60 F. 883 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Connecticut | 1894
This case has already been heard, and a judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff. 54 Fed. 313. Upon motion of the United States district attorney, the judgment was opened to permit the introduction of additional testimony as to certain items of the account.
The court, following the rulings in sirrias» cases in other circuits, disallowed an item of $20, cans?/l for per diems in court on the former hearing, because r did not appear that business was actually transacted in cotr< ,n the days for which said charges were made; but since that decision it has been held in U. S. v. Pitman, 147 U. S. 669, 13 Sup. Ct. 425, that mar-chair are en titled to such per diems wlien the court is actually in session, and that it is so in session vhen, in obedience to an order of the court directing its adjournment to a certain day, the officers are present upon that day, the journal is opened by the clerk, and the court is adjourned to ano Í her day by further direction of the judge. 'Tho case seems to be controlling upon the facts in regard to this item, and it is their fore allowed.
'Another item of $21.40 ⅛ f e above aceorrat was for blanks furnished by the marshal for flus une of the United States district attorney. Upon the former bearing it appeared that said charge had been disallowed by the United ‘States, and that the plaintiff’s intestate had acquiesced in such díajilc mce; but, inasmuch as by the decision in U. S. v. Harmon, 147 U. S. 268, 13 Sup. Ct. 327 (rendered since the former hearing), sffU charges are distinctly allowable, they should be allowed in this case.
Plaintiff further claims the sum of $405, for services rendered by decedent as jury commissioner during nine periods of six months each from his appointment, August 4, 1882, \ until July 1, 1887; being nine days for each six months, or three Vlayu for each term of court. The government denies liability for the., years 1882, 1883, and 1884, and also pleads the statute of limitations as to said years. The appointment of jury commissioners was authorized by section 2, Act June 30, 1879 (21 Stat. 43), bhi; no provision was made for compensation until the act of July 7, 1884 (23 Stat. 194, 224). By this act five dollars per day was ailohred for each day of actual and necessary employment, not exceed'.: ’ three days for each term of court. Similar appropriations h ■ ■ been annually made since that date.
Plaintiff claims that the deficiency bills of March ⅛⅛, and of October 19, 1888 (25 Stat. 47, 57, 565, 582), cover the year¿M882, 1883, and 1884. These bills provide for “appropriations to ^-supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 13, 1888, and for prior years, and for other purposes.” The items appropriated in these bills for compensation of jury commissioners do not state that they are to apply to any particulai\ year. The plaintiff claims that there is therefore no limitation upon their application to any year in which a deficiency may be found to exist. But the government claims that a construction has always been placed upon these deficiency bills, to the effect that, where .no year is appended to an appropriation, it applies only to the current year. An examination of said bills indicates
Plaintiff claims, irrespective of said deficiency acts, that she is entitled to payment for said services as part of the miscellaneous expenses of courts. I think that such was not the intention of congress, as evidenced by subsequent deficiency acts, appropriating money specifically to pay jury commissioners. Furthermore, this was a new office, without any specified emoluments. In the absence of a special provision to that effect, I do not think that the right to compensation, and the right of appropriation from a particular fund hitherto devoted to other purposes, can be maintained under such circumstances. Where a service of this character is imposed upon an individual, while it is his duty to perform it, no obligation is implied on the part of the government to grant any compensation therefor, except where specific provision is made for the payment of such compensation. Dunwoody v. U. S., 23 Ct. Cl. 82; White v. Levant, 78 Me. 568, 7 Atl. 539.
In view of these conclusions, it seems unnecessary to discuss the effect of the statute of limitations, but, for the purpose of a full presentation of the case, it has seemed desirable briefly to consider it. Counsel for plaintiff argues that said statute does not apply to said claims, for the following reasons:
First. The government left $1,094 of its money in the hands of deceased until June 17, 1889, and the suit was brought in 1891. The statute does not run against an officer of the United States while he holds its money in his hands, because the government has the right to sue him therefor, and, not having done so, he does not lose his right to recovery by his failure to sue. This claim, whether it proceeded upon the theory of mutual accounting or of set-off, overlooks the facts in this case. The money belonging to the United State's was received and held by the deceased as United States marshal, for services and disbursements due, or thereafter to become due, to him as such marshal, and in no other capacity. The sum claimed in this action has no reference to his position as marshal of the United States, but is for services rendered by him as a jury commissioner, appointed under said act of June 30, 1879, which provides for the appointment, by the judge of said court, of a citizen to act as jury commissioner with the clerk of the court. No provision is made under said act for any salary or compensation for the services rendered by such
“We think it is a principle of general application that, so long as a party who has a cause en action delays to enforce it in a legal tribunal, so long will any legal defense to that action be protected from the bar of the lapse of time, provided it is not a cross demand, in the nature of an independent cause of action.”
Second. The plaintiff further claims that this suit is not barred, because it was brought within four years after the right accrued; it being claimed that the right of action was granted by the act of March 3, 1887 (24 Stat. 505). This statute provides that no, suit against the government shall be allowed, unless the same shall have been brought within six years after the right accrued for which the claim is made. The second section of the act simply gives this court concurrent jurisdiction with the court of claims. But prior to the passage of said act there was nothing to prevent the decedent from presenting his claim for services, if he had any, to said court of claims, as soon as the services were rendered. Rev. St. § 1059. It would seem, therefore, that it would be barred in either court. Cross v. U. S., 4 Ct. Cl. 271. Furthermore, the construction contended for by plaintiff would make the statute operate to revive all claims arising since the adoption of the constitution of the United States. This is clearly not the intent of the statute.
It appears from the complete statement, now submitted by the government, that the sum of $406.02 had been paid the late marshal, by the United States, upon the account, which payment was not known to the parties at the former trial, but is now admitted. Deducting this item, together with the $108.17 above stated, from the amount of the former judgment, and the balance would be $579.29. The items of jury commissioner fees now allowed, to-wit, $270,, blanks, $21.40, and per diems, $20, added to the above balance, amount to $890.69, for which sum judgment may be entered in favor of the plaintiff.