The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-12-16
STATE EXPENSES
FOR ATTORNEYS
HELD TOO HIGH
Over $4,000 Paid Out of For
Special Assistants Since
1919, johnson Finds
LETTER TO STATES ATTNYS
Attorney General Says He Will
Assign Assistants Only in
Case of Necessity

Cost to the state of employing spec.
ial assistant: attorney generals to aid
in prosecuting cases in the various
counties has risen to such point that
Sveinh, lDrn Johnson, Attorney General.
has decided that tho need of such as
s4stanve must be clearly shown and i;
must further be made to appear that
such need cannot be Adequately met
in other legal. manne'. before he will
assign an assistant to such cases.
/ Since January l, 1919, there has
been expected for special assistants in
the attorney generals Office S47,713.4S,
Mr.. Johnson says. He, asks the coop,
Grafton of the states, attorneys in en-
for cling the law, in eliminating ex.
pense and in preventing an overlap
ping of the states attorneys and the
attorney generals offices. In letter
to all states attorneys, mailed from his
office today, Mr.. Johnson says:
TO The States Attorneys:
THE rate at which the cost of op-
Grating the office Of the Attorney<Gen,
eral during the past few years has
! been soaring, and the necessity for
retrenchment at every possible point
prompts ME to address this letter to
you. trust you will read it, consider
Ut carefully, and cooperate conscien
It'ously in attaining the end III view.
! AN examination of the records
shows that since January l, 1919, there
! has been expended for special assist
ants in this office $47,7l3.4S. To this
should be added an item of $7,200.00
which has not been paid. Further
! more, Mr.. F. A. Pike, Minneapolis
attorney, has sued the Bank Of NORTH
/ Dakota to recover $10,00O.O0N for al
!, legged legal services under appoint
| ment, which item, of course, will also
ultimately be paid by the tax payers
il at all. A large portion of these
amounts has been paid Special AS
sstants who were engaged in prose
cutting ordinary actions on trial in
various counties in the state.
i, Duty Of States Attorney
! There is lin every county, a States
Attorney elected by the people, Whost
duty it is to prosecute all persons
who violate the penal laws If the
state and who are properly triable
within the county. Circumstances
may occasionally arise which makes
! it difficult or impossible for tn.
States Attorney to prosecute some
particular proceeding. For this con
tingency our legislature has wisel!
and amply provided. When such ;
contingency exists Section 1881 OF th'
Compiled Laws of North Dakota TO
1918 provides that the District Judg'
may appoint special counsel to assis
the States Attorney in impOrtan
/ cases. Another statute provides tha
the County Commissioners MAJ ap
point or direct the appointment Of
special assistant to the States Attor
ney. :,
I 1T seems clear that If neither tn
County Commissioners nor the Dis
!. trict Judge, who are in complete touc
with local conditions and appreciat
them fully, deem it necessary to nam
an assistant to the States Attune
in any given proceeding, the Stat
should not be expected, at great e.
:. pense, to furnish such legal assis
l ance.
81 have in mind no county in tn
, state where the duly elected State
J Attorney is not fully competent I
t handle all criminal matters that ma
t Continued on Page -