The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-08-28
FROM TENNESSEE.
TiDtOn County.

Editor Patron. see that my
humble efforts to benefit the toiling
sons and daughters of Adams race,
are appreciated by some of the
members of our beloved Order in
Crockett and Henderson counties,
as reported by Bros. n. M. James
and w. A. Mobiles, through the
columns of our noble PATRON.
In reading these reports, l am
reminded of the saying of Him,
who spake not as man spake. when
He said, "a prophet is not without
honor, save in his own country
And though these efforts may be
feeble, l am ever ready to contrib
ute into cooperative stock, that
accumulates at Columbus, Miss, the
headquarters of the Southwestern
States, whence they are distributed
in the eleven States, in which The
PATRON circulates, through its
columns.
After my spiritual and moral OBJ
legations to my Creator, and my
domestic duties are discharged,
there is nothing that lies SO near
my heart, as to serve my genera
ton, as did David of old. And no
nobler epitaph would desire than
to be called, "The Friend of the
Poor." Hoping you and the read
ers of your-noble and patriotic PA
IRON, will pardon this depression,
we will come to the subjects of this
communication.
In scanning the fields of errors
that need correction, and of injustice
and oppression of the masses, and
that by which our civil officials
grow rich, our eyes rests upon a
Bonanza, amid the multitude! and
which we will call WITNESS FEES"
and which is a source, as | think, of
millions of dollars to the clerks of
our various courts.
Witnesses are subp9nad to ap-
pear, it matters not at what loss or
cost to them, they have to obey, and
often they never get the pitiful sum
allowed them as witnesses. And
in many instances the clerk peremp-
torily refusing to pay it, on the plea
that the attendance was not proven;
although, am told it is always in
.cluded in the bill of cost, and col
lected and paid into the office. This
proves to be perquisite No. 1.
Again it is often the case that a
witness calls for his fees, and being
informed that it is not collected,
after calling a few times, he ceases
to ask for it, concluding that he will
never get it. This is the clerks
perquisite No. 2.
From others the clerk proposes
to buy their claims, for which he
will probably pay so per cent. This
is perquisite No. 3. y.
Thus are millions Of dollars ex
torted from the masses. How?
FRAUDULENTLY,- EQUITABLY?
And which enables the clerks to
become rich in a short time, but at
the expense of the NEEDY laborer
of the Country.
And the people are beginning to
conclude that the Legislatures ought
to look to their interest some, and
not to the interest of rings, COM
binations, and officials, which has
been the uniform practice for the
last twenty years
While | would not presume to
dictate to the LEGALLY-LEARNE
SoLoNs, so-called, how the desired
reform should be framed, being
.ouly an ignorant farmer (" in your
chaste parlance, and hence not
knowing how to frame bill to suit
a mind vitiated by alchoholic drinks
and moral corruption, | would only
suggest something like the follow
ing:
That a bill be passed requiring
the clerks of the various courts,
after the cases have been decided
by the courts, to make manuscript
notice itemizing the cases as they
are on his docket, and put it on the
bulletin board at the court house,
and this duty shall be done ex offeio,
and for which no compensation
shall be paid. He shall likewise
deliver a copy of the same to some
newspaper having a good circula-
ton, if known to him, in the coun-
ty, within IS days after the rise or
adjournment of his court for publi-
cation. And the cost of publica-
ton shall be pro rated among the
witnesses in proportion to the
amount of their fees. And append,
as penalty for non performance OF
this duty a fine of not less than $500
nor more than s., 900, and forfeiture
of office. And make it the duty OF