Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-22
TO REDUCE COURT FEES
The Bill Recommended by the House
Judiciary COMMITTEES.
Reasons Given for the Proposed
Change-The Salaries Under
the New Bill,

The incomes Of United States district
attorneys and the marshals and clerks of
the United States courts will be materially
reduced IL the bill recommended by the
House committee on the judiciary is ia
vorably acted upon. Under the present
system OF graded fees. says the report, pre-
pared by Representative W. A. Stone of
Pennsylvania. a premium is placed upon
prosecutions. During the fiscal year 1899
there were 10,S67 prosecutions Instituted
for violations OF United States laws, which
resulted in 5.262 convictions. l,66O acquit-
tails and 3945 of the cases We're nolle
pressed. The report continues:
Why the Change is Made.
1--WE are justified in presuming that where
the defendant is acquitted or the case
against him nolle pressed that the United
States has not sufficient evidence to con-
vict. We are led to conclude therefore that
more than half Of the cases terminating
during that fiscal year were Improperly
brought. OF course, there are many
criminal cases properly brought which re-
suit in acquittals or nolle pressed, but in
the above showing the percentage of ac-
quittals and nolle presses is too large and
We think justifies the belief that more of
them were instituted for the purpose of
making fees than in the interest of justice
And when We come to consider that IL costs
the government as much for Jurors and wit
nesses In cases of acquittal of convic-
ton, we naturally conclude that II We can
diminish the number of cases in the courts
that are not sufficiently supported by the
evidence We can save a great deal OF ex-
pense TO the United States. In the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1891. il cost the Unit
ed States for jurors S67s, 743 S5 and for wit
nesses 81. .155. 72O.55."
Salaries Proposed.
The salaries proposed by the bill are:
$4,000 TO district attorneys. $1,000 for mar
shals. and graded salaries for clerks. At
torney General Olney has written the COM
mittee that the proposed plan will save
$4,000 on the salaries of attorneys and
marshals.
The maximum compensation which dis
trict attorneys and marshals are now al
lowed by law is 5000. and United States
circuit and district clerks s.. 500 per an
mum, and yet, owing to the numerous
statutes and decisions of first controllers
running over many years, these officers
frequently receive much larger annual
compensation. An instance is cited of a
district attorney who has for years realized
10000, and another where a district attor-
ney received for a year and half 1908
although his returns showed but little over
$1,000. the balance being for mileage TO and
from court. Clerks of courts have received
as hiSh as Slf,Vp, courts naNlr.g neld
that naturalization fees need not be in
cluded in the emolument returns. While
the expenses Of attorneys and marshals are
much greater in some districts than others,
the committee says II could not find a
reliable standard for grading salaries. and
concluded by a unanimous vote TO adopt
the system of a uniform salary, which has
been foupd unsatisfactory in the case of
federal judges, to whom the same argu-
ments apply. 1t has been left to the At
tOFneV General FIX the salaries of clerks
Of courts. with $1,000 the limit.
As to the Commitment of Prisoners.
Under the present law II costs the gov
ernment annually a large amount un-
necessarily expended by the marshals in
fees for guards for prisoners This bill
directs that prisoners shall be committed
for trial in default of bail to the nearest
jail. and to be tried at the nearest point
where the court is held
1t directs that writs shall be sent by
mail, and does away with large mileage
charges fo- travel. Ii provides a uniform
system for keeping of accounts and making
returns.