Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-05
MARTIN TO FIGHT FOR
A JURY REFERENDUM
CONTINUED from First paeeo

| Continued from First Page0
! this proposition will be opposed in the
referendum amendment to former
bills presented. This plan will be OPP
| posed for the reason that it does not
go far enough in the matter of jury
reform. Under the provisions of the
proposed bill the people are to be
asked to vote upon the question of
whether or not they desire the pro-
visions of the. new act to take effect.
Regardless of the intrinsic merits
of the proposed act I claim that the
Democratic party, if it should pass
any such law, would not he comply
ing with it's party platform inasmuch
as the defeat at a referendum cleo
ton of the law proposed would leave
the State of New Jersey without any
changes in the present method of
drawing grand and petit juries and
would be but an abortive attempt to
handle burning question in an in
telligent manner
Assuming that the principle of the
referendum as applied to any bill
that may be passed on the question
of jury reform is now settled by hav-
ing placed upon it the seal of appro-
baton by the President himself,
condition which to my mind should
never have been questioned, it is for
the Democratic party in the Legis-
lature to give to the people of New
Jersey proposition that will mean,
regardless of the decision of the peo-
pie at the polls, jury reform, either in
the nature of a commission or jury
reform by placing safeguards about
the procedure in the Office of the
sheriffs so that in the future IL we
do have dishonest sheriffs they will
be unable to manipulate juries as IT
has been charged has been done in
the past.
Throughout this entire discussion
II has been generally admitted both
by those who favor changes in the
present method of drawing grand and
petit juries and those who oppose
the plans advanced, that the sheriffs
of New Jersey occupying that office
in the different counties at the pres
ent time were not open to, the criti-
cism that their juries We're not up to
the highest standards, but it has been
admitted, even by those who oppose
the changes, that there have been oc
casions in past and occasions may
arise in the future When dishonest
sheriffs might If the present unre-
strained and unregulated power were
left within their office. so use the
right to draw grand and petit juries
as to interfere with the course of JUS
tice. And 1t was for the purpose Of
making that condition impossible in
the future that the bill will ema-
mated from the conference COMMITTEES
and known as the McDermott BILL
having for its purpose alternative
propositions. was advocated by me in
the House of Assembly.
Under the provisions of this bill
| changes in the method of drawing
juries were mandatory, no matter
what the vote upon the referendum
disclosed. Under the provisions of
this bill were thrown about the draw
ing grand and petit juries such
radical safeguards that no sheriff
could possibly manipulate juries in
the future. and the alternate pro
vision providing for court commits
SUNS was Sliihseil enough TO meet
the views of even the most pro-
nounced jury reformer.
II claim that the proposed measure
which emanated from the presiden-
tial conference may not, and the
chances are decidedly that 1t will no-,
be adopted In the referendum election
and I challenge its sponsors, as evil
dence Of their good faith to propose
their bin as Part of the conference
committee bill. to the end that re-
CARELESS Of what the vote might be,
there will be placed on the statute
books true reform covering the draw
ing Of grand and petit juries In the
State of New Jersey
80 that to make myself perfectly
clear on this matter the proposition
resolves itself down to this: ! favor
Jury reform. assume that those
who propose the commission form OF
| Jury reform are In good faith In ad-
vancing their proposition ! assume
| that they propose to introduce al
amendment as the alternative propo
| sltlon In the measure that Is to &c
before the people for adoption or re,
| jection, 30 that no matter what this
vote at the referendum election might
be the statutes of New Jersey will
have placed thereon jury reform oil
the character that the greater mum,
Der of the people desire-jury reform