The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-27

House on Tuesday, the 2lst
THE NEW sESATy CHAMBER.
When the Senate again after the recess il will
sembe In its hall in the north wing of the Cap,to
tens
Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1855
Chapter Legal Eccesslcittes- Curious 7d.ncyof Lao
gers % Bmrov in Obscure Holes aud Co,ners-Inconw
nient Location of the Supreme Cout-Unied States Circuit
Couts-Qucsion Of their Uliliy-NeedfM Reforms, dc,
Amid all the changes Of advancing civilization it is
markabe with what tenacity the law adheres to dust and
cobwebs Lawyers and judges have veneratiou for pre-
ceden, which 10 affect their tastes and opinions
everything whether in their profession out oil it, They
delight in mongrel Latin and quaint English They
joce wigs spectacles of which other people
particularly vain. Badness, ameness, and other evi-
dences seny appear be cherished by the members
OF the legal fraternity If they the necessary
compartments Of wisdom In the choice Of localities for
public and private business these gentlemen manifest
repugnance all general rules OF taste and
Their little Office found in basement stories
garrets dimy lighted, where old volumes rcpose in
second hand bookcases and the modern temple OF justice
in tho absence of the attributes Of comfort and
nencc enough of the Of the forum
TO be fully entitled to its original name. Sometimes the
people endeavor correct this popularity by large appro
expended under the of scientific architects
Huge piles OF granite and marble erected in classic
style but when the magnificent edce completed the
law and the lawyers invariably take their abode
most gloomy corner and proceed 10 dispense justice
the same dreary, dusty old plan.
That venerable institution, the Supreme Court OF the
United States manifested this procvity in selecting lis
quarters at the national Capitol Strangers have
trouble to find the spot and instances have been known of
suitors who have spent days in wandering among the
in the basement of the building unaccompanied
by competent guides without being able TO discover
identical assure in which the judicial majesty Of the
country is imbedded.
We might tolerate this taste the musty wlsch per
vades the legal mind of the nation if II produced
any more serious results but unfortunately the
ton for everything old, the respect for established
institutions, just because they established,
has powerful influence in preventing essen
tia reforms in the administration OF Justice Look.
instance, the organization OF the federal courts
which REQUIRES the several supreme Judges to make ne
rodcal excursions to the different districts At time
when the whole country embraced little more than
fourth of its present territory the system, though obec
tonabe in many points, was, nevertheless practicable
But il has become absolutely impossible to apply
such regions the Pacific States The idea Of
sending judge OF the Supreme Court 10 California TO try
causes and then bringing him back Washington sit
in judgment upon his own decisions, was emnently
udcrous, that all the for the wisdom Of
ancestors could not prevent exception being made
the time honorcd in tituton Accordingly the rtioldeu
State was dropped from the circuit arrangement But the
consequence OF this innovation been the suggestion OF
reasonable doubts whether the variation better
than the original model California lives without
preme Judge to pay her visits ten legal
the bar. Her people still thrive, and the useful arts
not neglected. The exhibition of such phenomenon
well calculated TO asonh the advocates OF the old regime
ana to teach them useful lesson.
But aside from this practical demonstration posi-
biiity Of great State maintaining its existence BE-
yond the orbits OF any Of these judicial umin aries,
Is very grave question whether the entire circuit
system should not be abolished. II borrowed from
England where it embraced much larger than
New York Its application here in the first instance,
mistake The time for its If there any has
gone by Why the judge who prcsdos at trial should
ha.,. afpc .tply htg Of
appeals cannot see, unless there be superior
wisdom embodied in gown But at any rate, the insti
tuition has become too heavy and cumbersome for the
present condition Of the country. There is reason
for retaining it, which would not require the transport
ton OF army supplies in broad wheeled wagons instead OF
railroad The Supreme Court has an abundance Of
labor TO dispose OF wrs Of error and appeals simple
remedy for the OF the present arrangement
conne the highest JUDICIAL tribunal 20 appellate bus
meas and the district judges all other ursdc
ton To do this may be necessary u get rid of some
incompetent men but the time for reform has come and
the judges who unt to play their part in II should get
out Of the road.
OTHER NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.
Correspondence Of the Boston COURIER
WAsyuSGroS pec. IL, 1853
TIE Presidents Hopsehold Expenses.
a,,oaas who ya washing,on there no osisc, hch
exces so much curiosity a. the executive mansion How
oen DO we hear ,he inquiry How mn9n does COS, The
asked by Us Of New England and the North, where
harsh climate and reluctant soil CONSTANTS early in
lie, 10 watch every item Of expenditure. There Is
always a desire 70 inspect the apartments or the Pres
dents House 10 see # domestic life in can be- in fact
different from domestic Life elsewhere There "a no doubt
that publications by the democrats OF statements in rea
ton 10 Mr.. Adams billiard table IN the East Room, and
by the wings Of the gorgeous furniture including gold
spoons, Of the White House during Mr.. Van Burens
cupancy has inspired and sustained most of this unbe
coming desire to visit every portion of the executive
mansion.
wehave heard said that the billiard table story about
Mr. Adams Kentucky 70 the wings and there be
doubt that the gold spoon speech OF Mr. oge, IN rca
ton TO Mr.. Van Buren,, damaged the democrats very
seriously.
The truth s that up 70 the time OF Mr. Polk the White
House was not dccenty furnished Congress then made
an appropriation which, beng judciously expended,
improved things somewhat. After tina, considerable
appropriation made oil the year 1853, when
dry thousand dollars were appropr acd FOR heating, ven
latng. painting eniareng, and refarnshirg the house
The responsibility of applying this appropriation to the
lee then Of the Typographical Corps e the army and
think the money expended TO the satisfaction of
everybody. For the first time, the house made
Portable live in The appliances for warming the house
by hot water, aud which furnished by Waiworth
n Mason Of your city, cost, Il i said more than ten
furniture ohc bose Is Substantially the same carpets
and an, as purchased by Captain Ice IN 1853
The silver IN the house, ] am told, Is mostly that
bought Paris during the administration OF Mr.. Monroe.
There but two three pictures in the house. One
IN the red rom, portrait q Washington which
from the frame and secured by Mrs Mtiison wnen
Washington was occupied by The British during the
of 1912 Another the Presidouts Office, portrait OF
Bolivar the south American patriot There was no house
hold ornaments about the house except scattered
here and there mautee, and articles brought from ia
pan BY Commodore Perry The White House, IN a word,
Is furnished Ike FIRST class hotel than first class
private residence There artigieg % abun.
dance rich and massive, but articles of art aiorn
meEt
But "a return T. our question. What docs cos, the
President each year r. keep up the executive mneson2
First the President receives twenty FIVE thousand dol
lars salary Next he receives house. garden and sta
blos free OF expense The house furnished and the gar
deu cultivated BY the government Every article OF
furniture necessary Is furnished by the United
states. The government also lights aud heats the
house II pays for steward 70 take care Of
tho public property and fireman, and for no
other domestic Tho executive Office Is IN the
Executive on and Cor the former the government
provides private secretary clerks % the secretary
messengers aud a porter. For an domestic servants
however except steward and brennan the President must
ray &c bis pocket He mus. ray for his cooks
bis butler his table servants, hts female servants hts
ooarhnan and grcoms. &C. &C. any other person does
who employs such re'inue q servants He supplies his
table With he exception OF garden Vegetables, any
other private citizen does, by bis purse. 50 with
his sablcs In short, the only things furnished by
government are house and furniture fuel ant lights.
steward and fireman garden vegetables and flowers. All