The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-12-17
Prcyii,iie.,t,s 8 nfesaaea.

Z S. . . . "A . Z
The Presidents message ID long, and
contains Q brief discussion OF the most
important questions, which are reported
by the, heads Of the departments. The
message should be read in full, as any
attempt to give asynopsis of il would
fail to render justice to the various sub
jects treated in it. The reduction of
taxation, the gold and silver questions,
and civil service reform are ably and
ooncisely reviewed, and it would be pro.
htable to every one to read what 10 con-
tanned in the message on those subjects.
The following extract, we believe, will be
OF special interest to many of our readers
MARsHALs AND ATTORNEYS
The present mode of compensating
United States marshals and district at
torneys should in my opinion be chang
cd. They are allowed to charge against
the Government certain fees for services,
their income being measured by the
amount Of such fees within fixed limit
as to their annual aggregate. This is
dlrectinducement for them to make their
fees in criminal cases MS large as possible
In an effort to reach the maximum sum
permitted. AS an entirely natural conse-
quence, unscrupulous marshals are found
encouraging frivolous prosecutions, ar
resting people on petty charges of crime,
and transporting them to distant places
for examination and trial, for tho purpose
OF earning mileage and other fees; and
district attorneys uselessly attend crimi-
nal examination, far from their places of
residence, for the express purpose Of
swelling thoir accounts against the Gov
ernment. The actual expenses incurred
i'll these transactions are also charged
against the Government. Thus the
rights and freedom of our citizens are
outraged, and public expenditures in
creased, for the purpose of furnishing
public officers pretexts for increasing the
measure Of their compensation. think
marhals and district attorneys should be
paid salaries adjusted by rule which
will mako them commensurate with the
services fairly rendered.
UNrrED STATES COMMISSIONERS.
In connection with this subject I de-
sire to suggest the advisability, if it be
found not obnoxious to constitutional
objection, of investing United States
Commissioners with the power to try and
determine certain violations of law with
III the grade of misdemeanors. Such
trials might be made to depend upon the
option Of the accused. The multiplica-
tlon of small and technical offences, es-
pecially under the provisions of our in
| ternal revenue laws, render some change
i'll our present system very desirable, in
the interest of humanity rs well as econ
omy. The District Courts are now
crowded with petty prosecutions, involv
ing punishment, in cases of oonvic-
tlon, of only slight fine, while the par
ties accused are harassed by IN enforced
attendance upon courts held hume. reds of
miles from their homes. If poor and
friendless, they are obliged to remain in
jail during the months perhaps that
elapse before session of tho court is
held, and are finally brought to trial
surrounded by strangers and with but
ilttlo real opportunity for defence. In
the meantime, frequently tho marshal has
charged against the Government his fees
for an arrest, the transportation of the
accused and the expense of the same, and
for summoning witnesses before COM
missioner, who and the district attorney
have also made their charges against the
Government. This abuse in the admin
istration of our criminal law should be
remedied, and if tho plan above sug-
gested Ii not practicable some other
should be devised.