The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-07
FOCAL VS..

sIAA presenment recently made by the grand jury OF
the District Of Columbus through its foreman George W.
Riggs, ear communicated Congress and printed by the
Senate makes fling disclosures in relation the
action Of public business by the magistrates and eonsabs
Of this District II states that the labors Of the gandury
have been greatly increased and the United States Injected
to enormous costs BY Of the magistrates Of Wash
ingon sending TO the or frivolous char
acter, Others upon deficient testimony and by generally
summoning unnecessary number OF witnesses TO estab
lish those which they could testify The grand jury
which has just closed its stngs has investigated the large
number Of two hundred and ninety cases and mined
than hundred Witnesses made
IN only one hundred and ysix Of the Such ratio
OF dismissed TO presented cases altogether too large and
makes II apparent that there is wrong The time
OF grand jury in this District ought be wasted
the government subjected heavy cost by thenyesgaor
at one term Of court Of hundred and sevenwo cases
which subsequently dismissed by the jury by the
examination of two hundred and eighty witnesses in
which the magistrates should have determined them
selves.
The practices Of the magistrates and constables have
swollen their accounts against the United States
nous amounts. The Comptroller of the Treasury
that the total paid claimed by magistrates
constabes in this District up December 81 1885, be
S64526 Ia that from May III l84s June 80 1854 IA
period OF SIX years the paid 80 that
from July 1854 10 December ST. 1855 Ia period Of eigh
teen months only) $28 1876 58-beug but 1867 20
less than the amount for the first six years the law
force II the amount charged for the al, year ending Both
inst shall equal the amount paid for the half year ending
December 81 1855 then the expenses of the years will
exceed the expenses OF the years preceding by the
S482l So that the number and disposition Of the
the magistrates for the half year ending December
81 1855, 6,79s, tat the rate of 1886 per year,
nearly forty per day; "hat 1891 discharged bonds
to keep the peace and 1859 dismissed SO that 7s5
out of G98 shown to have been unmporant
as demand no he of he
there nominally 637 committed jail 3l5 bound to
appear at court 81 punishedn ALL 1915 but in reality
there but 600 different persons affected in the Lola
different cases. for several warrants against the same
person in many instances
Mr. Riggs in the presentmen in behalf Of his associates
gives or two examples of the process by which such
large number of sent by the magistrates to the
grand jury, and many witnesses summoned and such
expenditure OF time and money incurred Of which the
lowing is one:
Justice B. K Morsell the complaint of Catherine
Williams issued twenty five warrants five persons for
attempting 10 poison five persons March To- 1855 The
justice charged his fees 81 rs in each case or SAB rs
in ALL He charged for swearing 275 witnesses eleven in
case where there but nine witnesses in all be-
ing the hve poisoned persons constable and three other
witnesses These warrants divided between Consa
bes Allen and Wollard the number would ad
nit Of having thirteen and the other twelve warrants
to serve They charged for serving 225 summons yet
there were but nine witnesses in ALL and Woard
charged witness in the served by Allen and Al
len charged the served by Vol
lard in order to make up the nine in each Upon
reference to the original in these twenty-five
cases filed by the constabe vouchers for their fees the
following facts developed That instead of twenty
five warrants having been issued March specified
by the account Of Justice Morse there but sixteen
warrants issued, &c. The consabs fees charged at
$40 So; the aggregate costs STA 3d. Other and il pos
sIble more fragrant cases could be cited.'
As remedy for the evils stated the grand ary express
the opinion that properly organized magistrates po
lice court would greatly facilitate justice and result in
large saving OF to the United Sate and of the sound
OF this opinion do not think there be
able doubt At any rate, Congress should at take
steps in that direction other these prac
tees and contrvances eh money from the public
ury for individual benefit
Mr. Riggs deserves great credit for taking the pains
amid the pressure large private business investigate
this subject and present fully the attention OF the
court and through IL OF Congress. II would be well for
the federal city IL there many who thus
evinced interest to have its public affairs administered
with energy, economy, and integrity.
Cam TO THE PURLIc.-on the 18th of July paper in
Washington called the American Organ" attacked me
with the charge Of paying twenty-five each for
and selling thcm 10 the for 81 40 each This
is base fslsebood and the Organ knew IT, least
i's writer did That cOncludes by saying ii ia
enough for to-day. We intend TO s these frauds through
to the bottom &c The charge will be found TO have
rotten foundation like that OF the who
tempt TO saddle frauds upon me selected trees In New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. and Mr. Pearces
nursery In this District In connection with which the nur
sery men and freight expenses paid by the Commits
soner OF Public Buildings may be by examna
ton Of that officers These Of the best
quality and the representations Of this "0rgan show that
will grind the truth out for the very good reason
that the music is in such organ Fifteen years
ago horecbestnut trees brought 81 per tree and the
freight and the packing In addition allowed by the
Commissioner. had not the handling Of OF the
appropriation When necessity compelled 70 20 abroad
had pay double price, and purchased tree for
the streets and for less than dollar My seec
ton Of around the Presidents grounds and Lay cite
Square lindens, ash aud maple and speak for them
selves Look at the carriage and west OF the
Presidents House. nso the horse chenu and naples south
Of the same the streets and avenues the Capitol grOu
| and II they be surpassed What they are, and
what they were be SEN During my time have had
to coRtend with eight Commissioner inexperienced In
such matters; and when Gen. jackson appointed me a
Mr. Elger was Commissioner Jackson then assured me
that there would be difficulty between the Commissioner
and myself He also told that The President the
COMMITTEES Of both houses would protect He said he
would like TO these grounds correspond with the grand
and noble edi6ces they surround like of Philadelphia
The General assured that should have the selecting Of
trees &c, By my own hands and told him would give
ample security for the faithful performance Of my duty
giving entire satisfaction TO the public. He said "iust
such man Is wanted here and assured that he would
befiend and my duties should increase my salary
should also increase On these conditions accepted the
appointment and came here from Philadelphia leaving
lucrative business in August 1893 Since that lost my
Jackson aud Clay-my best friends do not boast about
my capaby, bot let my work speak for itself For the
past three month. have been begging the Commissioner
10 allow much lumber would do prop and stake
the for they grow fast the streets
reqnire supporting called upon him yesterday and
told him my trees blown to the ground and the