Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-28
Fees of Commonwealth Attorneys.

To the Editor Of the Dlspatch:
Permit me through the columns OF
your valuable paper to express a few
thoughts In regard to the bill that is
pending before the Legislature to amend
section 352S of tie Code in relation to
the fees OF Commonwealth's attorneys.
The two most important offices to the
people under our present Constitution
are the Offices OF County Judge and Com
monwealths Attorney, because upon these
officers depend the execution Of the crimi-
nal laws. which involve the safety and
protection of our homes, persons, and
property. Besides, these officers have to
look after the financial interests OF the
county and State. And yet. notwithstand-
ing the important duties that they have
to perform, and the great responsibilities
that rest upon them, they are so poorly
paid, under the law. even as 1t now Is,
that Ii is only occasionally that we find
any but the youngest and most inexperi-
enced lawyers who viii accept these
trusts. Indeed 1t has already come TO
the point that lawyer OF reasonable
ability considers II a condescenslon to
accept these offices. and II is looked upon
as kind of admission that the incum-
bent is a man of poor ability. This Is
wealth's Attorney II their fees are fur
ther reduced d great many of the pres
ent incumbents will be forced to resign,
and their places will have TO be supplied
by young men OF no experience. and
whose only inducement in accepting the
Office Is to learn" and TO bring himself
before the public. In short. tho Com
monweaIth will have continually lot of
young law-students 'practicing" upon the
business OF the Commonwealth. and she
will be almost wholly deprived OF legal
services.
Why should the great State OF Virginia
in matters of the greatest Importance,
both civil and criminal, be represented
by the weakest and feeblest talent against
the strongest and most experienced men
on the opposite side? Is this giving the
people a fair chance?
The office OF Commemorative Attorney
Is about the only one In the election OF
which the people are willing 10 lay down
political affiliations in order to secure the
most competent man. The reduction Of
fees of Commonwealths' attorneys Is not
n popular measure. Almost any citizen
will say that the pay of Commonwsalth's
attorneys Is too small. and that they
should receive better pay, In order 10
secure better talent. and that further
rtNUcllOn IN W proSc
good order of the country.
This proposed reduction is certainly n
false idea of economy. Surely, a good,
competent man in this Office will save
more to the government than the DIFF
ference between a reasonable salary and
an unreasonably meagre one.
Any lawyer OF anything like reason
able ability can make a great deal more
out OF the criminal practice than is nj.
lowed under the proposed law. and can
do so with great deal less labor. Then.
how can he afford 10 accept an office
so poorly paid? II Commonwealth
attorney looks after the business OF the
Commonwealth as he should do he has
but little chance ut the civil practice
Besides, he must necessarily lose a great
deal in the way OF popularity-a thing
which a man cannot afford to do, and
will not do for nothing.
The State cannot get the legal services
Of reasonably good legal talent for a
triie any more than an individual can
do so. The salary may be reduced, but
the State will lose in value OF legal
talent in proportion. ECONOMY.