, 1884-02-09

Denmark to obtain fees for conducting
public suits and suits with grant of bene-
fcia, and compensation for expenses in
Cured in suits, has been settled 10y the law
OF oath May 1874, it is considered more adj
visable to extend the law to the Danish
West India Islands, than to propose, as
done in former instances, prior to the
emanation of the law in question, the
passage of certain enactmentS correspond.
ing to those which formerly were in force
III Denmark.
The circumstances that the law Of 26th
May 1865 concerning tie right 10 practice
as lawyer has not been extended to The
Danish West India Islands cannot be adj
vanced DIS an argument against he pro
posed extension OF the law of 24lh Nav
1879. In this connection il mus, be con-
sidered that in the Remarks attached to
the draft of the latter law, and in the Ie-
ports submitted by the committees Of the
Landsthing and the Fclkething, the change
in the position of the Lawyers. Effected by
the former Of these laws is only of second
airy import, whereas the chief points were,
that lawyers ought to receive a fee, pro
pOrtiOnate to their work, in all suits which
they conduct by appointment, and to OBJ
tain a guarantee tor Il proper treatment
of the suits so conducted the report from
the committee of the Landsthing sums up
the matter by stating that "Nhcn It IS
left to the courts to fix the amount OF the
fees without limitation as to maximum, in
proportion to the extent Of the work, it
may be preSumed-particularIy in view Of
the regulating influence which the coul S
OF appeal Will exercise also IN this respect
that a practice Will be developed ~ to
the fixing of the amount al the fee. suited
TO the just claims OF the lawyers and the
interests of the public; and these lead
ing points are fully and i'll every respect as
valid in the Danish West India Islands as
III Denmark.
During the ~deccnnary 1872-S1 the mum
Der ofpublic criminal suits is;
a.. St. Thomas and ST. john, in the
lower COurtS.-...... ..--.-. 3G4
Of which suits a number off,. l0I
have been appealed to the upper
court.
b. St. CroiX, in the lower courts 49, 10
of which suits Il number off,. 5S
have been appealed to the upper
court.
During the same period the number of
suits with grant of beneficial is:
q. st. Thomas and st, john, in she
lower
of which uitS..-.....--- ..... B
have been appealed to the upper
court.
b. st. Cr0iX, in the lower couItS..-.
Of which 3
have been appealed to the upper
court.
Total number of suits for ST. Thomas
and ST. $50
Total number Of suits for St. roiX.- Io7
say $500 and 1870 Respectively FER
Annum.
If, however, it is considered that the
public criminal suits and the suits with
grant Of beneficial which are appealed 10
the upper court are not conducted by tile
lawyers in St. Croix, the result is that the
latter have during the period in question
conducted. 296 suits
whereas the lawyers in St. Thomas
have conducted. ........-... 81
say, annual average:
st. Thomas and ST. John......... $40
ST. 29.OO
1t Will be seen that the number of public
suits and suits with grants of beneficial
reaches such "a figure as to impose d rather
considerable burden on the lawyers and
hence there is good reason to extend the
law Of Oath May 1879 to the Danish West
India Islands, with such few notifications
as the local relations require.
ITO be c~ontiRued)