The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-06-25
CLERKS BLACK LIST
Posting Lawyers Who Don't
Pay Court Fees and
Costs.
SOME DEBARRED FROM PRACTICING.
Several of the Most Prominent
Practitioners in the State
Among the Delinquents.
spectql to the jersey CITY Ne.rs.

TRENTON. une %, 1S94.-lf the ConSttua
tional Commission acts favorably on the
proposition to give the court clerks salaries
instead of fees, there will be much distress
among the lawyers of New Jersey. They
would then do their business direct with the
Senate, and could not practice on the INSTALL
ment plan, as many do now. If there is one
thing a lawer dislikes to do it is to pay fees
and costs. Two thirds of the lawyers run
on their face, and one-third of that number
never pay at all. The black list in the Off
ces of tho Court of Chancery and Supreme
Court is a long one, and 1t contains names of
men who are Familiarity spoken about all
over the State.
In the Chancery Office there has been hung
in a conspicuous place a type-written list OF
names which every lawyer knows is the
proclamation of legal dead beats. A few
days ago it was taken down, because a
prominent lawyer of national reputation,
who has become hard up. begged to have it
hid away i'll a drawer until lie can settle: In
the meantime. however, he cauno do bust
ness in that court, and there are hundreds
more like him.
HOW IT'S DONE IN CHANCERY.
When Henry s. Little went out of the
Chancery Clerks office there was due him
$24, 600 by lawyers for fees. He collected
less than a Thousand of it. The present
clerk has the Office on a better business foot
ing than any previous clerk, for he was
familiar with the peculiar ways of his pro-
fessional colleagues and prepared to beard
them as soon as he took hold. While there
is no sign hung up which reads mo trust"
the business of the office is run very nearly
on that basis. The clerk of the court collects
the fees of the court besides his own. He
has to settle with the State ten days after
the enc of every term. Last year be paid
into the state Treasury the sum of IS, 400 as
the direct Court of .Chancery fees. Mr.
McDernott IS not willing to advance money
to lawyers, and he always makes sure OF the
State fees by demanding a deposit of S25
when a suit is begun. His own fees he is
willing to charge, but, If not settled at the
end of the term, new names are put on the
little narrow typewriter list.
The bills for the present term have been
sent out, and as some Of the lawyers are
slow in resp niing, the gentle dun has been
sent On its way, urging attention to the bill;
and it is thought that the black list will be a
long one this term. for the lawyers are feel-
ing the hard times just like other folks.
MORE CREDIT IN UPREME COURT.
Over in the Supreme Court the business
end is run on a broader basis. Having the
County Clerks in direct competition on GER
tain lines of fees, a more extended credit is
given. In some cases the extended credit
has been acquiring cobwebs and has a good
mellow age of from ten to twenty years.
The Clerk of the Supreme Court advances
the State fees, and by doing that he &C
tually advances money to the lawyers, for
the State fees at least should be paid in
cash. Last year the fees paid to the State
Treasurer were S 5,54 as the Supreme Court
fees, and much OF this is yet standing on the
books,
A clerk of this court must have a capital
- 4 IL ,rir,ac xytfh FOR hn fnt1st u Statn
costs Immediately after the close Of the term
and take his chances of settling with the
LAWYERS. The chance of settling are not
good and they are getting worse. A lawyer
gets very careless about fees and costs. They
do not regard them as debts of honor. When
Charles F. Smith vacated as Clerk of the
Supreme Court there was due him the mag
%niffcent sum of s65, 900, and it took several
years of hard work to gather about $1,000
of that amount. Nearly 5000 0 of it was
never paid. A lawyer in abiding to that
fact stated that a prominent counsellor OF
this State frequently mentioned III connec-
ton with Gu beinatorial and other honors
owed $500 of that $50, 900, and others who
are legal light that burn bright in the higher
courts owe big amour Is.
HAVE BEEN SHUT OUT.
1t is said that the present clerk carries on
his books about $4,000, and has an accumu-
lation Of bad notes taken in settlement of
DllIS IOT lees Uudt dilUuub 10 CCliSIutI DNc
The list Of legel dead beats in this office is
much longer than across the corridor. 1t is
not exposed to public gaze, but is there for
the convenience of the clerical force. 1t Is
said that thare are some good names on it.
The lawyers are becoming SO careless that
they are now being put under pressure to
settle. Some few have been shut out and
have to file their papers through friendly
Counsel.
In the Court OF Errors AID Appeals long
credit is not given to the lawyers because it
is q salaried office and the business is done
with the State, and the State is full of bust
ness and can afford to demand cash on de-
livery. Occasionally some well known law
| yer will be allowed to run on account.
The Court Of Errors did err, however, re-
Gently, by allowing a man whose name is q
synonym for good practice and fat fees to
run a bill. He CAV a note for the amount,
took the note up with a check and on Thurs
| day the note came back protested. Unless
the money is forthcoming in a few days he
will not be allowed to argue at this term Of
the Court Of Errors.
An old-time clerk, in discussing the capa-
bilities of lawyers to settle with the court,
said:-
.'Some of the very men who are con-
stantly advocating the adjustment of the
fee system and placing the court clerks on
salary owe the largest bills. Name me some
of these legal and political reformers on both
sides, and | can show you a large unpaid ac-
! count on the books of some of the courts