The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-15
ING COURT FEES.
Lichtenberg Construes
the Cost Bill.
ARE ovERcHARcED.
Datton, the slayer Of Frank
& -, on Trial-Sait for Comsais-
eaon-New Cases-Blofter.

80 dime the matter Of court costs hes
- subject OF controversy both among
~ iitfgAnts, aud yesterday the CUES
- brought to issue in Judge ichteu-
S 6ruft b. Attorneys l. G. Gilman and
Il nells, opposing counsel in the case Of p.
= IL " Margaret Harmon, for the pur-
y knyiuG the court cons:rue the law upon
f1oet Of costs.
S1ulns were for overcharges for service of
MONS, for overcbarge Of mileage, for
- IoR calling witnesses and for over
8 copying summons. II was commended
1nse3efk Is In the habit Of making dupli-
r. Of numerous records and charging
113y, aud that the sheriff charged for
Z summons when no service was had,
I'D up mileage.
Il Prosecutsug Attorney Mcbride rep
IL county in the matter, and admitted
6&lu1s exist In some of these cases.
U1B IN this case. which were claimed to
fn enormously taxed, amounted 70 81 50.
1 - court cut them down 70 3i3.40.
/ r - upon the question Judge Lchtenbesg
odoution before as involves the correct
. = clerks and sherif-s fees Prior to
~ fees went to the officers. but now
& p y tie county, the Object being to reduce
(noea Considerable complaint has been
kkuuUQ that UHQeE the Ice system
& oo0 we're inclined to ciach litigauts, but
- mlary system was introduced it was
oGRcefs would not act in that manner.
S1eSfslafure provided that all fees should
& - ~ salary fund Formerly all except
- and sheriff were paid out Of the gen.
- and, In addition to the sums paid to
E 1ecso, the sheriff aud clerk were paid in
~ caaes from $500 TO 81 .D00 month out Of
os11 fund.- Now that is saved, and If
oDeoGA arc derived from the clerks and
~ oficcs, all county officers are paid out
q = he comfy Is entitled TO legal fees. no
~ no less. If these former fee officers re-
ri les not warranted by law, it il no reason
~ county should now receive them.
u - olRcer charges fee, he should be able
1t1m ont The statute authorizing it II the
5ru1Deo duplicates In this case, the clerk il
y b his lee. 1he question Is on the con-
3 - It he statute az 10 what IL meant By
r. - 5scord. The clerx Is only allowed to
}1rmeny In criminal cases and where the
1ood Is involved, therefore al Of the ac-
go exeept the folio Of the anal judgment
~ II disalIowed.
~ itsm charged for calling Witnesses will
&aloWtd, for the law prcsurncs that the sheriff
60 ssesy witness that testines, and intends
snnk n should DO allowed ten cents for every
p1ne1s shst goes on the stand.
sIAe neat question concerns the service Of
emnons On six persons. The shcriffs return
- shou that he made diliscnt search. and
Ia u b could not get personal service he
Uo1d leaye the summons ut the usual place of
5nfdence Of the persons sought, and no ID en-
ND y charge for service.
80 mileage. the first defect was that the
0szi6 charged $50 without fixing the number
= nile1, but no oliicer can charge for mileage
= bnlk. There Is nothing to chow that thirty
30 miles were travelled, and the sheriff can
euly ctAfse for the actual number of miles
sorveled In each case, and cannot charge twice
~ u eame distance, no matter how many
sitneases b. has 70 subpoena.
"Fos eopyins IL summons the 500 cannot
b allowed under the law: only 90 cents on
every luminous eetually served can be charged.
HE court doee noe want to put Z narrow con-
stsueetea upm ths Zee bill, but the trouble 10
shss - eounty b suffering from . swelling of
- vhlea occurred when the officers were get
N - md that swelling must be reduced to
enesmAl and healthy condition, although the
os.9 enall always have the benefit of all
HmhaaH