Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-12

state, but no more money collected; WHILE by
means OF this law the state loses one-fourth OF
what 1t ought to receive and pays the same to the
attorney, whom the state already pays an ample
salary to for attending to these same prosecutions
To Illustrate the working Of the sherff's depart
ment, he gives the itemized bill OF the sheriff Of
that county for the three terms of court above
named, which we condense thus At the Decem-
Der term 1873, his bill amounted to S7l6.72,
S37. 40 Of which, Mr.. Marsh naively says, were
spent for prayer, and some other things needful
for the court. At the May term 1879, his bill was
Si79 81, including SIT So for another prayer and
the other things" At the December term,
1879, his bill was 5000 CO. with Sl7 81 allowed for
the prayer. II our courts could only be blessed
with more prayers and fewer deputies, the ex-
change would doubtless be beneficial
These sums, large as they are are all legitimate
charges under the law, and the sheriff cannot be
blamed for taking what the law allows; but, If the
law had been framed for the purpose of bleeding
the treasury, no better adaptation of the means to
the end could have been devised To understand
how the thing works, hear Mr.. Marsh. There was
issued he says, forty-nine state subpenas at that
term on which to summon witnesses to testify in
criminal cases (more by far than would seem to
be necessary, and the officers fees on them
amounted in the aggregate to S27722. In one of
the subpenas witness resided in Colchester,
Vermont, distant about one hundred and fifteen
miles from Woodstock, and four other witnesses
were named in the same subpoena as living in
Springfield, Vermont The deputy sheriff who
served it charged in his return for three hundred
and five miles travel at ten cents a mile, making
his charge for travel $50 90 and for five readings
thirty cents, which last charge was correct. The
officer claimed right to make such charge for
travel by virtue of the ruling of the court in such
cases as was claimed; that, as he began his SER
vice in Springfield he had a right to charge full
travel to Colchester and return, at ten cents mile
each way This was in the case State V. Car
mody." At the same term another subpoena was
issued in the same case. There were fifteen wit
nesses named in this second subpoena, and among
them the same witness in Colchester. The same
deputy served this subpoena that did the former
one. On this one he charged for two hundred and
ninety two miles and for fifteen copies, making
his charge for travel $500, and for fifteen cope,
$500 more, charging for his travel to Colchester
as before. In the first subpoena the witnesse,
we're called before the grand jury. In the SECOND
one 10 testify IN tne trlal OF tne case. Inc cOuf
auditor before whom it came for allowance, ant
who is not as vigant as he ought to be in dis
allowing improper charges and pruning excessive
ones did disallow for the double travel, ant
thereby saved S297 on these two charges Serv
ing state subpUnas by copy is an unnecessary ex
pense. Service by reading is just as good, and
when the witnesses cannot read good deal bet
ter but the officer charge legally about twelve
cents for copy, whereas the law allows only 81,
cents for reading.
He closes thus " | am well aware that the sub
ect matter OF this article will not prove to be yer,
pleasant reading to the public. 1t is never yer,
satisfactory to any one who has fondly looked for
ward to brighter days, to know at last and to re
alize that his financial affairs are yearly growing
worse and worse. And yet that very knowledg
may have the desired effect, to cause him t
switch from the track of danger and take fresl
departure in safe direction, which will eventu
ally lead him on the plane of solvency, relieve,
from embarrassment and financial arrangement