The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-09-10
NATIONAL NEWS NOTES.
EXoRBlTANT FEES STOPPED BY
COMPTROLLER DURHAM.
Judge waliaos'e Decision in tho United
States District court-Duties ON Fancy
Coverings Not aood-washington.
Topics OF tho Times'

troll Ter mas ordered that no more money hhhll
be paid 10 Mr. j. A. j. Creswell, counsel for
the United States before tho Alabama Claims
commission, on Tho ground that tho court
has never complied with tho law regulating
tho manner In which his compensation shall
be paid. This disregard Of tho provisions OF
the act has continued from tho very organl-
Eatlon OF tho court In 1874 down 10 the pres
ont time, and Is tho most dagrant violation
of tho law that has yet come 10 the comp
troller's attention. The act authorizing the
appointment OF counsel prescribed that
such counsel shall receive for hia services
and expenses such reasonable allowance In
each claim an may bo approved by the court,
10 be apportioned In each claim adjudlcated
and paid from said award upon tho cortih'
cato OF ono OF tho judgos.o
The court organized undor this act In
July, 1874, and Mr., Crosawell was appoint.
cd that month. At the next session Of con-
gress, fearing that tho authority Of the
court TO compensato tho counsel might lead
10 tho payment OF too large sum, II was
enacted In tho Sundry Civil bill passed
March y, 1873, that he should be paid AZ
enacted In section OF the act OF June ~,
1874, provided tho amount did not exceed
5000 per annum. Tho court has never
paid tb, slightest attention 10 tho require
ments OF the law; there Ia not tho slightest
evidence on flo that Mr., Creswoll evOr tried
case before tho court, and regardless OF
those reuuirments ho has regularly drawn
5000 year.
Tho manner OF payment prescribed In the
same az In tho case OF every United States
marshal and attorney, They receive their
compensation out OF tho fees liked by law,
not 10 exceed $1,000 per annum. All In OK
cess OF that amount has 10 bo covered into
tho treasury, but their account has 10 show
soriatlm every feo received by them. For
tho first oight months Mr., Croswell did not
draw a cont, but whom tho act limiting the
amount no might receive In ono year
was passed tht court made II retro
active aud said ho was entl.
tied 10 eight months pay at
tho rate OF $500 por annum, and hO was 80
paid Since thon Mr.. Creswoll has regularly
drawn g., 900 every throe months as though
no were a salarled officer OF tho government.
The vouchers In tho treasury department
show this though thoro has not boon
shadow OF authority for such payment.
There has neither boon an approval Of tho
court an apportionmont OF the sum In each
claim adjudloated nor payment upon tho
certificate OF ono OF tho judges. All that
Comptroller Durham can find Is that bo has
drawn vhe amount, though how IL another
conundrum which Ia now being Investigated.
Tho secretary of tho treasury mailed 10
collectors aud other officers OF the customs,
In circular form, the meaning and olYoct OF
section 1, OF tho Tariff net OF March g. 1888,
m laid down In tho recent decision Of tho
Unitod stats District court, Judge Wal
lace, for the district Of New York. The
case was that OF Obortcuifor ot al. vs.. Rob.
ertson. Judge Wallace says, referring 10
section Z, tho construction OF which has
caused thousands OF cases TO bo protostod;-
"while II abrogatos tho oxiStlng provls-
Ions for determining dutablo valuo, ID does
not contemplate prescribing anv now rulo
for ascortaiulng market value, This 10 10
DO ascortained by ascortaining tho actual
| ,aIua ~. VyhninaaIa t,rica ~ tha 0nnla In iha
|