The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-03-23
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1894.
ABUSES IN THE OJURTS,
REPRESENTATIVE woLvERToN's MEAS
URES FOR REFORM TO BE PRE-
SENTED TO THE HOUSE.

For a number of years it has been
the desire Of the House Judiciary Com
mittee to secure legislation reducing
the expenses and reforming the meth
DDS of the administration of Justice in
the United States Courts. With this
object in view investigations have been
conducted with the result that serious
abuses have been found to exist in
several of them. Efforts to remedy
these abuses have not to any extent
proved very effective.
During the present Congress the
House has passed bill to change in
some respects the methods now in vog-
ue in some of the courts, but it has not
yet been acted on by the Senate. 1t
has been determined, therefore, by
those interested in securing the need
ed legislation to have the propositions
added as amendments to the sundry
civil bill now pending in the House.
These amendments have been pre-.
pared by Representative Wolverton,
of Pennsylvania, at the instance Of the
Judiciary Committee, aud by agree
ment they will be offered to the sun.
dry civil bill to day. All the amend
ments have the approval of the Depart
ment of Justice. They provide sub
stantially as follows:-
United States Marshals are prohibit
ed from charging more than the actual
travelling expenses for prisoners and
guards instead of 10 cents per mile as
allowed by law. No fees are to be made
to Marshals for executing any warrant
from a United States Commissioner
unless the same shall have been exc.
cuted within sixty days after issue.
No person who holds an Office or
employment under the Government
shall receive compensation for dis
charging the duties Of any other Office
or employment.
The fees of clerks of courts are limit
ed to $1,000, and one person may be
clerk Of the Circuit and District
Courts at the same time at not exceed
ing $500 per year. Commissioners
fees are limited to $1,000.
Naturalization fees are fixed as fol-
lows: Filing declaration of intention.
81. and final papers S., and clerks of
courts are required to retain as part of
their emoluments all fees for naturali
zation.
The fees of commissioners are limit.
ed by making some changes in the
existing laws. For all services where
there IS no arrest $r is to be charged;
for hearing and binding over on
criminal charge and all services in the
case S.. and no more. A fee OF S. is
also fixed for hearing and deciding in
the case of persons charged with an
offence under treaty instead of SIS
per day as now.
Another amendment prohibits the
filing of ''information" by private infor-
mers for violations of internal revenue
laws and requires such information to
be made by the District Attorney,
Collector or revenue agent. Only such
witnesses are to be subpoenaed before
the court as shall be directed by the
District Attorney instead OF allowing
the Deputy Marshal to subpoena and
take to court any persons who desire
to make the trip.
Jurors are to be paid for their act.
ual days attendance and the necessary
time consumed in going to and com.
ing from the court. No bill for witness
fees is to be paid until the District
Attorney certifes that the witnesses
were regularly subpoenaed, were in
attendance and were necessary. In
hearings before commissioners only
two witnesses shalt be subpoenaed un.
less directed by the District Attorney
and the fees are not to be paid until
the District Attorney csrtihes that the
witnesses were properly summoned.
Bailiffs and criers of courts are to
be paid only forthe days which they ac
tually served and which does not in
clude any days when there was no act.
ual session of the court.