The Penn's Grove record., 1913-05-30
The PENIS Grove Record
FRIDAY, A 80, 1918.
Jury Reform Bills Passed

Jury Reform Bills Passed
Because Senator Samuel L. Munson,
of Sussex county, returned from Europe
the Legislature passed two jury reform
bills last Monday night and adjourned
Tuesday morning at 2 a. m. 1t had
passed the Assembly two week previous
and needed one more vote in the Senate
making II, because all the 8 republicans
refused to vote for it.
Both old parties had promised jury
reform, to have the grand jurors chosen
by some other method than the personal
selection by the sheriffs who frequently
knew the personal opinions of jurors
who sometimes failed to vote for lndlct-
ments. fol personal, political reasons OF
lack of moral sentiment.
Former Governor, now President
Wilson disapproved OF a referendum, but
the Smith ugent Influences were de-
termed to block as much a. possible
that which President Wilson desired.
After he left the State his power over
the Legislators was lessened, be.
cause of his loss OF state patronage.
How much legislators cater to agover-
nor may be notices by them putting
thru another bill proposed by Governor
Fielder. The Wilson-Smith bill pro.
poses that the Chancellor appoint a
ma with a different political from the
sheriff and both shall make up a list OF
names of mel Who shall be chosen aS
grand and petit Jurors. But before
this act goes into effect il must be sub
mited to q vote of the people and be
approved by a majority of those voting.
The Fielder jury reform bill which
was passed by both houses without
opposition, not only by the Smith-N ugent
democrats but also without republican
opposition, and was signed by Governor
Fielder, directs the sheriff 20 make up
a panel of names of prospective jurors,
submit if to the inspection of the su.
preme court justices, who can strike
out any name they see fit ard insist OIL
other names being added TO the 500 OF
more names to be submitted for final
inspection. Then these names are
numbered and metal discs marked with
the numbers. The metal discs are pul
i'll a wheel and in The PIT sellce of the
justice, III open court, the sheriff draws
out as many names as directed by the
justice, which drawing represents the
names oil the Jurors, both grand and
petit, to indict and try cases. AS the
grand list as made up by the sheriff in
the first instance has 20 be advertised
the people will know prospective jury
men, and the Justice presiding in the
circuit gets the benefit of their knowl-
edge of proper or improper men Oil the
list. This act takes eft ct Immediately
SO the drawing Of juries in the old
ways, by county committees suggesting
certain men for jury duty, have been
done away and the political power OF
the sheriff over indictments and the lie
suits after Indictment when trials are
on has been broken, if it ever existed as
Wilson said it did exist. But this work
has been done by Fielder alone and is
not a victory tor President Wilson,
who forced the chancellor bill now
under fire.
With jury reform disposed of, no
no matter what the controversy over
bills Oh Il eli authorship, the first sub
ject mentioned in the call for the
special session Of the legislature Was
treated.
The second subject, co institutional
convention, failed miselably.
The third subject, sn all board I
freeholders, resulted in bills in the
hands of the governor when the solons
went home. Oae bill allows Bergen
county to accept the small board at a
special election, at once for commits.
sioners had not been elected under the
old law when it was declared unconsti-
tuition al, and allows any other county
to accept the small board proposition
this fall and elect commissioners under
such acceptance the following fall.
The other small board of ~fleeholders
bill would pay the expenses the old
board went to get elected and their
salaries subsequent to such election and
to the time when the old board was
declared out Of existence through be.
ing unconstitutional. The constitutional
lawyers say this law is constitutional.
Governor Fielder is pleased with the
results of the special session and de-
lighted that the senate would not pass
the bill giving extra pay to The employees
OF both houses for the special session.
This special session has cost nothing
except the printing of bills. The gov
ernor said it would have been a pity TO
ask the people 10 pay for their reple
sentatives coming back to enact into
law that which they first refused to 90
in their campaign pledges last fall.
Sn.sfh Varcox S;f<aurs