West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-01-21

Senator d. W. Gall. Of Philipp


keeps constantly making misrepre-
sensations in his PAPER, the Plain
dealer, abou the Court reporter and
the Judgg ibis Judicial District.
He is determined to get rid Of the
Stcnoerapher if he can, and as he
has an old grudge against the Judge
for relieving him from the Office of
Commissioner in Chaneery, he is
determined to get even with him IN
some way, even if he has to do it at
the expense of truth and justice.
He was carried into Office last cleo
ton by the great Democrats tidal
wave that swept the country, and at
once proceeded to pose as reform
or. lie introduced a bill IN the
Legislature to do away with the law
allowing Court Reporters before the
matter had been given a fair trial
even. We believe it passed the Sen
ate, but was very properly killed off
in tire lower House. The law pro-
viding for official Stenographers
and regulating their pay, ETC., was
passed by Democratic Legislature,
and yet Senator Gall seems to hold
Judge Hoke responsible for it and
is continually harping about the
fees allowed and the expense to the
tax payers, and when he knows that
the whole matter is great saving
in the long run. In the first place,
the fee for transcription is fixed by
law at twenty cents per hundred
words, Same as commissioners
charge in chancery matter, but the
short hand reporter does in few
nights and days what 1T takes the
commissioners weeks and even
months to do. The Judge says that
he can try third more cases with
a good Reporter, which is great
saving of expenses for both parties
and for the State and counties. The
Reporter is pail no salary in this
State as he is in otleI States, but
has to depend on such fees as he
can pick mp for living. or course
IN felony cases the State pays him,
but when mans life and liberty is
at stake and may depend on a cor
rect and certified transcription OF
the evidence, such an item is
small affair in comparison. In civil
cases the parties themselves pay the
fees, and it is entirely optional with
them whether they use his services
or not. If they choose to and arc
willing to pay for it, it is no bust
ness Of Senator Calls or anyone
else. When Judge Hokc learned
Of the bill introduced by Gall, he
ut once dismissed Park hurst, the
Court Reporter, from service, but
the bar of this circuit, almost unan.
imously, protested and insisted on
his being retained, and now the
leading lawyers here and in every
other comfy of the circuit declare
that they don't see how they got
along at all without him.
Lawyer Gall may perhaps haveno
use for the Reporters services, but
the rest of the bar know a good
thing when they see land are annoy
ed at Calls littleness and stupidity
and constant exhibition Of soreness.
He even insinuates that Mr.. Park
hurst is relative of the Judge and a
great pet, ETC., when the fact is, the
Judge never heard of him, till,
when in the discharge of his duty,
he was looking around for a Stenog
rapher and was referred to Mr..
Parkburst, who came here highly
recommended, and has gwen entire
satisfaction to the attorneys who
have employed him and who insist
on his services, in spite of Senator
Calls kicking and growing. We
know whereof we speak, for we have
letters in our possession and facts
and figures to back mp all We have
said.
s--r~-~1