The herald., 1893-01-30
SOLELY FOR LAWYERS BENEFIT.
An Unjust Tax on Litigants to
Aid the Law Library.
An Aid to the Legal Profession Which
Attorneys Should support.
Every Person Filing a Complaint in the
Superior Conrt Is Taxed 81,
for the Library for
Lawyers.

Ooe<~~eJ
is becoming one OF the interesting insti-
tutions which is quietly accomplishing
its purpose. To be sure there are
points in it's makeup and management
under the law creating it which occa-
sion comment, and in the course of
time no doubt these matters will receive
the consideration deserved and relieve
the library of the criticism to which it
is now subjected.
The principal revenue OF the library
ia derived from what seems to be aqueer
if not unjust source. The law which
created the library provided that each
litigant in civil cases should contribute
81 to the support OF the library Of
course, when case is filed in the
county clerks office, deposit of $40 is
required upon the costs. Sometimes, if
not always, the costs of case amount
to more than the $40 deposited. What
ever the costs 81 is required and is taxed
by the county clerk against the litigant
for the law library.
This appears to be an injustice. 1t
would seem that the law library of a
county like Los Angeles should not de-
pend for its principal support upon the
amounts wrung out of litigants, many
of them not the best able in the city to
pay that amount for law books for the
uee of lawyers who charge them fees
more or less large for their services.
The library derives from this source
about $3.50 per month, which, under the
peculiar manner in which the library
was acquired by the county, comprises
almost all of it's cash receipts.
The Law Library association of Los
Angeles, which turned over it's books to
the county, had accumulated some 1000
volumes, and when the last legislature
passed the act under which the library
is now run, they sold out to the county.
The members had shares of stock
in the association. and when
went into effect, they received
certificates for dues from the librarian,
Frank FL. Howard. These certificates
entitle them to be credited with dues to
the amount of $12 year. The library
was turned over to the county for $12.-
600, and there is still about $4,000 to be
paid by the county. This ia arranged to
be paid by the members through their
certificates in credits upon their dues, 30
that in the course of a few years this
debt will be paid out. The number of
certificate members is about 80, although
that does not represent by any means
the number of lawyers who should be
paying members to the library.
A HERALD reporter in conversation
with Frank H. Howard, the efficient
librarian, was informed by him that
there are large number of attorneys in
the city and county who seem to con-
eider themselves entitled to the. nriu-
ilege5 OF the law library without con-
tributing one cent to its support. This
does not seem to indicate a very gener-
GUS spirit on the part of attorneys. They
first secure law by which litigsnts are
obliged to contribute largely to the rum
ming expenses of the library, and then a
large percentage of them fall down on
any proposition whatever to help secure
the expenses or funds to buy new books.
The new law under which the library
is conducted is simply the law govern
ing the San Francisco law library,
brosdened into general law. Under
the San Francisco act, passed in 1880,
that law library has been going success
fully for Is years, although the same
question has frequently arisen in re-
gard to the justice OF making lltlgants
pay towards its support.
If it were not for this provision our
library could not be conducted. All its
running expenses are paid out OF the
cash coming in from cases filed. To be
sure, there is about $120 per month that
is practically revenue for the county is
acquiring by partial payments the 1000
volumes left them by the old assocla-
tion.
During the is months of the existence
of the library it has accomplished con-
siderable. 1t has increased the number
of volumes by nearly 1000, and under
the intelligent supervision of Mr.. How
ard, has been put in much better ar
rangement than before.
1t cannot but be thought, however,
by thoee who have given the subject
thought, that some more equitable basis
for its permanent support should be
given than mulcting litigants. 1t is a
county institution. 1t is under the con-
troll OF a committee OF the superior
jndges, the officers being Judge Walter
Van Dyke. president; Judge w. P.
Wade and Judge W. FL. Clark, trustees /;
Chairman John W. Cook of the board
of supervisors and R. H. F. Variel. 1t
is comfortably housed in the top floor OF
the courthouse, and ia in all respects
.,otif,tiox,