Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-13
Clerical Maytstrafes

pubhcaton OF my former communication un-
der the caption Of Ignorant and Incompetent
Magistrates" il IL gratifying TO observe that
the press generally and public opinion concur
with me IN the condemnation of the bad habit
OF recommending for the responsible Office Of
magistrate persons who are notoriously desti-
tute of moral and intellectual Qualifications.
And the testimony recently laid before the Long
Committee of investigation but too cOnclusvely
establishes the correctness of puhlic opiniof
upon this subject. Indeed, as a facetiOus citi-
zen remarked the other day, it would seem al
most TO verify the assertion of honest Pat, who
wrote % his uncle in "the ould country" adyis-
ing him TO come over TO "Ameriky," and add
ing, by way OF inducement, 20 leave could Ire
land; perhsps you may get 10 be Justice OF
sqnires in AIaeriky."
1t is to be hoped that the Long committee,
which is about TO adjourn, will make an inter-
esting and independent report, which will
speedily co oduce to the much desired reforms
in the official practice of magistrates and con-
stables in the District of Columbia.
BefC re the Long committee close their books
and official doings. permit me, through your
independent and widely-circulated paper, TO
call attention TO the practice which has pre-
vailed more or less for the last thirty years of
certain clerks, who receive good salaries for
their official services, and who being justices of
the peace, leave their desks and act as msgis-
trates or counselors at law, during office sOErs,
TOR the fees (small though they be-, and 70 the
neglect of their duties government clerks.
Is 1t not matter of fact, Mr.. Editor, that this
reprehensible practice still continues? I aver
tie writer happened 10 be preset in the office
of a neighboring magistrate when a department
clerk appeared and acted as counsel for one of
the litigants. Within the last six months an
other clerk las he represented himself 20 BEL, a
colored man, appeared and spoke at considera-
bic length in a certain case on trial before one
OF our ~ justices between the hours of a. m.
and p. m. Now l would submit IL TO the Long
committee, or TO the proper authorities, is X
Just and proper that such a practice as that
here complained OF should prevail and be tole-
Is QEE fafE 1aan
who keep offices, pay rent, and are subject to
other necessary expenses, that these clerical
magistrates should thus, indirectly at least, re-
duce the compensation and fees ALREADY too
low for services, in the performance of which
most OF the justices, who are required by law
to keep Offices and charge legal fees, spend
eight or ten hours every day? here beg leave
10 say, that on fair estimate the average COM
pensation of justices under the present fee sys-
TEN does not exceed two dollars per diem!
Let me now state, for the special notice ofthose
clerical magistrates who charge fees for their
services as justices of the peace or cOunsellors
AT law, rendered during Office hours, the opinion
OF President jackson emphatically expressed
on this point more than thirty years ago. ON
being Informed by an applicant for the
Office OF magistrate that a certain alderman of
this city who had been elected a a police ma
cause he feared that it would interfere with his
duty as clerk in the Land office, the Presi-
dent remarked, in strong and characteristic
language: "That clerk, sir, would do we'll 40
resign an Office which interferes with his duty
as government clerk, for hold, sir, that one
who nils such an Office fer which he is paid by
the government, has no right 20 hold any other
that would prevent him from the proper dis
charge Of his duty as a government clerk"
hope, Mr.. Editor. that the publication of
TINS remark of distinguished and fearless Chief
Magistrate may not be deemed inappropriate
or unreasonable in these latter DAYS and under
existing circumstances. JUsrTrIA
Editor Of The Star In the name of the resi-
dents on X street, between eth northwest and
North Capitol streets, we wish 60 enter a protest
against paving that portion of street with
blue stone. Why should the east end Of this
wide and beautiful street be condemned 70 ssblue
stone pavement, when this same kind OF pave
ment Is taken up and replaced with wooden and
concrete pavements In other portions of the CITY?
petition against ''blue stone'' has been signed
by many property holders on this portion Of X
street, and yet the piles OF blue stone confront
and threaten and appsll us. We have been
warm advocates FOR the improving and beauti-
Tying OF the capital of our country-have voted
for Il and advocated it on all occasions and are
ready and williag to bear our Just proportion Of
expenses tncurred,-hence we claim the right
10 De heard and our remOnstrance regarded.
MANY RESIDENTS AND PRoPKRTYHoLDERs.