The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-11-03
FRIDAY, Oct. %.
SENATE.


hhl TO improve the management of the Stats
Finances, providing for the appointment by
the Supreme Court. of county auditor to
audit the accounts Of the STATES attorney.
clerk, and sheriff, and defining their duties.
The question pending on the amendment
offered yesterday, making the County
instead of the Supreme Court the appointing
power, Mr.. Villas moved that the bill with
the amendment he indefinitely postponed;
opposed by Mr.. Hodges, and the motion was
Withdrawn.
Mr.. Miner withdrew the amendment and
proposed another so sto make the County
Court the appointing and the Supreme
Court the removing power.
MIR. Smith expressed himself strongly in
favor OF the bill. An evil existed that called
loudly iof remedy. He would present few
facts, that would force conviction upon any
mind not steeled against the truth. In one
case, sheriff bad charged for 27O miles
travel In serving grand jury reaires when the
returns showed only BOB miles. He charged
4o3 miles travel in serving petty jury renires,
when the returns showed but 296. There
were repeated instances in the same county
where the officers fees for travel in serving
the renire was nearly equal TO the whole
travel fee Of the jury summoned. This how
ever was under the law Of 1914, which has
since been changed so as 10 remedy this
ABUSE. In another county, the States artor-
ney, within the last year. bad been allowed
an attorney fee OF five dollars for every State
case on the docket, whether tried or not,
the law, in the latter case, siIowing but a
term fee Of two dollars. In another county
the States attorney had kept causes OH the
docket, term after term, when there was no
bail or arrest. In one term he was allowed
- term fees, and i'm another 90 term fees
without an attorney fee. As sample Of The
charges Of county clerks, he could give a
case where SOL SO had been allowed BY the
Chief Justice Of the County Court, 'as being
charged according 10 the former usage in this
county $50 expressed in the allowance.l
when the legal charges amounted to only
SIG OF. For many Of the items charged
there was not the slightest authority in law,
nor reason in fact, and the remainder though
founded on services for which the law al
lowed, were most grossly and illegally in
creased IN amount. in some cases being
doubled, IN others even quadrupled. Aud
tins was no worse than other bills from the
same Quarter: in fact, he believed. not so
gross. But he did not have them with him,
and therefore would not particularly remark
"P"" '"eh' III ono court OF inquiry before
justice, the whole cost allowed was S48 AZ.
or this the officer was allowed for mere ser
vices, $50 l6. besides the pay ment of his ex-
penses: and sc 20 were paid to keepers.
10 another case. the sheriff had been allowed
by the Cousty Court, for pursuing Grim
NAL. who was not apprehended, his whole
hill. including his time, which was directly
contrary to all law and usage. In another e.
he oil IL
penses experimenting prisoners. who had
broken Jail, to the amount Of S2lI 96, be-
sides the sheriff's time, rated at S2i; when
the county or the sheriff should have borne
the whole expense. In another case, an as
sistant Judge had been allow ed 81 per casa
$50 at one time) for taking bail Of prison.
Frs committed for want Of bail. The clerk
had been allowed for Office rent the sheriff
Tor hiring grand jury rooms. the county
court having provided accommodations. A
States attorney had been allowed for his SER
vices in one case before justice $40 when
he could tax on the trial before the County
court, at the most, bur a travel and tenn fee
Of 81. Mr.. Smith remarked that these
statements were made in conformity to facts
which had been furnished him, and that they
Ill accorded with the ultimate decision Of the
State Auditor.
The bill itself was then unanimously
passed.
Adjourned.