George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Charles Lee, 22 April 1796

From Charles Lee

Philadelphia 22 April 1796

Sir,

There is reason to believe unless the Congress during their present Session shall make some addition to the fees or emoluments now allowed to the Attornies of the United States in the several Districts,1 that some of the most useful of those Officers will resign and their vacancies I fear it will be found impossible to fill with fit persons. None but eminent Counsel ought to be called to those Offices, and I am persuaded that on their present establishment they ought rather to be rejected than accepted by such Characters; and more especially in the larger States in which Courts are necessarily held by the District Judge at various places distant from the residence of the Attorney as occasions require. I beg leave therefore to suggest the propriety of allowing to each District Attorney a small Salary to be apportioned to the trouble and service that may reasonably be expected in each State in addition to the fees and emoluments now established by Law. These though small, will defray many of the necessary contingencies in the transaction of their duties, and will render the Offices more acceptable when if not profitable they will not expose the Citizens who take them to expences that are not reimbursed.2 With the most profound respect I am Sir Your most obedient Servant

Charles Lee

Copy, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.

1For the fees and compensation allowed district attornies, see section 3 of “An Act for regulating Processes in the Courts of the United States, and providing Compensation for the Officers of the said Courts, and for Jurors and Witnesses,” passed on 8 May 1792 (1 Stat. description begins Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67. description ends 276–77).

2GW submitted this letter to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on 28 April with the following message: “Herewith I lay before you, a letter from the Attorney General of the United States relative to compensation to the Attornies of the United States in the several districts; which is recommended to your consideration” (copy, DLC:GW). The House referred the matter to a committee of three that reported on 25 May, but no further action was taken (Journal of the House, description begins The Journal of the House of Representatives: George Washington Administration 1789–1797. Edited by Martin P. Claussen. 9 vols. Wilmington, Del., 1977. description ends 8:371, 486).

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