Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-02
FIELDER MAY DO
AS LEGISLATORS
ASK ON Jury BILL
Governors $ Attitude
Toward Measure
Changes.
REFERENDUM CLAUSE
MAY BE NO OBSTACLE
AssembIynan McDermott Says
New Bill viii Pass and
Be Signed.
From stan Correspondent


TRENTON. n. j., April At Is
plain from Governor Fielder's atti-
tude today that overnight he has
weakened materially in his stand for
judge-made. jury law without a
referendum
While he would not state definitely
that he would sign the substitute
jury bill, providing for a referendum
on sheriff drawn and commission
drawn juries in the event it passed
both houses by tomorrow. still 1t was
evident that he looked with more
favor on the plan than he did yes
terday. In fact, he admitted that
the substitute was a great deal bet
ter in its form of combining the two
McDermott bills than those two bills
were, because of the difficulty they
presented over the referendum ques-
ton.
1t is believed that when some
changes are made in the bill the
governor will sign it and that, even
If the changes are not made. he will
approve it.
What he would like to change is
that part of the sheriff bill provid-
ing that the Supreme Court Justice
may strike names from the grand
and petit jury lists
He believes this provision objec-
tionable because he thinks it would
allow the court practically to name
the jurors.
Apparently in explanation of his
changed attitude Governor Fielder
said today
"Of course, | still have my prefer
ence," by which he meant he wanted
Judge made jury law to go through
without referendum. He reiterated
his promise of a special session II
nothing should be done in the jury
questi6s2.
AZ, Af,semblyman McDermott, of Hud
SON who drew the substitute sill no II
before the House and to whom be-
longs in large measure the credit
for finding the means for an equitable
settlement of the question, said this
afternoon that he is absolutely con-
ffdent the bilhwill pass both houses
and be signed by the governor.
The committee on municipal corpo-
rations, Mr.. Martin, chairman, late yes
terday recommended the substitute
measure in place of the two McDer-
mott bills to clarity the referendum
feature of the question. As 1t is now.
the ballot would contain a copy OF
the bin and the voter would express
his preference for one or the other Of
the plans contained therein by wri-
ting yes opposite that plan. That
which received the largest number of
votes would become law for the en-
tire State.
Under suspension of the rules this
bill was advanced to third reading.
In offering this measure the ma
iority Democrats believe they have
fully afforded the opportunity for the
redemption of the party pledge, and
that it will not be their fault if the
pledge is not redeemed. and this with
out any necessity of an extra session.
1t was intimated that If a special
session should be called on May
President Wilson would come into the
State to make a speech and Fielder
himself take the stump in imitation
of Governor Hughes In New York.
1t is not told what kind of a jury
bill Mr.. Wilson practically favors. as
he has not disfavored the plan of
Governor made Grand Jury. while
Fielder, who is a lawyer. naturally
takes to Grand Jury that best suits
his profession and its narrow views
of the body polite