Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15

quietly crept in; restore that harmony in the
compensation of all the Judicial officers that
should exist; obviate the necessity of the large
discretion in this department, which may, with
impunity be abused; restrain the officers from
imposing upon the Government, and conduce
more certainly to the ends of justice. The
large increase of the judicial expenses besides
other grave considerations, should induce action
upon this subject.
The Government has adopted the plan Of
constructing its own buildings for court pur.
poses, in different States, but nothing has yet
been done in Baltimore, New York, or Boston.
With this view, acts were passed by Congress
giving you limited power, which, however,
was not exercised. The proposals which had
been received Cor sites in New York and
Boston were sent in as criterion in making
the proper appropriations. Nothing was
effected, and the subject remains for the further
action of Congress. have do doubt the true
course would be, to make ample provision for
the purchase of sites and the erection of build
ings in these cities, expressly limiting the ex.
penditure to the specific sums appropriated,
leaving the selection of the sites, and the plans
for the buildings, to the sound discretion of the
President. knowing the necessity that exists
for such buildings in these cities, its considera.
ton cannot be too strongly urged.
la my last annual report, brought to your
notice the number of terms the United States
courts held in the different States, during each
year, being two hundred and twenty-three
terms, in lightweight different places. In
several of them, there is very little local or
general business, the peculiar reason for hold
ing the courts there having ceased and yet
the expense and Inconvenience to the Judges
nd ba
not triAng. BY way of illustration, will in
stance one judicial district only BY the act
of Congress, approved March 3, lS49, "For the
better organization of the district court of the
United States, within the State of Louisiana"
the State was divided into two judicial districts
The eastern and the western. Stated annual
sessions of the court for the western district
were directed to be held at Opelousas, Alexan-
dria, Shreveport, and Monroe, and the Judge
was authorized to appoint clerk to reside at
each Of these places. BY the amendatory act,
approved July 20, 1850, another term of the
court was required to be held at ST. Josephs,
and the judge authorized to appoint clerk to
reside at that place also. The fee bill of 26th
February, 1853, provides that, when the COM
pensation of any clerk shall be less than $500
per annum, the difference between his receipts
and that sum, shall be paid from the Treasury
1t appears from the emolument accounts of
the clerk at st. Joseph's, that from the 18th Of
May, 1854, TO the 30th of May, 1855, his fees
only amounted to $l3 95, and that during the
whole of that period, there was not n single
session Of the court held at that place. From
the lst of January, 1853. to the 3lst of Deem
Der, 1854, the clerk at Monroe did not earn
anything, and during the whole of these two
years no session of the court was held. At
Alexandria the clerks fees, from the 18th OF
April to the 3lst of December 1854, amounted
to 81 so, and the court was in session only
two days.
Thus, it wall be seen, that, in an aggregate
period of about four years, only two terms OF
the court have been held at these three places.
The department is not in possession of reports
from Opeousas anC Shreveport, though it is
not doubted the same condition Of things pre-
walls there. If so, the cost to the United
States for clerical services alone, over and
above the fees earned in a period Of about
four years, would amount to nearly $4,000
without any corresponding benefit to the Gov
eminent.
Besides this, Congress has made appropria-
tons for constructing court-houses, in coniunc-
ton with custom-houses and post offices, at
several points where courts are not held, in
States in which the number Of places for hold
ing courts may not be increased for many
years.
In the District of Columbia / have hereto.
fore suggested many improvements, and the
construction of fre-proof public buildings.
Their necessity becomes daily more apparent.
The public money may not be so judciously
expended, and doubt whether it will be ap.
piled to purposes of greater utility.
Within few years, the business Of the Pa.
tent Office will require the whole Of the entire
structure in which it now is, and the depart.
ment of the Interior will have to seek shelter
elsewhere. IL an appropriation for the erection
of proper departmental building were now
made, it could not be finished and prepared
for occupancy in less than three or four years,
which is the longest possible time the rooms
now occupied by this department, in the Patent
Office building, can with any show of propriety
be retained. 1t therefore becomes question
of moment, whether immediate preparation
shoud not be made for the anticipated ext.
gency.
The extent Of some Of the public grounds
has been trenched upon, whilst perhaps their
limits should have been enlarged. Ground
enough for public purposes have not been re-
served, and many years will not elapse ere
there will be universal regret that more space
had not been retained.
Inc estimates TOT improving and ornament.
ing the reservations have been increased
The plan adopted for the "Mall' should be
more vigorously prosecuted. Its present ap-
pearance is inelegant, when, with n compare.
lively small expenditure, it might easily be
converted into beautiful park. The grounds
for which suitable appropriations were made
by Congress have been well improved, and are
admired by all for their neatness, beauty, and
usefulness
In this connection, would repeat my former
recommendations, that provision be made for
the employment Of a competent and intelligent
landscape gardener, 10 superintend the i'm.
provements Of the public grounds, and to direct
and distribute properly the subordinates and
laborers.
The Long Bridge, as it is usually called,
crossing the Potomac river from Washington
city, is much out Of repair. 1t should be re.
placed by q substantial and permanent struc.
ture. 1t is a matter that caused much solici-
tude to one Of your most distinguished prede-
cessors, and surely is not unworthy considera.
ton now, when the bridge is so indispensable,
and the means Of defraying the cost Of con.
siruction are 80 abundant