kill ed, before the same have been cleaned and entrails removed.
 There was no opposition to the bill of Mir Gunter which provides for the assumption and payment of contracts. debts, etc.. by one city absorbing an- other, and for the continuance of im- movements and collection of assess ments for such improvements
 The House was advised to attend especially to the homage of the new genera, jury y..lav iaw introduced by Mr.
 MT. John said that so strong had the pressure been for a reform Jury sys- fem that the State Bar Assotiation Committee, when the subject came up for discussion after a weeks consid- eration, agreed on the bill on the cal andar. It is virtually a copy of the rallas county system which had given eminent satisfaction for so many years
 Commended By Bar Association.
 Mir John said the Bar Association Committee had commended the bill whIch should give it special force when 1t Is known that the committee was Somposed of every variety of lawyer