The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-21
Exists in Office of The
Attorney General.
Another Assistant Would Fa-
Cilitate Business.
Work of the Department Too Heavy
for the Present Force.

An effort IL now being made to call
the attention OF the proper officials to
the work OF the office OF the Attorney
General. The matter has already been
discussed by the leaders OF both branches
of the Legislature and II seems to bo the
general opinion that the present demand
at the. court house Is for another assistant
TO the Attorney-General instead OF an
other judge for the Supreme Court.
The question OF the appointment OF
another trial justice was raised several
months ago, aud for time IL looked as
II the appointment might be made at tho
special session of the Legislature. Before
September came however, there was
change in public opinion. The judges
stated that they were fully able to take
care OF all the cases that were broughI
the lawyers themselves that everything
was crowded down 10 the bottom of the
calendar 10 be tried at the emo OF the Sos
sion, and as one by one the lawyers ad-
mitted that there was solid truth In this
ia tement those who were advocating the
appointment OF another judge, changed
their minds until few with the excpetion
OF III ose who might possibly profit by
the new position had anything to say IN
its favor. The matter was not mentioned
at the Septem ber session, and, as 1t
stands at present, the project is very dead
indeed.
To take its place. however, Is we'll
faI
ment for the appointment of an addi-
tionel assistant to the Attorney General.
Behind this plan are all the judges, law
yers and State officials who have consid-
cred the question. In fact the project Is
so we'll supported that il may be said to
be almost q foregone conclusion that the
APPROVAL OF the General Assembly will
easily be obtained in January.
The arguments advanced ia favor of
the additional assistant are believed to
be unansweratle, as for several years the
two lawyers in tho office Of the Attorney
General have found it impossible to at
tend to all OF their duties. Besides the
criminal work, with the grand juries
and the criminal trials in ell the count
ies, the Attorney General must appear In
any AND all cases in which the state Is
in any degree interested, whether it is In
Providence, Newport, Bristol, Kingston
or East Green nwich. This portion OF the
work requires the greater portion OF the
time of the two attorneys and makes 1t
almost impossible for them to lind any
opportunity TO attend to the require
ments OF the various State officials. At
the same time this 10 one OF the most i'm
portant duties of the office, for when the
Governor, the State Treasurer or any
other Official, desires information upon
some intricate legal point he takes the
matter to the Attorney General and that
official 10 supposed.to devote en- ough time
to the question to be able to answer II
in such a manner that his opinion would
probably be upheld by the court. TO do
this, under ordinary circumstances,
would pe sufficient work for one man
and yet the present Attorney General and
his assistant are called upon to decide
such vital matters in the odd moments
that they can catch between the prepara-
tion and trial of court cases.
No ono appreciates these facts any bet
ter than the Governor, the other State
officials and the judges and all are
heartily In favor of the projected amen d.
ment to the laws governing the employ
NEXT OF assistants In the office of the At
toney General. The city OF Providence
alone employs three attorneys to attend
TO its legal affairs ana all the State officers
admit that 1t is uniust to expect two
men to do tho work that Is crowded into
the otii ce by the Attorney General, while
the lawyers admit that they do not see
how so much work can be done and state
that they will work for the project In
the Legislature to see that " has good
and logical sponsors to see that 1t goes
through.
such is the general feeling and It Is
so freely expressed that there is no doubt
but that the next Attorney General will
find his duties much ligh:ened by being
empow cred to employ a second assistant.