The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-03
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

Salaries of Marshals and Attorneys-Failure
of Justice in Washington Courts.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The report of Attorney
general Brewster details the routine business of
the department at great length. The expendi-
lures of the department average. about So, 00O,-
600 a year. The Legislature of Utah Territory
refuses to appropriate money for the execution
of the Territorial laws under congressional leg
~islation, and the Encouragement recommends
the appropriation of 500, 900 for the purpose Of
securing enforcement of the laws. Mr..
that the maximum compensation
of all clerks in United States courts be uniformly
the same. The maximum compensation of each
of these clerks is $1,000 per auuum. The max
mum compensation for clerks of corresponding
cOnrts in other States throughout the country is
$4,000. There appears TO be no good reason
why this Discrimination shall he made in favor
of the clerks of California. They are now al
lowed to receive double the maximum coinpen-
satiOn of other clerks throughout the country.
Concerning protection to civil officers, the re-
port says:
Irenew the recommendation that additional
legislation should be had 10 protect the execu-
tive civil officers of the government in the per-
Torrance of their duties, and also against out
RACES committed upon them because they have
faithfully performed them. The punishment now
attached to the resistance of process is not COM
mensurate with many otfenses which have been
committed upon and against these officers.
There is no United States punishment tor the
bhaS VA OaO VA AAAC -" hANO hShS III
discharglng his duties, or because he has dis
charged them. This is a matter which should
not be left to the administration of justice in the
State courts. A proper regard for the safety of
the officer requires that the Legislation should be
ample and cover all outrages. but especially the
highest outrage, upon his person.
One of the most important recommendations
OF the report is as follows:
The practice of cOmpensating the United
States marshal by fees is an expensive one.
Examiners of the Department of Justice who
have been detailed to examine their accounts
report that, in order to make the maximum
fees of the office $4,000 per aBnuIn, unscrupu-
lous marshals in some instances, though their
deputies, have encouraged frivolous pr0secu-
ti0ns, outraging the rights Of citizens, and in
volving the United States in unnecessary and
excessive expenses. 1t is estimated that it costs
the government ten dollars expenses for every
dollars emoluinents of the marshal. Thus it
will appear that 1t would be to the interest of
the government to give the marshal IA fixed
compensation, so as to remove all inducements
to practice frauds upon the government on the
one hand, or wrongs upon the citizens on the
other. If the deputy were to be paid fees for
executing process, 1t would insure the same
efficiency as the present fee system, and at the
same time relieve the department OF the extra
Ordinary expense complained of, as the marshal
would have no interest i'll encouraging such
practices.
The same reasons in favor OF salaried offices
apply with even more force to the United States