The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-08-27
A Real Move Towards Reiorm-slIeips on
superaaOus onleers who are Extraya.
gantly Paid Tho denomination of
Hoadly Not cemplimentto Him.

H
WASHINGTON, August 26-The determi-
nation Of First Comptroller Durham to
stop all future acquisitions for salaries to
employees Of the Court of Alabama Claims,
who, he says, have been illegally appoint.
ed, creates much comment. Judge Dur
hams attention was first called to this
matter by Mr.. ]. Il. Manning, the at
torney who was recently disbarred for an
alleged contempt Of this court in entering
the private room Of the Judges aud dis.
cussing case then under consideration.
This was the reason given by tho court
for disbsrment, but it is known that Man
ming had made himself very difagreeable
in another way, and his punishment has
been regarded here as piece OF spite
work. Being the attorney for q very,
large number Of claimants, Mr.. Man
ming was continually pushing the judges
otthe Court OF Alabama Claims for more
prompt attention. The fact that the
existence Of the court expires in Deccm.
ber next made him extremely solicitous
for the welfare of his clients. When II
was proposed by the court at the begin.
ming Of summer to take a lopg recess he
protested most vigorously. Failing TO get
satisfaction, he appealed to higher author.
i,y, with,the result that the vacation of
the court was shortened considerably. In
making his fight against long vacation,
Manning charged that tho judges were
actuated by desire TO continue their
official existence by killing time, and thus
forcing Congress to provide for the COM
pletion Of bnsintss unattended 10 after
.Decembernsxt.
Whether Manning charges were we'll
founded or not, he incurred the hostility
OF the court, and the first pretext was
seized upon to visit him with punishment
On the last day Of the session preceding
the much shortened recess, the notice Of
his disbarment was officially promulgated.
There was much merFiment among those
connected with the tribunal at the neat
manner nwhich Manning had been dis
posed Of, but the latter had very little TO
say.
Now that the First Comptroller has
spoken officially it is Manning Is turn to
laugh. Long attendance about to Court
Vi alhUaulas SldlLl6 l4tl lluIt o4Es h4ALE1
ming familiar with the laws authorizing
its expense. The employment about the
court Of lot OF youngsters with inhuen.
tial rela.ions, whose chief duty seemed to
consist in drawing their salaries and look
ing bored, had beon IN aggregation to
those who wanted to do business there.
After some study Mr.. Manning came to
the conclusion that goodly share OF the
Geneva award money which belonged to
his clients was being divided among those
not entitled toit. he put his views into
writing, and left them with the First
Comptroller for inquiry. That official
found enough in the points raised by Mr.
Manning to make him sure they were
good ones, but before taking action he
asked the opinion OF the Solicitor Of tho
Treasury, Judge Mel Cue, who agreed that
there was no authority for the employ
ment Of the assistant counsel, clerks, ex-
pests, assistant experts and clerks to ex:
Iper.s borne on the rolls. These two legal
authorities then consulted with ACTING
Secretary Failchild, alawyef OF known
ability, and rwhen he took the same view,
Secretary Blyatd's opinion was asked.
Alliour OF these officials failed 10 find
any law authorizing the payment OF the
little army Of professional assiataAts TO
the Alabama Court The first notice the
disbusing officer Of the court had Sot
trouble Was the refusal OF The First Comp.
troller to pass bis warrants for S. l000, ap:
proved by Secretary Rayard, and three OF
these warrants for. like anoRnts were OBJ
jected to in succession. y3I
Judge Durham says that not only Is he
certain that the employment oil twenty
four ont Of twerty-aine attaches Of the
court is illegal, but'he has serious doubts
ofthelegalily Of the court itself Fatraya.
gance in the payment Of printing bills, and
Z ifittering away Of the funds Of the court
in other directions, is charged, and will be
looked into. Mr.J. Il. Manning is q well
knownlawver from Boston originally. He
has a New, York Office and Q Washington
office. He has now before tho court be:
tween six and seven hundred cases ont o.
twenty-five hundred that are to be tried
between October 5, when the court meets,
and December3l, whepitexpires by limit
alton OF law.