National Republican., 1878-11-07

Hon. 4. d E.55It p!arict-AIt0ruey for the
p.strrei O.! Cg.uUHlE has submitted Lis annual
rgJgTI 70 The Commissioners Of The District.
H. irsi iAkas o. s-TG'uR the cases ia which
the District is party. and shows the dispnsi-
tion that has teen made Of them or present
status. He then says that In the Criminal
Curt forty.one cases ou appeal have been
tried and iues to the amount Of II 1864 col.
lectcd In the Police Court 3,.3D cases have
been tried ThiIty-Scven new civil cases for
and against the District have been commenced.
There are now pending $40 cases to which the
District Is party In the various courts. The
cases Of Mattingly and Shoemaker, pending in
the Supreme Court of the United States, and
argued in most elaborate briefs at the close Of
| the last term, are by an order OF the court to
be re.a:gued. One Of the cunbarrassments in
| the trial of the District cases arises from the
| fact that nearly all have arisen from trans
actions under the former government, to which
We are all strangers.
| The attorney states that he has furnished 10
| written opinions and his assistants Al exam
| ucd 70 cases and ndorscd short opinions on
the papers prepared many bills for the action
| of Congress; attended many times before CONF
mittucs of the two Houses &c. within the
| last six months he has given the necessary at
tcntion to the draft ofu bill which is intended
to cover theIwhole field of municipal law for
| Tue DISTRICT. Inc WOfk IL IN satisfactory pro-
grrss, and hopes II will be In condition to be
laid before the Commissioners in time to be
sent to Congress aSer the holidays. This
draft will emhody such changes in existing
Laws as he would recommend.
| Referring to hi, Informal report of July, the
attorney suggests that Congress be asked 10
place this Office on more liberal footing as t,
compensation. The duties cannot In his judg
mcnt, be properly performed by smaller
force than at present employ ed. The attorney
who properly attends to his duties cannot dc
other business such business will not seek
him. The uncertainty in the terms Of hi
Office compe!s him to retain such business, II
possible.
The attorney should he paid at least S5, 600
The first assistant, who takes charge of the ap
peal cases, &c, should he a lawyer who can try
any case ia any court above. The District
often has cases in the Equity aud Circuit
Courts at the same time and then should
have at least two attorneys, either of whom
are competent to the trial A maG competent
to this duty should receive at least u, 100 pei
-, year; and the attorney for the Police Cour
should have 81 200. SO should the very com
petCut law clerk, who must necessarily be
lawyer. The present incumbent Is n yer,
A young man, Of wide knowledge and experience
IN the business OF the office, ami should be re
tanned. lie suggests that Congress be askct
I to appropriate SlO,OO0 for the compensation o
= tho attorney, his assistants, clerk, and mes
sengcr. There is no branch ofany govern
= mcnt which secures so much legal service a
the District requires for the amount, SlOOOt
The abolition Of the Board Of Police and Boar
of Health also abolished the offices Of the at
; torneys for those boards respectively, VIII
, were paid each 800 per year. The duties q
once devolved upon the regular attorneys {
the District.