Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-01

bees belonging 10 s TO descend ike the estates ofindvi-
duals-bat wo want men in Offices who will Discard
all family pride & interest in the discharge o. public du
ties And there surely men eDough to be found as
competent as a "clerk OF court" who would. from
higher considerations than vanity and amusement
gladly in the clerkships for the present low rate
OF fees, and evidence Of this assertion the fact hs,
We were as ably represented in the Legislature when
the psy dola,s par diem as We are now nj four
dollsrs--is conclusive.
The next item in the s. thai the fees of this
clerks office les, than 81 COO and tina, il REQUIRES
DO oOv Gus, II Is because they take too much
or they ore boys Leaning wr he slowest clerks
ia the world The writer OF this has spent the greater
part oil his manhood deputy in clerks Office the nett
prohls oil which ranged from 800 So 500 and did
not require but two regular clerks 10 keep up the bs
ness by occasionally employing hand record deeds
sc. when there was press Of writing
Tho clerk refers US TO page SO VI Sessions Acts and
complains heavily OF the fec OF cents Tor eve,y 80
words ia making up record. He says il will take a well
qualified officer day to do il; In must then hand to
vne % the boys to copy, which will take him another
day. then II Is to examine and correct and after all this,
the lee is less than dollar tcondcr1nl
h's! The truth is the record mus, be very long one
II good clerk cannot make IL out copy |, and examine
IL all In less than one iay II mean a compete MT and e
cien clerk. and not boys learning write Really gen
tiemen, the people do wish their public offices con-
versd into writing schools 10 have the records b!oed
and made out In an unneligibe hand No clerk should
take boy into an office until he has already learned
write good hand TO spell and read correctly and who
understands arithmetic, at the le.s'.
But why, il is asked, il version given 10 the law
which is manics'ly erroneous is il mi.lead, he
cause "a clerk OF court does not know beitor?--Now
Is clear that the clerk is paid for making the record
and copy is wanted he is paid again for tha, altho'
he would have the people believe that their repre-
yves were actuated by much injustice 10 The CLERKS
10 pay them once only, for doing the a5our twice
| This clerk then gravey asks his brother clerks who
are poor presume and independent OF their Offices
Gan you live at rates like ihis! Cui bonowby does
ne wish TO alarm his brothers who cannot live without
their officer Is II to induce them quit the business
and Tor what good purpose! Can wealthy and coil pc
lent men enough be found TO take those OH Tor ause
nenf and gratcation7 II So the fees had better be
all taken away and the filling Of Offices ma e to de-
pend upon the patriotism OF the rich. specimen o
which Is here given bs in the able "clerk OF court
who has addressed you.
But again, this Enlightened and enlghtenng clerl
falls into another error in the item, his comnunca
ton respecting the forthcoming bond fees He says tia
the whole fees on Judgment, SC. Sc. on orthcomn,
bond i. only SO cents AMI asks what has the clerk Il
do. Hrdbhe dctu!-"he has all the wetk to 10 whiel
VIII take sivera hours whilst the lawyer get. 81 8
Tor obtaining the judgnent-but here he has lett out tn
execution and return which is 81 cents more, and oil tn
clerical duties relative TO ju 'g,nen execution, Sc
on a forthcoming boni, can be performed in hon
by competent and brisk clerk Nav ask gentlemen
why the clerks should think themselves entitled 10 th
same lee In suit or N. ton lawyer la.i herr
can De no Just reason, | am sure. The lawyer ate
spending great deal of time aud money learn hi
profession Is cons anty at the great expence of getn
hooks TO enable him TO get along it'll clerks the
tools are furnished by tho county.
This clerk OF court asks You, gentlemen, "why W a
tho forthcom ne bon law not entirely rcpealcd! an
gives the answer which he says is plain, to witt
would deprive the bar OF many Is shIlings and 3,
nducemsnt will be he 10 the unfortunate de
endan TO execute forthcoming bonds in all -
Believe me, gentlemen, the people will consider III
meagre reduction in the clerks fees of say dollar
upwards, but small induce 10 put off the paymep
OF The debit is the Inconvenience to pay at the par
ucuiar juncture Of levying ia. and tie dread of
sscrince ot property added 10 the hope OF being bette
prepared at future day. which forms tho Undue
to defendants to give forthcoming bonds and il the ex
pence was the objection, the people would easily
dy by eiecting legislature who would repeal it.
IL would be entirely OF the pow Of lawyers to pre-
vent it, The clerk has always been for repeating hi
law The writer OF this also says with the clerk. repeo
'f and sses the unfortunate defendant sven The 80 eli
NOX POpIJII