Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-04-05

Capitol building. The clerk would
occasionally come into my room and
copy off opinions, ETC., upon the type
writer. You understand that NV
duties were to take in shorthand the
dictations of the judges and transcribe
these legal opinions upon the type
writer for filing and when not thus
employed / was instructed to assist
the clerk. After some time, the clerk
requested me take some extra comics
of the opinions for him. As l had
seen him re-copying them, and as it
was very easy to do this by placing
additional carbon sheets between the
pages, and as | was of course anxious
to please all my new employers, |
readily consented to his request and
thereafter complied with it. As did
not then occupy the clerks office l
never knew what became of these
copies. When the court moved into
the Mckenny building, however, my
desk was placed in the clerks room,
and | became more completely under
the power and direction of the clerk
and found my duties materially in
creased. l was then directed to COM
pare these copies with the original
and letters transmitting them and
dunning letters, etc. were dictated to
me. Orders for copies Of the records
also came in and as they were urgent
l was often compelled to lay aside my
regular work to attend them promptly.
These were written on the States
typewriter and with its stationery,
envelopes, stamps, etc, and frequent
ly accompanied by the seal of the
court. The charges therefor were not
kept in the court records or fee books.
| was also requested by the clerk to
prepare the extensive memoranda ac-
companying opinions sent to the West
Publishing Co., who received copies of
all opinions. This was no small adj
dition to duties already fast increasing
and to perform them l had to work
evenings. l became apprehensive lest
the delay in the preparation of the
judges opinions might result in their
displeasure or dissatisfaction, and in
order to finish their dictations in the
time l could have done so if not in
terrupted was compelled to use such
haste as detracted from the quality of
my work. Al this time, and when
was the only stenographer in the Of
flee, Judge Dunbar directed me to
furnish the reporter of the court with
compared copy of each opinion. As
| WAS paid SIS month. and the re-
porter $3.50, I felt the injustice of the
imposition of extra duties upon me as
the volume of court business was
steadily increasing. But l did not
complain or shirk this task, and mere
ly mention it to attest my willingness
to do everything rightfully demanded
of me. Last fall l began to have seri-
Gus misgivings Is to the manner in
which this fee work was being done,
and fees therefor collected and retained
by the clerk, and objected to having
anything further to do with it, saying
that had had two attacks of intlanied
eyes from Overwork, but suggesting
that il the matter we're submitted to
the judges, and they directed me to do
it, / would cheerfully do 90. The
clerk objected to this most strenuously.
keenly realized the necessity of
keeping the clerks good will, but
nevertheless / firmly refused do any
more of this class OF his work and it
was turned over TO Miss Louise Aver,
the assistant stenographer. The law
yers OF this State will remember how
badly behind the West Publishing Co.
were at one time, and this was the
cause. A few weeks ago Mr.. Reinhart
asked me to make a copy in Office
hours, of transcript in a criminal
case from Walla Walla county. l
commenced it, but upon ascertsining
from him that it was his own work,
for which he expected to retain the
compensation, | refused TO finish it,.
and it was also turned over to Miss
Aver, and finished by her. This made
the clerk very angry with me. He
said he was the clerk OF that court
and proposed to do as he pleased, that
he did not need any advice or sugges-
tons from me, and animated that if
that was my "little game" would
find it wiser to change my determine
ton. From that time to the date OF
my dismissal the clerk did not address
me unless the requirements of our Of
flee work compelled him to do so, and
as have been informed that he COM
planned to the judges of my being Of
ticious and attempting to run his
office, and being very offensive to him,
and as the judges have condemned me
unheard and utterly disregarded my
attempt to dispel the charges made
against me, feel that my self-respect
and my duty to my friends compel me
to make this statement in self-defence
| believe the lawyers who have visited
the court have found me obliging and
not disagreeable."
How much has the clerk received
from the sources you have alluded TOP
Well, approximately, to state it in
round numbers, four thousand dollars
There are many good stenographer;
who would be willing to do the court.
work for that sum and save the ex.
pense of salary. 1t does not seen
to me to be the intent of the law tt
allow an officer to appropriate fee,
while it provides for salary in lier
of such compensation"
Ills Lawful 10 Catch Trout
With hook and line, from April LIST Il
Nov. lst and BickfOrd's second han,