Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-10-13
ROBBING LITIGANTS.
The Shorthand Reporters
Very Long Fees.
BAR ASSOCIATIONS ACTION

At q Meeting Yesterday the Matter
Was Discussed in All Its
Bearings.
A meeting of the Bar Association to
discuss shorthand reporters fees, a
matter referred to in the HERALD several
times heretofore, took place yesterday
afternoon at 2 o'clock. Judge A. M.
Stephens called the meeting to order,
and in the absence OF the regular Score.
tary, ]. S. Ward, Esq, was selected to
perform the duties Of that Office. Judge
Stephens recapitulated the history of the
agitation about the exorbitant fees
charged by some of the court reporters,
from the first mention Of the matter be-
fore the Bar Association on the I'd Of
September last. Tho subject was re.
ferred to the Grievance Committee of the
association at that time, to report at q
special meeting week later. For sew.
eral successive meetings the matter was
taken up, but nothing of definite ma.
ture was done until last SaturdaD, when
q motion was carried to invite the
Judges of the several departments and
the reporters to meet the members OF
the bar yesterday. The District Attor-
ney was also invited to be present, and
the Grievance Committee was asked to
make their report, accompanying
the same with such evidence as
might be in their possession. At the
meeting of the week previous Mr.. Denis,
q member of the committee in question,
had made verbal report, and it was
hoped that yesterday a formal written
report would be presented. These state.
ments from the Chairman opened the
ball.
LETTERS FROM THE JUDGES.
The Secretary here announced that he
had letters from two of the Judges, and
the reading of the same was requested
Judge Lucien Shaw, in his letter, 90,
forth the fact that the reporter of his
court was not charged with being a party
to the alleged frauds. He had found
Mr.. Longley to ba very capable and very
honest in the discharge of his official
duties, and as his department was no,
charged with any connection with the
evil under review, and as he was other.
wise engaged he did not consider il
necessary for him to be present.
Judge Van Dykes set forth that as he
had pressing business which would take
him out of the city, it would not be pos
sible for him to attend. He stated that
of course the bench knew nothing of
any combine" such as that referred to in
the charges, and that he had interro-
gated Mr.. McAllister az to his alleged
connection with these evil practices, and
enclosed written reply from that re-
porter, in which McAllister denied hav-
ing any understanding with any one.
Judge Van Dyke also denied in his letter
that he had been influenced by any per-
son in the selection Of his clerk. The
Judge goes on to say that the question OF
overcharges on the part Of the reporters
concerns the lawyers more nearly than
the Judges for the reason that the latter
can take notes for their own use durine
: the trial ola case.
JUDGE wADE's STATEMENT.
Here Judge Wade took the floor anG
proceeded to discuss the affair. He
stated that. as his department reporter,
@. F. Rutan, was the alleged head of the
Combine" he had this to say, that il
Mr.. Rutan were proven guilty of any Of
the crooked practices charged against
him, he would remove him at once. II
he had proof Of Rutan being the cause
Of the removal of any reporter for the
reasons 'allesed, viz, that he would not
''divvy" with the "boss," he would re.
move Rutan and appoint the reporter
that person had had removed. He had
appointed Rutan to his place as his OWL
first choice after the election had taken
place. Rutan did not accept at once
and Wade told him to decide, as if he
did not care for the place he would give
it to McAllister. Judge Wade said there
were relations between the three re-
Porters referred to which he did not ap
prove of. Ii one was not able to be pres
emit at any time, he noticed one Of
the other two took the work. He sale
that as to the reporters 'pooling" theil
issues, and even their earnings, that was
q matter in which he did not concern
himself. They might do as they please
If R1tan, because of his superior quail
fications, or because of his greater
energy, can get more work outside of the
courts than the others, he thinks the
Judges are not concerned in that aspec
of affairs. Until the charges against
Rutan are proved he will continue to ac
as reporter in his court.
THE COMMITTEE ASK TIME.
When Judge Wade took his seat cal
was made for the report of the commit
tee. Judge Fitzgerald, Chairman of the
committee addressed the association
He said the committee was not ready t.
report. The committee has done a great
deal of very hard work in connection
with this matter. Mr.. Denis has
been particularly earnest in his
services. Mr.. H. T. Lee, member
of.the committee, is absent from the city,
and the information before the commit.
tee is of very damaging nature, charg-
ing grave offenses on the part of the re.
porters in question. This information
has been given in very informal man.
ner. In some cases people may have
said more in private than they would in
public, and put things in stronger light
than the facts will bear out. The allega-
tons are of a general tenor, which, when
eifted, may turn out less grave than they
look now. He thought it only fair to
give the reporters a hearing in private
and to bring them face to face with their
accusers before these damaging charges
are blazoned abroad before the
world. Some of these allegations
were of penal nature. and
l.