The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-17


less amendments submitted TO him and be chooses 10
accept them, will at proclaim TO the Senate that he
will accept no amendment II he intends 10 carry this b
through. recollect three years ago endeavored 70
carry through and objections made from different
sources, and gave up Agaiu, my rend Judge Ber-
rien, attempted TO get II through but at length threw II
down for the IL is now committed TO The
senator from Maine and tell him, if he allows himself
the organ OF The committee, 10 be diverted from his
main purpose, he will accomplish what this bill pro.
posesthat is, TO effect radical reform Now, SIR,
will state to the Senate what | shall be confirmed in
that there persons in the United States--l will mol
say whether they marshals, clerks or other bureau
ohcerswho not entitled TO more than three OF iou
huRdred dollars, who have been making from seventeen
to twenty thousand dollars in the form OF lees annually
Let the bill sass; and if the gentleman iron Mississippi
lMr BRooKEl pleases on future occasion ne may h'
lroduce amendment TO the law But II you undertake
to ranmel in this way, you cannot get through wan
al all. The committee bestowed vast deal OF laoof
upon the bill, and made as many amendments as ,hey
possibly could consistent with the character OF the bill
Mr. BAYARD The amendment OF The senator from
Mississippi Mr. BRooKE,l II seems to me, involves
difficulty which wond, as suggested py me sehaso IRON 10
South Carolina, fMr. BUTLER necessarily defeat inns
BILL II proposes except PROVISIONS designed 70 pfoance
uniformity the charges OF ohcers thfoughou. he Uni
ted hese made Il one
other States will make the same application as 70 'he-
selves because the bill nerieres with the existing CON-
ensao OF nc ,hs Inl h w BE- eaev de-
feated If an amendment OF that kind IS sanctioned by he
Senate AT least | may be allowed to Temark II we are
Ca
must have the facts in the casewe must know The
of compensation that exists in reference TO the mar
sha OF Mississippi in order 10 see whether that ratio is
TOO little according 10 the character OF the duties 10 be
perormed for it will not do in passing measure OF
tins kind to look merely al The emolumens 10 be derived
by particular officers but ii is necessary to ascertain
whether the services to be performed are ary compen
sa,ed. The individual accepts the office if fairly COM
pensated and he takes according TO the advantage and
locality in any State. That will always be accord
ing 10 the extent OF The compensation and emolumens
fha nth h.4 u.rhf Am
formy, the result will be that you will accomplish moth
ing in The shape of reform at all.
Mr. BROOKE. know that in times gone by the OIL
flee OF marshal in Mississippi has been very valuable
one but for several years past IFS compensation has been
decreasing. and the fees now have got dewn TO rate
barely sufficient 10 compensate the ofcer And at the
last Jackson, Tor the southern district OF the
State, the appearances only twenty-five, think
certainly not than thirty--and those Tor small
amounts, ranging from $500 10 900 or $4,000. know
very WELL from representations made to me by Intelligent
gentlemen who have opportunity of knowing that for
the last two three years the marshal there has not real
lied fifteen hundred dollars ysar. Now, am OPP
posed 10 the senator from Maine measuring by by gone
years presume that know much about the com.
peDsalion of the officers OF the State OF Mssisspp, and
what that compensation should be- the senator from
Maine does; and am not disposed injustice done
to this class Of simply for the sake OF preserving
the symmetry of this bill IL the bill does injustice, lei
it be corrected, although its fair proportions may be
thereby marIed
Mr. HALE Mr. President. wish that the senator
from Mississippi would be kind enough 10 inform the
Senate how many days the marshal in Mississippi has to
work TO obtain those fifteen hundred dollars IN the course
Mr. BROOKE am not able TO say.
MIR. HALE. Nor am | but venture to say not thir-
y and when the senator appeals TO us on account oil The
marshal Tor Mississippi because he does not get more
than 500 year, he ought remember that this coun
try fre from end OF IT to the other some
years ago. because members OF Congress voted themselves
81 500 a year and now this bill is TO be opposed be
cause the marshal of MISSISSIPPI for service probably
not exceeding thirty, sixty days at the outside. gets
what the whole country up IN arms against members
OF Congress voting for themselves ! think that If the
senator from Mississippi would look the disclosures
which came to US from the First Comptrollefs office o
the abuses that pracsed under the existing table o.
fees he would not oppose this bll, even u y should N
few operate oppessvely as 10 reduce the CON
pensation OF the marshal oil Mississippi 10 81 800 year
The marshals in good many OF the States do not ge
that MY friend from North Carolina Mr. BADGER
says that the marshal OF his district would be glad 10
81 400 year will give bond that the marshal OF h'
State OF New Hampshire will be satisfied in all comns
time II he gets $1,000 S yer n, Ls' ss.a.os look =, tn
tolIer, his report the subject BY iha, II will b
that in what substantially case IN the dis
trct OF Massachusetts, marshal received about So 0o
fees am right think.
Mr. BRADBURY. Yes, sir.
Mr.. HALE. In substantially one single case, fee
there arged and received 10 the amount OF Sc 900
There is no possible way in which the treasury b
more pundsrcd than IL is now, by the anomalous cond
ton OF the fee bill which at present exists This IS
simple attempt at reform. II IL is no, perfect, there is
ing into power that will set all these things right, and pa
in better men to oil these Offices But now lei us make
beginning Let us. in the words OF great orator. "hea
the footsteps of the coming hero" and prepare the
for him BY beginning the work OF reform which be tt
carry out thoroughly and etcienty and can assure
the Senate and the country, that there way IN which
il can be done eBec,ually than by passing this ie
bill and IL II TO be oppressive in any ndvIdoa
case that there marshas horribly oppressed
that they do receive than 81 sos year, and
find that that is entirely inadequate and incompetent, th
ne administration which is coming in will
remain long But let US do something Tor II thus bill goe
by, we shall lose a great chance OF doing good.
Mr. BRADBURY addressed the Senate at some lengil
upon the general principles involved s the BILL speech
which will be published hereafter.
The amendment OF Mr. Brooks was rejected.
Mr. ADAMS I beg leave to offer amendmen,
which believe meets the appreciation OF the senator VIII
has this bill IN charge l Is TO add at the end OF the
ton fixing the tax fees OF attorneys, the followag
"Proridsd. Ths, in those States wherein. in the Stat
not recovered against the losing party
civil suits by the other party his attorney no docket e
shall be taxed 10 such in the circuit district court
OF the United States held in such States"
Mr. BRADBURY. | am afraid To adopt any sucl
amendment as this, Iest by multiplicity OF amendment
we shall lose the bill in The House, and thus lose III
benefits OF The reform which the bill is designed 10 effect
The effect OF the amendment will be this In civil suit
many OF the States have fee bill, and therefore ib
ng party does for the attorney
the prevailing party In this bill it is proposed give
uniform fee in all the States The from Misss
spp desires except his Saie and 10 provide that in
courts in civil suits, there shall be the United
States courts think the bill had better stand it is
This amendment might he very Objectionable; but a
the time it may hazard the bill in the House,
therefore hope he will not insist upon IT.
Mr. ADAMS | have no disposition to throw diff
-. H.. - a.. k,, .v.fto o..i.s. b..