New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-22
THE CITY HALL.
Claims for Attorneys' Fees In the Drainas,
Suits.

At the meeting of the Council on the
twelfth instant, Mr.. Shaw called up the
drainage ordinance introduced the previous
week. providing for the settlement of the
debts Of the late drainage district
By the first section of the ordinance re.
ferred to it was ordained "that the Admin
istrator Of Accounts be authorized to settle
the following claims and accounts, or so
much of the same as may be found correct,
upon the approval of the Mayor and Admin
istrator of Finance" etc
Ihe debts now, herein particularly referred
to, are the enormous claims for attorney g
fees: one based on q warrant Of the Board of
Commissioners Of the First Drainage Dis
trict, in favor of j. Davidson Hill, for the
modest sum of five thousand dollars. This
warrant seems to have been issued in conse-
quence Of suit brought by Mr.. Hill, for pro
| fessional services against the Ship Island
Canal Company. What these hurculean
services, estimated at such a sum, could
have been. there is no particular evidence
| produced to show.
Bills of other attorneys for amounts dis
proportioned to the services performed are
also mentioned in the ordinance
But the ordinance, fortunately, does not
order the payment of these bills. The
third section provides:
That the Mayor and Administrator of FL
| nance aforesaid shall have power to COM
promise all questions incidental to q final
| settlement Of the foregoing claims, and en-
ter into any agreement necessary thereto
| for the interest of the city and to prevent
| litigation; provided, no part of this ordi-
| nance shall be taken or construed as &C.
knOwledging. on the part of the city, the
validity Of any claim or part of claim not
found correct or approved by the Mayor
and Administrator Of Finance.
Mr.. Bonzano said that he did not exactly
| understand the meaning of the ordinance,
and thereupon Mr.. Shaw, in explanation,
said this ordinance did not pay the bills. 1t
did not settle a single claim. 1t simply
created board. consisting Of the Mayor
and the Administrator of Finance, assisted
by himself to settle these claims in such
way as they might deem just.
The Mayor remarked that he himself did
not understand the purpose Of the ordi-
nance till this explanation.
The ordinance was then adopted and the
Mayor. in order to have more light on the
subject, made certain inquiries of Mr.. Eel
loves, which elected the following reply, re-
ceived by the Mayor on the thirteenth in
stant:
Hon. B. F. Flanders:
DEAR SIR-As you have suggested, here
make a statement of our services rendered
as attorneys for the Second Board of Drain.
age Commissioners vs.. the Ship Island Canal
Company.
Mr.. Roselius and myself. after consider
able conversation and study. brought the
first suit against the Ship Island Company
and B. Bloomfield. in the Seventh District
Court. and tried the case. Three suits were
brought against US in that and the Fifth
Court. to counteract the one we brought in
the Seventh. Two of these We're tried BY
us-Messrs. Hill and Walker appearing at
the trial. One Is not yet tried. We all ap-
peared in the Supreme Court, ROselius
arguing. and giving way to Hill to make
his maiden effort.
In all these cases the burden Of the work,
from beginning to end, was upon Roselius
and myself. l appeared alone, aided by
Beckwith. then City Attorney, in the at
City bonds from Moody. and prevented it.
In all matters in opposition to the Ship
Island Canal Company l took an active
part.
Mr.. Roselius has fixed his services at
$1,000 giving credit for $1,000 received.
have done the same, giving credit for the
$500 received. We therefore agree as to
the fee. Mr.. Hill, for his services, fixes his
at $1,000. and Mr.. Walker, for no more fixes
his at 5000 in addition to the $500 re.
ceived. Their estimate of fees ought GER
tainly to warrant the payment of ours as
fixed by US.
All the attorneys on the other side
Messrs. Cotton, Hays & New, and Voor-
hies-knew of my services. This l know,
that had it not been for my dogged per-
sistence the case would have been aban-
doned and the Ship Island canal would
have taken all. Mr.. Brott will tell you this,
and that did more to defeat them than all
the rest together.
Respectfully yours. -
j. Q. A. FELLOWES.
All the claims for attorneys fees referred
to in the foregoing letter from Mr.. Fellowes
are still before Mayor Flanders and the Ad-
min;strator of Finance, Mr. John S. Wal.
ton. These gentlemen have a reputation
for rot estimating services. whether of
attorneys or others, at more than their true
value. When these accounts have under
gone the scrutinizing examination which |
these gentlemen will bestow upon them, we
doubt not there will be some reduction in
81 W eh