Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-10
SUGGESTS NAMING
GOVERNOR ALSO.
Assemblyman McDermott Sug-
gests Executive to Select
Jury Commissions.

JERSEY CITY, N. j., May 10.-As-
semblyman Walter L. McDermott, of
Jersey City. who has taken leading
part in the proposed legislation on
jury reform, in a statement issued
here today, asks why the governor
should not be included with the chan
ceilor in naming the county commits
sioners who would act with the
sheriff in the selection of juries.
The question whether the chan
cellor-sheriff jury bill would take the
juries out of politics might be an
EweTed by reflection on the circum-
stances of its origin, Assemblyman
McDermott states. 1T was an
nounced after the conference at the
Carteret Club as the chancellor
governor-sherin bill, but when 1t was
introduced the governor had been
left out; that is to say, Mr. Fielder
had been left out. Why not have
Mr.. Fielder participate in naming
the county commissioners? Would
not the selection be more impartial
with the two officials using their
judgment on the question than with
only one?
There is a summary power of re-
moval without cause assigned en-
| tirely at the pleasure of the chancel-
| Tor. Does a summary power of re-
moval make for independence in the
subordinate? Or does 1t tend to make
| him eager to defer to the suggestions
of the man who can remove him?
Let US suppose the act in operation
in Hudson, for example. Whom shall
the chancellor choose? Has he such
acquaintance in this community that
| he can choose a man without asking
local man to assist him by recon-
mending someone? And to whom will
he turn for such recommendation?
Naturally he will turn to those whom
President Wilson consults on such
| matters.
For Hudson, for instance, the
President thought 1t well to take the
views of Mr.. Patrick Griffin, of Ho-
bolxen, and Mr.. Wittpenn, of Jersey
City; for Union he counseled with
General Dennis Collins; for Middle
sex he talked with Mr. Barney GAN
non, and so on. So 1t Is seasy to
foresee that instead of having the
people elect the officials who will pick
their juries, these politicians will, for
the present, to all practical intents
nominate these officials and they can
be removed from office without cause
if any of these gentlemen can satisfy
the chancellor that they ought to be-
Would this be taking the jury out
of politics or would it be putting this
a.
| juries just twice as deep in politics
as it is today? The last vestige of
Democratic control over the juries
would be gone under this system, for
| the people might elect good sheriffs,
but they could never be sure what
they were getting from the politicians.
| These men are in public life on
purely professional footing. You
never hear from them. They never
contribute anything to the stock of
ideas on government They are not
altruists. and so far as they can they
are going to pick their friends from
these places
II felt very happy when we defeat
ed this Ubiquitous attempt TO turn the
finest State court in the United States
into an adjunct of a political machine,
and it is clear that it has absolutely
no chance of passage. What then is
to be. done? The whole thing lies in
! the hand of Governor Fielder. He
| has the opportunity of his life 20 act
and act wisely. The decision Of the
Carteret conference to include him as
nominator was broken. He stated
in the conference of the Legislature
that he favored my bill as a compro-
mise. 1t is a straightforward. hon
est submission of this question to
popular vote.
| President Wilson should not now
lcriticize the referendum. He said on
February rs, with respect to the first
referendum offered, "All right; | be-
| lieve in the referendum. If the people
don't want this measure | don't want
it, With the President thus on rec
ord and Mr.. Fielder on record, the
time has come to act, and act with
energy. There must be no more dali
lying and attempting to get votes
through promising postmasterships.
1.-THE word of Mr.. Fielder should
now be law He has it in his power
| to sign or Veto The. people are look
| ing to him and he should act. He
has been consistent throughout. Mr..
Wilson has wavered and compro-
missed Mr. Wittpenn has jumped
around so that no one knows where
he is. The Hudson assemblymen,
except Mr.. Agnew, Mr. Martin. Mr..
McGrath and myself have reversed
themselves. The public will now look
to those whose course has been con-
sistent and in accord with Democra-
tic principle"