The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-23
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

CONGRESS INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUIT AND DIS
TRIcr COURTS AND UNITED STATES MAR
sHAL's oFFIcE-
The sub Committee OF the Congressional COMMITTEES
on the Depar tment Justice yesterday afternoon
tho Aston House, to investigate the workings OF the
United States Circuit Court, District Court and the
Marshals Office. Mr. E. 2. Meade chairman and
Messrs Caulheld Cochrane and Joice were the other
members present
Commissioner Belts Clerk Of the United States Dis.
trict Court examined. He testified that he had
been clerk in the Court for tweny-one years. having
been appointed by his father, Judge Betts there
nine assistants in tho oIice-a deputy clerk. three
clerks in Admiralty ROOM -four in the Bankruptcy
department md messenger his own
compensation clerk So 500 year. retained from
fees in the Offices after the expenses Of tho Office
paid the surplus went to the government the salary
tho deputy clerk 81 900 year. clerk, 81 35oi
two clerks, 81 600 each; two $40 each; one clerk,
$3.50; one $3.50; messenger at $500, and janitor al
$50 month"; the other main expenses Of the Office arc
for stationery: the of income from admi
rally suits, private suits, government suits for viola
tons of and customs laws bankruptcy business
suits equity assessmcntsn bankruptcy; the clerks
income from the fees which fixed the statute;
has fees also commissioner examiner and master,
for which he does accounts when witness rendered
paid ~ the government; the clerks fee for receiving
keeping and paying money is per cent on the
Judgment; the clerks bond IL for $4,000 and some
times JUDGMENT reaches 100000; there
money in any other bank than that designated
BY the government except that 1t would be improper
and IRREGULAR the bank pays interest OF three and
half per cent all money lodged over $500, which
goes the benefit OF the CREDITOR the per cent TO
Of the oce are IA ooc yeal and Of tSs
after paying the salaries and other expenses the bal
ance IS handed ovr TO the government; tho surplus
used to be large when there
MANY INTERNAL REVENUE sErxUREs
witness does not practise as lawyer, nor has no en-
gagged any other business than that stated In cases
which suits settled before judgment rendered
only the expenses charged, but n tho money has
s0 N onS per cent IN pan
does not know whether in the fees do amount
10 $50 the balance refunded the bankrupt assigns
all his property, but has to pay the $780, and u pre-
sumed he gets the money from friends thinks it wouh
be advisable TO have some provision made to nsc
the preliminary necessary expenses OF tho bankrupt
10 Jurors, the manner OF procuring them formerly
To get list irom the Commissioner Of Jurors, but
names the judges authorized the clerks Of tho Circuit
and District courts make list from which tho
jurors were drawn, each clerk supervising the st q
the other asked 70 serge only once IN Two
years and the lists for the most part were made ous
especially nom NV York city, though Now YORK, Put
nam, Rockland, Orange Dutchcss ana Columbia coun'
were the DISTRICT residents these latter coun
ties being too far away jurors got ~ day me quail
ity OF the jury depends the honesty Of The clerks
the clerks have Only general knowledge Of those put
upon the lists; during past twentycnc years the
business the Office been quadrupicd; IN the well
known OF Phelps Dodge Co the one per cent on
Judgment paid 10 the ONCE, though the prin'
opal pass through his hands, but this was the
result OF previous stipulation between the lawycrsi
the scarchcrs Office were government employee,
aud were not paid out tho fees already referred
Tho committee held evening session. beginning
at seven o'clock and examined Il. L. Benedict Clerk
OF the Circuit and District courts OF tho Eastern dis
trict Mr. Bcncdct's statement showed that the work
or these two courts very creditably conducted.
His salary was supposed DO So 500 each court
but all tho fees from both did not give HIM that
amount. 80 that return for surplus rom fees had
been made. Last year he did very well in receiving
from the District Court 49, 400 and the Circuit
Court $1,000 He received fifteen cents for every
search and this money he handed TO the govern.
mcnt unlike tho clerks In New York who have similar
work performed by the government clerks and whJ
turn in the money 20 the general fecs.
This committee does propose 10 attempt to dis.
frauds or TO conductits investigations having
specific object IN IL believed Tho
method OF conducting the affairs OF the courts Dis
trict Attorneys Office and The Marshal's Office many
practices still IN iorcc which years ago were we'll
adapted 10 the business TO be done, which nov
quire 10 be modified or altered TO meet the exi-
rencIcs incidental 70 the changes and improvements Ia
other departments The committee intend to gain as
much information possible to the existence Of
DJect'onabc old rules and regulations, with view 70
suggesting remedies.