Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-23
statement D rosu Mr.. bates

WAsHISGToS, y G March 20. 1876.
Editor Scr: With yo1r permission l wish
to reply 10 an article OF the 18th instant
heaCed IAN Ex-Justice of the Peace Sueing
the Commissioners for $40 0G0 Each Dam
ages" Ia the first place, the article was to
ioTeStsll public opinion. second IL was not
true in several particulars, as In the amount
paid. snd Birch being a wounded soldier
Third 1t was tor the purpose OF prejudicing
the public and convey ing the impression the
Conmi sioners had the authority to remove
justice OF the peace, when in law and fact
IL devoives on the judges of the Supreme
Court j have been x Justice of the peace for
q years, and no dishonorable conduct or
malfeasance in office can be shown against
me. The secret of the whole matter Is this
had 81 desk room in Mr. A. + L. Keese's
Office, corner 9Th street and Louisiana ave-
nue.. Birney, calling himself Assistant Dis
tIict Attorney, sent me a private letter,
stating he wanted to see me on business at
his office. At that interview he told me that
persons had stated to him tn at / was doing
business under false pretenses, aid must
remove Immediately, as Mr. Keese was not
a magistrate, though his sign was still up
consented, and did remove my Office 10 +
street northwest Thinking of the matter |
was SO Indignant at the time with Birney
that sent him SO, the balance of the claim
by friend of mine, we'll known vice presi-
dent OF one of our banks. which Birney
refused to take. Hoping public opinion " ii
be SUE pc nded until the case comes IN before
the proper tribunal, am, respectfully,
f. II, BATES Justice of the FACE.
We have no disposition to do Injustice to
Mr.. Bates, and very readily publish his ca d.
adding that he is mistaken in supposiug that
TIE STAR had any disposition to preildge
bis case. The purpose was simply To give
recital of The action taken by the District
Commissioners and District Attorney Biz
ley IN The matter AS 10 the So referrei to
by Mr.. Bates Mr. Birney states that he was
Lot auth OrizG1 10 receive this for Burch.
As regards the authority for the action
above referred TO, the act of Congress APP
proved June Goth, 1874, says:-"And said
Commissioners are hereby authorized TO
abolish any office, TO consolidate two or
more offices, reduce the mum Der of employees
remove from office. and make appointments
10 any office authorized by law" The Dis.
trict Commissioners alone have the power
TO apr Oint justices of the peace. The abuse
OF the magistrate system has been a matter
OF complaint for ears and the Bar asSocia-
ton two years ago had this subject Under
cor SideratiOn, which result red in their petit
tloning the Commissioners as follows:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. Is, 1874.
To The Commissioners for the District Of Cbl,trbIn
Gentlemen: Having been appoiu ted by the
Bar Association OF this District committee
to report a remedy for the evils arising out
Of the administration OF justice by the JUS
tices Of the peace, and having after consuIta-
ton come to the conclusion that the admin
istration OF Justice would be very much inn
proved by large reduction of the number of
the justices OF the peace at present in COM
mission, we embrace this opportunity
when the com missions OF many OF those al
present in office are about TO expire of re-
queStlng that the number be re iuced soon
as practicable to ten-believIng that this
number will be amply sufficient TO answer
all the needs OF our present population. We
have the honor to be very respectfully,
HENRY WISE GARNET,
JOHN c. WILSON,
NTTIpP