The Washington times., 1915-01-21
The Auditors Fees Bill.

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
have read with considerable interest,"
the statement published In q morning
paper Of yesterday from Louis A. Dent,
auditor of the Supreme Court Of the
District Of Columbia, relative to H. R.
bill No. 1907. now under consideration
by the Judiciary Committee Of the Sen
ate, to abolish the archaic fec system
i'm the office Of the said auditor, and to
for that officer Of 5000 per annum.
Having. by invitation Of the judiciary
Committee Of the Senate, appeared be-
fore that committee on Saturday last
opinion, such legislation should be had,
It Ii not my purpose or desire to engage
In any newspaper discussion pro or con,
In regard to the matter. My statement
made to said committee speaks for It.
self.
In rcfutation Of Mr.. Dents charges.
however concerning the interest taken
by me. and many other good citizens, to .
have the salary Of the auditor of tho
court fixed at q stated annual amount. !
the same as the register Of wills, re-
corder of deeds, and other officers in
the District, irstead OF the fee system
now prevailing. and from which system
he now averages, according to his own
figures. $4,000 or more, net income per
amt m. wish to state as emphatically
as can that Mr.. Dents published sttae-
nent. 80 far as 1t concerns me, Is an
absolute falsehood from beginning to
end.
A resolution recommending the plac-
ing of the auditor on an annual salary
and abolishing the fee system. was In
troduced at a meeting Of the West End
since. which was the initiative action
Of this matter. and without suggestion
from any source to the member intro
ducing the same. The resolution was
by direction of the association, referred
to our committee on law and legisia-
ton. That committee after one month 8
consideration Of the resolution report
ed 1t favorably to the association and
1t was adopted unanimously, and
ordered to be transmitted to the Con-
man Of our committee on law and legis-
lation il a well-known. prominent. and
highly respected citizen and lawyer. and
a member of the Bar Association Of
with his associate members Of the COM
mittee, careful thought. Soon there
after. II. r. bill 1907, which had been
passed by the House of Representatives.
after having beer favorably reported
by the District Committee, fixing the
salary of the auditor at 5000 per an:
rum, was indorsed by the West End
Citizens Association, and in turn by
the Federation Citizens Association.
composing twenty-five representative
the District.
In conclusion allow me to state that
/ l do not know. personally. either Gran
dali Mackey. Easby-smith. Samuel J.
Masters, Jehn b. kinnear or Wilton j:
Lambert. have not been approached
by any Of the persons above named. or
any one acting for them. either directly
or indirectly. and Louis A. Dent lies
when he intimates that ! have. 1t is
true that ! have shown considerable
activity in the effort to have abolished
the fee system in the office OF the
auditor OF the Supreme Court OF the
District and substitute salary COM
pensation in lieu thereof. shall con-
tinue to do so without fear, or favor
from any source Whatsoever. l believe
this matter one Of Importance to ov1
people, not Of the legal profession. and
that provision should be made by law
to run that establishment on a more
economical business basis and In some
way reduce the cost to ittgants un-
! fortunately having business with the
auditors office. What action l have
taken. to this time. In this matter mas
been by direction Of my association. l
have no personal interest IN the case
! otherwise, nor am ] an enemy or Mr:
| Dent. whom ] have always regarded
as competent and efficient public
servant. GEO. w. EVANS.
Presednt West End Citizens Associ-
| alton.
| p. S.-If Congress had the right ia
abolish the fee system in the ONCE OF
| the clerk Of the Supreme Court OF tina
| United States, has 1t not the right ia
| do the same with the fee system ID
| the District COurtSr u. w. r..