Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-19
Republicans May Let
Democrats Garry
Egan Chancellor
Measure.
FIELDER OFFERS BILL, TO
TAKE EFFECT FORTHWITH
Governor Says Safeguards
Upon Present System Should
Be Inaugurated at Once,
Pending Referendum Result.

From n stan COrrespOndent.l
TRENTON, N. J.. May IA new
aspect was given the jury bill situ-
alton today by the announcement
from Governor Fielder that he had
drawn and would himself submit in
the Senate measure providing for
immediate jury reform.
This is similar to the Johnson bill
and to the first part of the McDer-
mott bill. 1t was suggested in the
Star some time ago that such a bill
might be passed owing to the dis
satisfaction with the chancellor
sheriff bill with its referendum and
the fear that it would be beaten at
the polls thus leaving the system
just as it now is.
The Fielder bin provides that the
sheriff select jury panels which will
be subject to revision by the Su-
preme Court.
May Pass Two Bills.
A report current here today which
could not be confirmed was to the
effect that Republican senator's in
tended TO withdraw their opposition
to the chancellor sheriff bill and give
the Democrats sufficient votes TO
pass it.
II this should be the case 1t would.
be possible to put both the new Fiel-a
der bill and the chancellor -sherim.
measure through both houses today
and fnishTu the session before to-
morrow, under suspension OF the
rules. N
The House convened at 2:30 p.
m and the Senate at 3 p. m. IL
was said as an excuse for the reputed
decision of Republicans to change
their attitude that, although they did
not believe any real jury reform could
come from the chancellor bill. they
believed II was time for them to stop
fighting in the Legislature and take
the fight to the people in the coming
election.
Governor Fielder said today:
..In case the chancellor sheriff bill
passes I shall call upon the Legisla-
ture to pass my BILL and thus give
the state some immediate jury re-
form. whether the chancellor sheriff
bill is finally put in operation or not.
"My promise in conference with the
President binds me to assist in the
passasG of the chancellor-sheriff bill
now before the Senate, and l favor
awaiting the return Of Senator Mum
son before considering any other
legislation on this subject
II believe that bill will be passed,
and in passing 1t the Democratic
party may be regarded as complying
with it's somewhat indefinite platform
promise, but the bill is far from sat
isfactory to me, as well in plan as in
the time it shall take effect.
"The referendum is especially OBJ
1ectionable in view of our promise 10
speedily eliminate politics.
"By waiting until this late day to
pass bill and then postponing its
operation until the November cleo
ton, I cannot feel that we are act
ing with any speed whatever, and /,
therefore, feel it my duty, as gov
ernor, in case the chancellor-sheriff
bill passes, to insist that the legis-
lators pass another bill to take effect
at once, which, while leaving the
power to draw juries with the sheriff,
will so limit and safeguard that
power that we can have some jury
reform Immediately, and, il the voters
fail to accept the chancellor sheriff
bill next November, we shall not be
without some relief and the long fight
shall not be bare Of result.
Not Satisfied with ANY Bill.
"I am not satisfied with any of the
sheriff bills so far introduced. and
I have, therefore. drawn one which
shall offer at todays session so that
it be printed and the members in
formed of its contents Briefly. it
provides that the sheriff shall, before
the opening of each term of court,
make up grand jury list of 500
names for first-class counties, 300
names for second-class counties and
200 names for all other counties. and
petit jury list of 700 names for first
class counties. 500 names for second
class counties and 300 names for all
other counties. A copy of each list
shall be delivered to the Supreme
Court Justice at least thirty days be-
fore the opening of the term, from
which the justice may strike any
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