The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-13

The report Of the engineer in charge Of the CONSTRUCTION
Of the bridge the Potomac at LITTLE tas exhibits
the progress of that work. and the probability Of It's early
completion There have been unavoidable delays, which
are explained but the work when finished will be credI
table alike to the engineer and the government
BY Joint resolution of the last Congress the duty was
devoyed upon this department OF distributing portion
of the journals and congressional documents TO pubhc
libraries &c. previously distributed by the Department
of State As the resolution prescribed no rule by which
the distribution should be made is proposed TO send To
each State copies In proportion TO its federal representa-
ton and the distribution win be made ON that basis u
less Congress shall otherwise direct IT is respectfully
suggested that law be passed for the future government
of the department in reference TO this subject
To this department belongs the supervision OF the ac
counts of mashas district attorneys and clerks Of the
circuit ana district courts OF the United States anu no
other branch of the public service is encompassed with
greater difficulties in its administration In some respects
advantageous changes might be made, and additional 10
gslation is recommended
dered by district attorneys IN the performance OF then
duties were specifically prescribed and in certain distrioa
named annual salary was provided 'sas J'at eona
soa for all ea services All district attorneys except
the one III southern New York, now draw salary tho
greater part Of them ut the rate Of and none less than
two hundred dollars per anun But the repeated app
cations for compensation for extra services py tneSe o
GERS is becoming serious evil.
Some of the district attorneys assume that they are u-
der official obligation to render any service tor the
government for which no fee is prescribed under eAShg
laws such preparing case for trial procuring ana ez
aninng witnesses examining title to property purchased
for the use of the United States and they insist as
matter of equity ii of strict legal right that they arc
entitled to compensation for all professional services o,e'
than those specifically enumerated In the Ice act no,
withstanding they receive fixed compensation tor ar
extra services and the act itself declares mo other COM
pensaton shall be taxed allowed than u 9 herein
prescribed. a.ft5.s55 {I4
recommend an increase of the salaries Of the respect
i've district attorneys graduated by equitable rule
coupled with provision deyolvng upon those officers the
duty of faithfully performing all such services in the line
~ cir
in which the interests Of the government are in any
way involved and declaring that the receipt Of such sal
shall operate as full discharge Of an claim on .ne
part the recipient for compensation for all services not
enumerated in such fee bill as may at the time be in
force se,.
Experience has demonstrated that a change may be
made with popety in the law providing for the appoint
ment of clerks of the several United States courts
These officers are appointed by the judges, to
whom they responsible for their official conduct
The law requires them, semi annually to make returns
of their fees and emoluments But in case OF failure OF
refusal this department is poweress to enforce obedience
to remove the dolinquents 1t can however, with,
hold any money that may be due them by the United
States until they shall render their accounts his Is
the whole extent Of its power
1t is made the duty Of this department. to restrict the
expenditures Of these officers within proper limits al
though betrayed out of the proceeds of their oihces TO al
low no one clerk to retain of his fees and emolumens
sum exceeding three Thousand five hundred dollars per
annum for his personal compensation and 10 require
him to pay into the treasury OF the United state sem
annually any surplus Of the same. duty is thus i'm,
posed upon the head the department while he b clothed
with no adequate authority to enforce compliance
with his orders and requirements AS an evidence ot
this is proper state that in order to answer reso
luton adopted by the last House of Representatives cir
culars calling for the requisite information, We're adj
dressed all these officers on the LIST OF September last
and although proper conncndation due TO those who
replied promptly yet fourteen in the States and nineteen
in the Territories have wholly failed to respond thereto
Some remedy for this state Of things should be provided
and it respectfully suggested as the most eectna :"
| Al nf tInn N
clerks Of all the courts to be appointed IN the same mail
ner as ,narshas and district attorneys. yF
Clerks Of courts in many cases, are appointed anu aci
as United States commissioners This practice it s be
eyed adds largely to the expenses of that branch OF the
public service especially in the large cities where II
becomes necessary in the absence Of the clerk to employ
additional number Of deputies IN his once ihls eVi
requires correction at the hands Of Congress,
The clerk OF the Supreme Court cannot, ny the re-
ceived construction OF the law be required TO make re-
turn the fees and emolumens OF his ohce nor Is MS
compensation limited yet the policy and spirit OF te
law includes this officer well as the clerks Of the CIR
cult and district courts If the existing law be wise and
ought to be maintained, then valid reasons exist why
! this officer should be made exception
The late Attorney General gave all opinion that clerk
was collecting agent of the government ana shouid
be held to account for all the fees Of his office received
or receivable deducting therefrom the maximum allow
cd by law Now, although the clerk or other oincef
NAV earn large surplus still one-half Of the maximum
may not have been actually received And, notw1th-
standing the fact that they legally poweress In some
collect their
pay into the treasury, with each scmiaBnua return
amy surplus which the same exhibits, The officers claim,
generally that they have right to radn the compens,
ton to which they entitled and that they are not i'll
position to retain it until it is actually collected, which
i leads to much difficulty, 4gtFla56h
To remedy this it suggested that all clerks and mar
shals the respective States and Territories and in tho
District Of Columbia be explicitly authorized TO demand
the payment of their fees take security therefor when
they are not properly chargeable to the United States IN
| advance of the rendition of all official services,
During the last session of Congress appropriation OF
one hundred thousand dollars made for the erection
of a court house in the city of Boston Thswas con
strued not to authorize this department to purchase
building however suitable for the purpose The Masonic
Temple conveniently situated in the business part of that
city, offered to the department for hundred and
i've thousand dollars The proposition was accepted,
subject to the approval of Congress and estimate has
been submitted covering the expenditure.
The fourth section of the act of 26th February last
authorizing the people of Minnesota to form consh
tuition and State government made it the duty of the
United States marshal for said Territory to take
ss or enumeration of the inhabitants within the limits
p the proposed State under such rules and regulations
IS should be prescribed therefor by the Secretary Of the
Interior with the view of ascerning the number of rep
resentativest to which said State may be entitled in the
fCopgress of the United States 5 ta F
The necessary instructions have been issued to enable
the marshal to perform that duty and appropriation
Will be asked, full returns Of his operations
have been received to dey the expenses he has thus
been directed to incur provision therefor having yet
been made
BY act Of the last Congress this department