Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-21
Z. s. COMMISSIONERS HAS
DUTIES IN MANY LINE:

according to Alexander karst IN the
Cyclopedia of Law and Procedure.
United States commissioner lis a judi
cial officer and exercises within very
narrow limits the functions of a United
States judge. He is the officer of the
federal courts to whom are committed
some of the duties which must other
wise be performed by the court itself
or the judge thereoff and is, in short,
an adjunct of the court assessing in
dependent, although subordinate, judi
cial powers of his own. In the narrow
er sense, United States commissioners
are neither judges nor courts, nor do
they hold courts, although at some times
acting in a quasi-judicial capacity, nor
do they possesse the power of courts
except insofar as the acts of congress
comforting certain authority and impos-
ing certain duties on them specially con-
fer the same"
The commissioners are appointed by
the district courts for a term Of four
years and are removable by the same
courts after a customary hearing upon
reasonable grounds. 1t Is provided by
the federal code that no commissioner
shall be appointed who lives within 80
miles Of any local land office, nor shall
any be appointed who resides within 80
miles of any other commissioner.
The commissioners duties are varied
and include, among others, the power
ito issue warrante for offenders against
the United States, to cause the. offenders
to be arrested and imprisoned, or bailed
for trial; and to order the removal Of
offenders to other districts; to hold to
Security of peace and for good behavior
to carry into effect the award or ar
bitration of decree of any consul of
arbitrate in such differences as may
arise between the captains and the crews
Of any vessel belonging to the nation
whose interests are committed to his
charge.
ITO enforce obedience by Imprisonment
until such arbitration or award or de-
cree is complied with.
ITO take bail and affidavits in civil
| cases; to discharge poor convicts for
| the nonpay1nent of fines; to take oaths
and affidavits: to institute prosecutions
| under the laws relating to crimes against
| the elective franchise and civil rights Of
| citizens, and to appoint persons to ex.
ecute the warrants Hereunder.
| ITO issue search warrants AUTHORIZING
| internal revenue officers to search prem
| Uses where a. fraud has been committed
| and to issue warrants for deserving for
eign seamen; to summon masters of yes
sells to appear and show cause why pro
cess should not issue against such yes
sells; to issue warrants for and exarnin
persons charged with being fugitive:
from justice and to take testimony an
proof Of debt IA bankruptcy proceedings.
Contrary to an impression held b.
many, United States commissioners ar
not paid by salary but receive their re
l SfrNYa ~ A t.
given for practically each Job and tn
payment and acceptance of the fee I
carefully outlined and described b
statute.
So varied are the tasks given tn
commissioners that 2 person inquirin
into a commissioner duties may nc
be sure that ne has covered the list IN
less he has an up-to-th-nninute certrila
ton of statutes. A new JOB seems to b
added every other day, and amendn ent
to the statutes covering the old Jobs ar
J not infrequent.
When new laws, such as the volstea
act are passed. the duties Of the commits
sioners increase by leaps and bounds
and as new angles and. questions tur
up, new amendments and statutes ar
passed to cover them. This has bee
| particularly true with the law regardin
4 NUT
! Der and variety Of problems that han
upon It.
| Ordinarily the COMM ssioners hav
E regular duties outside of their dutie
: as commissioners that principle bein
! | that the dema nds Of the commissioner
! office should not generally interfere wit
! an incunSbent's customary pursuits. A
( three of Boston's commissioners al
| practicig lawyers.
II BY the very nature Of the work It
l | almost essential that commissioners I
chosen from among the legal professio
There have been cases. however,
Y which the commissioners are not Law
yers.
In the old days the commissions
| were promarflv taken UP with settlir
; disputes between ship captains and the
crews and such-like troubles, where;
now their chiefest duty seems to be
connection with houor and It's uses
| where In they resemble so many 9th,
Americans.