Lannahan v. Multnomah County

3 Or. 187

• Court: Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon
• Decided: February 15, 1870
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court.

Upton, J.

If the plaintiff did claim his fees at the term, I am not certain that it is one of the facts he is required to state in his complaint. If the point is material, the defendant can set it up in the answer, or possibly it may be sufficient to raise it upon the trial, by objection to the introduction or to the sufficiency of the evidence. I deem it a safer course to overrule the demurrer.

The defendant answered, that at the first term mentioned, the defendant claimed for thirteen days’ attendance, and the claim was allowed by tbe county court and paid, and that no other claim bad been made by tbe plaintiff at any term of this court. No replication was filed, and tbe plaintiff and defendant each moved for judgment on tbe pleadings.

Judge Stout, for tbe plaintiff. Tbe provision of sec. 20, p. 740 of tbe code, that “tbe per diem of a witness in a criminal action shall be claimed” at tbe term, must receive a construction consistent with its constitutionality. Tbe legislature cannot deprive a witness of bis compensation, and tbe provision must be directory only, or it conflicts with tbe constitution. Tbe judgment should be for tbe plaintiff, not only for tbe eighteen days of tbe second term, but for ninety-two days, at two dollars per day. While a witness is in custody be is, in contemplation of tbe law, in attendance upon court. If be has given tbe required undertaking and yet has been unavoidably compelled to lose time, be is equally entitled.

Tbe provision of tbe act in relation to fees does not conflict with tbe constitution by depriving a witness of compensation. It does not relatp to tbe right, but to tbe remedy. It is tbe right and tbe duty of tbe legislature to provide tbe means by which tbe witness shall obtain compensation. In requiring him to make bis claim in a given manner and within a given time, tbe legislature has acted within its powers, and if tbe witness fails to pursue tbe remedy, be is tbe only party in fault. Tbe statutory provision does not deprive tbe witness of tbe constitutional right to compensation; it ,only points out tbe remedy tbe witness is to pursue.

Tbe judgment should be for tbe defendant.