Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-13
LAWYERS TALK OYER BILLS
Measures Before Nebraska Legislature
Up for Discussion.
MEMBER GRossMAN IS PRESENT
Denounees Present Method of Select
Eng Jurisa ana Opinion Expressed
that New Law VIII Remedy
some Evils.

Consideration Of certain bills now before
the legislature, IN particular one to pro-
vide for jury commissioner to pick the
juries. brought forth some lively discussion
and serious charges at a meeting Of the
Omaha Bar association ct the Paxton hotel
saturday night The meeting. which wes the
regular monthly affair. was preceded by
a banquet. Several members Of the legis-
lature were to have been present for a
conference with the association over the
bills in which II Is interested. However,
John Grossman, a Douglas county repre-
sentative and q member of the judiciary
committee Of the house, was the only one
able to be in attendance.
Mr. Grossman was warm in his denunci-
alton Of the present system of selecting
iurles and accused the association Of
sleeping on its rights IN not having pushed
the jury commissioner bill harder than It
has.
81 am fully aware how this crooked work
is done here said Mr.. Grossman 'fhere
are many lawyers IN Omaha and good ones,
too. who have lost cases simply because
men we're In the box who had no right
there. There are certain men in Omaha
in business who see that those men get
on the iuries You can't get rid Of this
rottenhess until you change the present
system"
The speaker made no specific charges
and the association seemed to be heartily
in accord with the sentiments OF Mr. Gross
man. Some evidenced much classification,
however with the jury commissioner bill
now ON the general file. The original bill
Instituted by the association some time
ago and forwarded 20 Lincoln called for
a key-nuhber method OF picking jurymen
from the poll-tax lists and operated wholly
by lot The Jury commissioner bill pro.
vides for a commissioner appointed by the
district Judges and choosing the names
himself for the lists from which the 1uries
should be drawn.
Patrick Secured Change.
Il was changed in the committee, ac-
cording 70 Mr.. Grossman on the solicita-
lions Of W. r. Patrick of South Omaha
Mr.. Patrick appeared before the commit
tee and gave the inference, at least. that
the Douglas County Bar association was
in favor Of the jury commissioner idea
saying that Judge Redick and others were
strongly FOR e.
John A. Rine. city attorney, took &C.
CASTOR In a few remarks vehemently Il
denounce the jury commissioner bill calling
# 'silk-stocking' idea and pointing out
where it was open to the same abuses as
the old system.
II was pointed out that at this late day
it would be exceedingly hard to get new
bill through. and would probably near
no result either, should a new one be in
troduced. AS 1t seemed to be the sentiment
OF the association that the commissioner
idea was at least step in advance of th'
present system, a special committee wal
appointed to aid the regular committee anC
to go to Lincoln TO do what they coulc
in getting the bill through. The commit
tee consists OF Frank Weaver, presden
OF the association, and c. ]. smyth. othe
from the association will accompany them
Fremont Benjamin extended the assooi
alton an invitation to be present at ban
quet to be given by the Pottawattami'
County Bar association in Council Bluff
Monday evening IN honor of the Hon
Walter ]. Smith. The invitation was &C
cepted. The banquet is to be at the Crane
hotel at 8 o'clock.