Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-15
CHANCE
In JURY SYSTEM
ATTORNEYS BELIEVE MORE EFF.
FlcIENT TALEsMEN COULD BE
SECURED BY OTHER MEANS
PAY TOO SMALL, SAY SOME
Compensation of Juryman Too Low
for Business Men to Lose Their
Valuable Time-commissio
Would Solve Problem.

Would Solve Problem.
Many improvements could be made
in the present jury system to increase
the efficacy OF that body, according to
the views of leading attorneys of the
city. Among the improvements advo-
Gated by some of the attorneys are the
adjustment of the present system of
selecting jurors and in place of the Sc
lection Of the jury by the judges of the
election and the board Of supervisors,
the work should be done by jury
commission consisting of three county
officers. The small compensation paid
the jurymen cuts down the efficiency
of the talesmen, according to the
opinion Of other attorneys, while some
believe that the present system of Sc
lecting jurors cannot be improved
upon
Favors Jury Commission.
A. w. Enoch is Of the opinion that
the jury system could be improved
upon by the jury commissioner or a
jury commission, and select the body
from the county, taking into consid-
Grafton the occupation and interest of
all parties. Men of good judgment
should be selected and they should
come from the best in laboring and
business circles stated Mr.. Enoch.
THE number selected by the commits
sion should be about three times the
number required, so that men of good
judgment could be selected for the
panel. The jury commission should
consist of three county officers and let
them draw the jury out of the number
selected"
When asked the reason why bust
ness men did not care to serve upon
the jury, Mr.. Enoch stated that 1t was
because the jury duties took them
away from their business and be-
cause the pay of the jurymen did not
warrant them sacrificing their bust
ness interests. Especially is this true
Of laboring men who have good jobs
which pay more than the juryman's
fee," said he. 81 believe the jury fee
per diem should not be less than So
and mileage" He discouraged the idea
that the judges are lenient with the
business men in excusing them. He as
serted that the judges understood the
condition and that they make business
men serve as often as possible.
Jury Duty DlstastefuI.
Business men are not willing to
sacrifice their personal interests for
the benefit of the public" declared w.
D. Tisdale. '-They are busy and don't
care to be bothered, and again they
have distaste for jury work think.
too, the judges are inclined to accept
the excuses offered by the business
| I'M, o,,SS ,1o,- ,Io,,
the jury box with men who are will
ing to serve.
under the present method Of Sc
lecting juries," continued Mr.. Tisdale,
I'VE get fair average representation
of the community. The jury is free
| from suspicion as to having been Sc
lected in the interests Of any litigants.
1t is only now and then good business
men are selected and when they are,
as rule on account of their own pri-
vate business they get excused. The
ideal jury is one composed Of honest
business men who have had expert
ence in such matters as come up in
court and on account of their business
experience are usually well qualified
to pass upon the evidence and the law.
A jury commission would select bet
ter class of Jurors. So long as the
members Of the commission are per-
fectly honest and not Influenced by
any other consideration than to get
the best class Of jurors, 1t would work
we'll But we have to take into consid-
Grafton human nature and It's weak
ness. Members Of the jury commits
sion would have their prejudices,
might have their friends to reward
and enemies to punish, and might be
subjected to pressure of interested liti-
giants. 1t Is charged that this is the
situation in the city Of Chicago at the
present and as whole we must be
content with the system we now
have"
Present System o. x.
| THE present jury system is all
right and do not see how 1t can be
improved upon," declared John Lewis.
I'm answer to the question why sub.
stantial business men do not care to
serve upon the Jury he stated that it
1s because the jury service is labor
ious and responsible work, and the
conscientious business man is against
this kind of labor. High grade men,
said Mr.. Lewis, find 1t anything but
| pleasant pastime to serve upon the
Jury. I do not believe an Increase of
pay would increase the number OF
business men serving. The old-fash.
toned professional juror Is not in evi.
dence any more, as the new laws
make it hard for him to get place
on the panel. thing the judges are
a little too kind hearted in excusine
the business men. I think they should
be more insistent in keeping high
grade men on the jury.
4 Advocates Changes.
W, w. Rankin considers the present
jury system about as good as one can
expect under the present conditions
I'm selecting jurymen both sets Of at
\ torneys try to pick Jury they believe
is prejudiced In their favor" stated
Mr.. Rankin, "w whom they believe
they have an influence over tn bring
them to their idea of thinking. think
L. L. a