Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-13
TAKE CASE OF THE
COURT AND JANIT0R
Many Dollars Wasted Because
of Federal Practice, While
Latter Wants Raise.
EXPENSE OF A WITNESS
EXPENSE OF A WITNESS
By A. R. GROH.

The government of these United
States" ir some of its workings. re-
minds one OF great, ,ubberly giant
with the brain of fish. If this be
treason. make the most of il
Take, for example, its "penny-wise
pound-foolish" policy in dealing with
the courts and with the janitors.
Thirty jurors had been summoned
to report at the opening Of federal
court in Grand Island las Monday
Judge Woodrough was engaged on
case here which looked as though ii
would not be finished until Tuesday
SO kilograms we're sent TO the thirty
jurors, telling them not to report at
Grand Island until Wednesday
Scarcely had this been done when
the case in the local court came to all
unexpected close last Saturday.
Then kilograms were sent TO the
thirty jurors telling them to report at
Grand Island Monday. .,-.'
Federal Judge Woodrough, Clerk
Of the Court Hoyt, Attorney Allen,
Marshal Flynn and Deputy Marshal
Nickerson journeyed to Grand Island.
lsj miles. The thirty jurors travelled
to Grand Island from various parts
OF the district d.
Machinery All Set.
All the machinery was set for try
ing the one solitary case, damage
suit against railroad.
All the machinery was set and ready
TO grind out justice when up rose the
attorney for the railroad.
If your honor please said he.
His holor having pleased the at
torneyi stated that his principal wit
ness was in California or was sick or
something, and therefore he could not
go on with the case.
So the thirty jurors were paid off.
Each got s. day and 10 cents mile
for the distance he had come. 1t
figured up to something over $500,
And, besides that, the men had lost
time from their ordinary occupations.
Hundreds OF dollars more were
wasted in the time of the FIVE officers
who went from Omaha and their ex-
penses! The salary OF the judge alone
figures out to about $40 day. He
is also allowed his subsistence" not
10 exceed $40 a day. The other Of
hccrs are allowed subsistence"
charges not TO exceed 81 day
Another Week Wasted.
The jurors on duty in the local d.
vision of the court had been dismissed
until the. following Monday in an
ticipation of weeks work on the
railroad case in Grand Island So,
when the officers Of the court got
back to Omaha Tuesday, they had on
Jurors and the whole week was wasted
without any trials.
All because one.allegedly important
witness wasn't on hand after the gov
ernment had spent several hundred
dollars on jurors fees, travelling ex-
penses, kilograms, salaries, subsist-
ence, and so on.
Nor is this sort Of thing the excep-
ton. 1t occurs frequently. The rail-
road, in common justice, should have
been taxed with the costs, needlessly
incurred because of its failure to have
its witness there.
II isn't the fault of the court Of
hcers. Like the girls in the song,
they're not to blame" They are
merely cogs in the machine, moving
as the law orders. They arranged
things as best they could under ex-
isting provisions OF law. "
And the janitors in the federal
building, having no pull" at the
court Of democracy, draw SIS a
month. They work long hours. II
they are sick day they are "dockcd"
for it. They don't even get vacation
on pay.
This big, dull government machine
that stupidity let's thousands of dol
lars leak out before its eyes. stupidity
insists that it can't afford to pay the
ianitors more.