524
FEDERAL REPORTER.
where.: I If thllre are circumstances, legal or equitable, which save to the plaintiffs,a right of action, notwithstanding the lapse of time, the same be pleaded. I 1t does not appear that the failure to bring suit against the surety within. four years after the discharge of the guardian was due to any Ie-gal disability to maintain an action on part of the wards, or to fraud, conceahn'imt, or the like on part of the surety. It does appear that this action against the surety was not brought until 11 years after the death of the guardian, and 10 years afLer· the allowance of the claim of the wards against his estate; and this lapse of time is a deflmse, under the provisionS of the Wisconsin statute limiting the right of action against the surety to the period of four years from the discharge of the guardian. Demurrer is therefore sustained.
MIDDLETON v. BANKERS' & MERCHANTS' TEL. C6. ·«(Jircuit Oourt; E.D. Pennsylvania. May 6, 1887.)
1.
ATTOME:Y:.lND CLIENT - COMPENSATION OF ATTORNEY MASTERS AND COUNSEL:
COMPENSATION OF
CounsiH are entitled for services· to what those services could have been obtained for under a contract made in advance. OF MASTER.
2.
The compensation of masters. whose functions are judicial, may be measured by the standard of judicial salaries.
In Equity. Henry Sarnpsm and Gummey Fletcher, for complainants. R. J. IngerBda and J. H. Barnes, for respondents. BUTLER, J. But two exceptions remain; all others have been withdrawn. These relate to the fees of counsel and compensation of the court realizes the danger of overestimating the value of master. such service!! in cases like this, and feAl.s no hesitation about interfering' where the circumstances warrant it. As respects the fees of counsel, it must be understood that .the court has no personal knowledge, either of the extent of' services, or their value. The master reports that the calls upon counsel were very frequellt, weekly, and sometimes much oftener, throughout the whole period of their employment, and that the sum allowed (but a small part of the amount claimed) is reasonable and just. In answer to this I am not referred to anything but the record of the proceedings, which shows,. virtually, nothing pertinent to the subject. have been very great without any indication of it apThe seJ:vices pearing there. No serious qUtlstions were discussed before the court. The propeJ:ty Rnd interests involved, however, were very large, and the proceeding was one that required professional knowledge, skill, and care.
MORGAN'S LOUISIANA
&;
T.
R. &; S. S. CO.
V.
TEXAS
CEI\"l.
RY. 00.625
If I knew the extent of the services I could not fonn an estimate of their value, without evidence. Since I left practice (26 years ago) the rate of compensation has no doubt greatly changed. The counsel should have just what the services could have been obtained for by contract, in advance, if such a contract were practicable; in other words, should be paid according to the usual rate of compensation for such services. The counsel themselves testify that they are justly entitled to much more than is allowed; and the master saysthe sum awarded is just. Now, what is there in the case to justify the court in deciding that this sum is too much? As respects the master's compensation, the circumstances are different. He is called to assist the court in discharging its judicial functions, and his compensation may, and should, I think, be measured by the stand. ard of judicial salaries. The highest salary paid in this court is $6,000, and if the master is compensated as the judge is for the same period and extentoflabor. he cannot complain of injustice. The master has filed a statement of the time occupied; and the report, or rather reports, show that he did a large amount of work. It would seem from his statement filed this day, at the instance of the court, that he informed the counsel interested, previous to filing his first report, of his intention to charge $1,000, and that they virtually assented to his doing so. A small additional sum is charged for services subsequent to the first report, which the court f\Jels constrained to strike out. The master's conduct respecting the exception, and throughout the business submitted to him, is very £'atisfaetory to the court. The master is allowed the sum of $1,000, and the expenses charged.
MORGAN'S LOUISIANA & T. R. & S. S. Co· .,. TEXAS CENT. Rv. Co., etc. (Bill.) FARMERS' LoAN & TRUST Co., Trustee, 11.
SAME.
(Cross.Bill.)
(Circuit Court, N. D. Tea:a,. October 28, 1887.)
JUVGMENT-ENTRy-POWER OF COURT TO MODIFY.
Except upon bills of review in equity cases, upon writs of error coram '!labia in cases at law, or upon motions which, in practIce, have been substituted for the latter remedy, nocourt can reverse or annul its own final decision or judg· ment for errors of fact or law, after the term at which they have been reno dered, unless for clerical mistakes; from which it follows that no change or modification can be made which may SUbstantially vary or atIetlt it in any material thing. After an appeal has been allowed and a ,uper,M-ea, bond is. taken, either during or after the term, jurisdiction as to all matters-certainly those of sub. stance-determined by the decree is transferredt'o the court to which the appeal goes.
I.
BAME.