Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-18
FIGHT AGAINST
JUDGES JURIES.
Sheriffs Lead in War Against
the Proposed Changes
of System.
PLAN OF WILSON Is
OPPOSED BY DEMOCRATS
Essex Trades Council Enters
Protest Against Change
at Hearing.
TFrom a SIAN Correspon,Ient.I


TRENTON, \. J.. Feb. I8.-At the
conference between Governor Wilson
and the Democratic legislators yes
terday roll-call on the question
Of jury reform showed twenty one in
favor Of having jury commission
appointed by the Supreme Court and
twenty three against such method Of
appointment.
All the members of the Essex dele
cation who were present in the con-
ference. except Mr.. Matthews. voted
against the resolution
A good part, If not all. of the TWEEN
ty-three who voted against the reso-
luton favor jury reform. the ques-
ton being who shall appoint the
commissioners. there being several in
favor of having such appointments
made by the Governor.
Hudson County Democrats who
were present, except Mr.. Branegan.
voted against the resolution.
Three grand jury bills, two provid-
ing for the selection of iuries by
commission appointed by the Supreme
Court, and the third for their selection
by sheriffs. the manner to be safe
guarded more than under the present
law, were considered by the commit
tee on judiciary at a hearing in the
Assembly chamber yesterday.
Sheriffs and labor representatives
from several counties rallied to the
support of House bill No. 80, which
would leave the selection of juries in
their hands, and representatives OF
alleged civic bodies spoke for the
other two bills, House 10 and "a, Civ
ing the drawing of juries into the
hands of commissioners appointed by
the judges.
Prosecutor Devlin. of Mercer. in
advocating the judicial appointment
was interrupted by Assemblyman
Nutting, of Essex, who inquired if
prosecutors didn't have about as
much power over juries as did sher-
IFS. To this Prosecutor Devlin re-
piled:
81 would put the recall on every
officer of the State, from the Governor
down, and If you will give me the
recall of sheriffs 1 won't be here
pleading for a jury commission"
C. Howard Slater. representing the
Jersey City Board of Trade, and De
Witt Van Buskirk, representing the
Bayonne Chamber of Commerce, both
read resolutions adopted by those or
CARNATIONS in favor of jury commits
sions. John J. Moment, OF Newark,
from the Public Welfare Committee,
also spoke in favor Of change to
Jury commissions. as did Joseph An
derson, sr.. of the Hudson County
Bar Association.
George ]. McEwan, a lawyer, OF
Hudson County. made the most ex-
tended argument against the drawing
of Jurors by sheriffs. calling atten-
ton to the fact that a jury commits
sion system would relieve the sheriffs
of a lot of work which they now do
without pay.
why do they oppose the jury COM
mission biIls?" he asked Simply
because the present method gives
them a power over justice. 1t is in
conceivable to me how "a man will
fight for the privilege of having abso-
lue power over justice in COM
munity."
1.-THE sheriffs are here not because
they want to hang onto any Illicit
power" said Sheriff Wedin, "but in
defense of their constitutional pre-
rogative. We regard ourselves as per-
fectly competent to perform the duties