The evening times., 1900-01-22

The Attorney for .he District. Andrew
b. Duyall. has called the attention Of the
Commissioners to the inadequate force
in his office, and TO the meagre salaries
that are paid to those who are employed
there. The act creating the Office Of
Attorney, passed in 1871. provided that this
Office should have entire charge Of the
law business OF the District under the
direction OF the Governor, and should
assume the responsibility for all suits
entered against or by the District Govern
meut.
Further it provided that the Attorney
should be required to furnish opinions in
writing TO the Governor whenever re-
quested TO do so. and he should perform
such professional duties as might be re-
quired OF him. The Assistant Attorney
was required to be in constant consulta-
tion with the Attorney end is charged
with the preparation OF all cases for court.
This law is still in force except that the
Attorney is responsible to the Com
missioners instead OF the Governor. When
the present form OF District government
was organized the Attorney was also
charged with the prosecution OF all cases
in the Police Court for violations Of the
District ordinances. and a special assist
ant was provided for this purpose.
In his statement 10 the Commissioners.
Attorney Duvall says,
The appropriation for 1879 for the At
torneys Office was as follows. For AttOT-
ney. $1,000; assistant attorney. $1,000; as
sistant attorney. $3.50: clerk, $3.50; messen-
ger, $l92; in all SS,0ls.
The current appropriation for the At
torney's Office is as follows. For Attorney,
$1,000. assistant attorney, $4,000; special
assistant attorney, S1.600: law clerk.
1920; messenger, 5000; in all $1,000.
In the meantime the population Of the
District has very greatly increased, and
the Solume of the Office business and court
litigation has been augmented At least
threefold. The working force OF each de-
partment OF the municipal government
within these last two decades has been
largely increased. while the appropriation
for the efficient discharge OF the important
duties OF the law department has been
advanced less than $1,000.
In cities having about the same popula-
tion as the city OF Washington, and with a
| less volume Of municipal legal business. il
I has been found that true economy demand
1 ed more generous equipment OF the law
| department. For instance, the city OF Buffa-
| 10 provides for a corporation counsel.
| $1,000; city attorney, s. 600; deputy city
| attorney. $2.50O; two deputy assistants. at
1 $4,000 each; a managing clerk, 81 400:
| clerk, $1,000: two messeng gers. $500 elch;
! two stenographers, 5000 each and a pCli e
/ officer assigned by the police department
The city OF Pittsburg provides for a
! city attorney, S.. 900. first assistant. 81 500
! with a clerk. $1,000 and a stenograpbeT
/ $1,000; three assistants. $500 each. a
/ clerk, $4,000. and a stenographer. $1,000.
/ The city Of Cleveland provides f0r a
/ corporation counsel. 5000. first assistant.
[ $500; second assistant $500. third as
! sistant. $500, docket clerk. $3.50; stenOg-
| TapheT. 81 100. and Office gtenOgraphers II
$3.50 and $3.50. respectively.
The city OF Detroit provides for a cor
/ poration counsel. 5000, chief assistant.
/ $4,000. second assistant. S2.50O; third and
/ fourth assistants. 81. 500 each; one chief
clerk. $1,000; one copy clerk. 81 600 and
I Gne or more policemen assigned 20 Office
Newark. y J.. provides for a corpora
tion counsel. $4,000: corporation attorney
/ $4,000; assistants attorney, 81, 800, besides
I clerks. etc.
In each OF these cities the attorney Is
/ free from expense for Office rent. Street
/ condemnation cases have required much
! siut anu ulltuAlOu from the once lot sew
/ eral years past. The last Congress direct
1 ed the institution OF twelve such cases
! and proceedings have accordingly been
| taken. The preparation for and the prose
| cutiOn OF these cases would fairly occupy
the time and attention OF one skilled at
! torney. Special counsel was provided by
! Congress in the matter OF the prosecution
Of the cases under the late highway ex-
! tension law. The present pending con-
demnation cases viii require more time
and professional attention than the pro-
! ceedings under that act.
/ The Attorneys Office is not even pro-
/ vided with a stenographer. Such assist
| ance, absolutely necessary for the conduct
Of business, has 10 be secured by the At
| torney using the appropriation for the
messenger and adding thereto. at his own
| expense, a sufficient sum TO obtain the
! services OF an Office stenOgrapher
! 4 respectfully submit that an appropria-
tion should be made for a stenographer
/ and there also should be a first assistant
! attorney. as is provided by the ordinance
| Of the city Of Pittsburg who should have
| charge Of all legal proceedings and all liti-
| cation relating to condemnations for
/ streets. alleys. sewers. etc. and the as