Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-26

CASE DEcIDED.-In the Equity Court in
Washington on Saturday. judge Wiley, in the
Equity Court announced his opinion in the case
tanning the demurrer and dsmiSsing the BILL
Judge Wiley in his opinion rccitcs that the act
of Congress of April 20, 1871. appropriated
sl4.559 90 to pay the balance due Nicholas
p Trist, ncgotiator of the Treaty Guadaloupe-
Ildalgo on account Of salary. &C., between
April Is, 1871, and April s. ISIS According
to the allegations OF the bill Mr.. Trist in 1858,
entered into an agreement with the father OF
of the petitioner to prepare his case and pre-
sent and prosecute it in Congress in cOn>idcra-
ton of contingent fee Of nc-iourth Of what
might be allowed. The sum claimed is in the
Treasury. and this suit is for the purpose of
enforcing the lien. The defendant has demur-
red to the bill, and the question is whether the
Court will enforce contract for a contingent
fee for services rendered in prosecuting or aid
ing to procure the passage Of an act of Con
gress for the payment OF a private claim. Had
| the contract been for services in Il court of us
| tice it would have been valid. From conSide-
rations of public policy all such contracts as this
are condemned by the Courts irrespective al
| together Of their fairness and OpenncSs in par
ticular cases. The authorities to this effect are
numerous: uniform and nsurmountable. He
quotes Justice Given in the case of Marshall
against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad &c
| Howard), and others 1t is clear to his mind
that the contract sued upon falls within the in
hbition of law TACT Of February %, 1859, and
he says it is not for the Court to controvert
the policy Of this act or to seek by subtle inter
probation to emaSculata its plain Interpretation.
We must declare the law as we find it in the
act Of Congress and in the decisions Of the SUI
prcmc court of the United States
SOUTHERN Railroads. We publishelyes-
terdav statement from a correspondent of the
Journal Of Commerce. based on the official
figures, which places our Southern railroad
companies in most favorable financial light
before the world It seems they have all
been making money, and very rapidly, too,
within the past three or four years They
have more than halfway liunidatel their in
dcbtcdneSs to the United Statcs government
for purchases Of rolling stock and other road
equipments, made shortly after Tho close of the
war.
This argues well for The success Of the roads
and the prosperity Of the country through
which they pass Then, too they have paid
this Indebtedness freely and without compul.
sion, and when they might have STAYED it off,
by asking for an extension of the time. 1t all
goes to show that raroa,ing in the South is a
money making business, and that lreightS and
fares light be reduced and business increased,
| the people relieved, and more money made. -
Rtchmoml Eng.
LEE MEMORIAL DAYTON the 18th of Jan
uary, the anniversary Of the birthday Of Gen.
r. f. Ice, Gen. .Iubal a. Early We are pleased
to learn, will deliver Memorial Address ut
Washington and Ice University. M selection
could have been more a"reeal lie to or people
Oh this occasion than that Of Gen. Early, ana
no man, in all the faithful host that followed
Ice, could do better Justice to the subject
Gen. Early was among the most distinguished
of the Confederate officers. and since lIic war
his course has commanded the respect Of the
Southern people We bcspcak for him Oh this
occasion large audience Of true men from lar
aud near. He says himself in his letter Of ac-
ceptance hope to meet rs many of the
boys at Lexington as can conveniently get there
for want to say few words to them, cSpec-
ally" Let US pass it rou I'd or people will
be glad to see as many Of the bays can come !
I <,y,.,