Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-16
$1,000 90 SLICES 05
IL 62S O5
Improperly drawn 3 5.412 81

EXTRA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
The sum Of s2.250 for extra profess
sional services was made up as fol-
lows:
In the Roanoke Navigation Company
case, which was wholly uncontested so
far as the State was concerned, and in
which only s3,S32.l0 was realized, a
fee of 81, 900 was allowed by the Gov
ernor, in addition to s27l.25 Of ex-
penses drawn by the Attorney-General
about this matter.
The sum Of $3.50 was allowed by the
Governor in the Faris rs. Treasurer
cases, in Albemarle county.
The committee thought these fees ex-
orbitant. but as the Governor had al
lowed them they were allowed by the
committee.
The balance Of the $2,250 was made
up by the sum Of 81 900 charged for
merely auditing some uncontested claims
in chancery suit in Mecklenburg coun-
ty, Va. At the time this fee was
charged not dollar had been realized
by the State, and eventually only
S7,515.05 was collected.
The Governor did not allow this, al
though he said he would have done so
had his approval been asked.
Auditor Allen paid it, as the warrant
upon which the money was drawn
showed, under sections 25 and 81 of
chapter 40, Code Of 1873.
Section % allows the Auditor " to
appoint agents to superintend the col
lection Of debts to or claims of the
Commonwealth"
Section 81 declares that for these
services the Auditor " shall recommend
such compensation as may seem to him
reasonable, not exceeding in any case
per centum on the money actually
paid into the Treasury"
AS only s7,5l5.05 was actually paid
into the Treasury, the committee could
see no warrant Of law for paying more
than per cent. on the sum Of
s7,5l5.05, and hence they reduced the
Tl,OUu lee 10 ooi0.i0
FEES TAXED IN SUITS.
In every case at law or in chancery
the statute provides for taxing in the
costs in law case $3.50 and in
chancery els, to be paid to the attor-
ney Of the party who wins the case.
AS the statute gave the Attorney
General $4,000 and declared that he
"shaU not be entitled TO any further
compensation" it was contended in a
certain case (Thon as. The Common
wealth, II Virginia r. that this Law
could not be applied to cases in which
the Commonwealth prevailed and in
favor Of the Attorney-General.
The Court of Appeals, however. held
that the inhibition of the statute, shall
not be entitled 10 any further compen-
sation," applied only to compensation
out Of the public treasury, and that the
Acknowledgement, like all other attor-
neys in cases which they might win,
was entitled to this incidental fee, to be
paid by The losing party to the attor-
neg Of the party toho prerailed.
Immediately upon this decision being
rendered Attorney General Blair pro-
cured certified lists from the clerks Of
the various courts Of the names of the
cases in which he had appeared fof
the Commonwealth, without regard to
whether the State had lost or won them,
and making up a bill Of sS in each
common-law suit and a20 in each chan
Gerry suit, he drew from the public
treasury, upon the warrant of Auditor
Allen, in 1888, the sum Of s2,507.
In 1884 he drew upon similar bill
the sum Of sl,51S.
The committee could find no pretence
of authority for these payments, ex-
cept in cases in which the State had not
only prevailed, but had actually col
lected the taxed fee from the other par
ty to the suits, for this fee could only
be paid by The party losing the case,
and could in no case become charge
upon the Treasury.
Assuming. however, that the State
might collect the taxed fee in every
case in which it prevailed, the commit
tee allowed it to Mr. Blair in every such
case without regard to whether the
money had or had not been collected.
This sum amounted to 1872, instead Of
s4,025, which had been drawn by Mr..
Blair.
EXPENSES.
Mr.. Blair claimed the right to mile
age item cents mile each w&y) when
travelling on public business.
His expenses in addition thereto are
made up of remarkable series Of items
tor a public officer. quote few from
the very long list that accompanies the
committees report:
American Cyclopedia....--..............sl02 90
so
| Allibone's Quotations. 90
80
Still more singular is the item Of 800
for four years subscription to the Vir-
ginia Lao Journal. paid in 1882, and
| IS for one years subscription to the