The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-12
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.


OF JUDGES SURROGATE CITY JUDGE AND RE.
Tie report of the special committee respecting the in
Of the salaries OF the Justices Of the Superior
Court the Judges of the Common Pleas the Surrogate
Recorder and City Judge, read The committee in
their report state that
In great commercial metropolis, like New York, all
kinds OF questions involving of the utmost
plexty ami difficulty constantly arising in our judi
cAl tribunals 1t is Of the very Importance there
should be every way adequate to the important
duties imposed upon them 10 discharge those duties
they must be extensively read and thoroughly versed in
It essential that they should be with the
general laws Of our State. embracing the yearly enact
menfs Of each legislature and the published decisions
our State courts, including, together than two
hundred voumes that they should be especially familiar
to this city that they should understand, in IT'S minu
est details, extensive criminal system, know tho
roughly ali the laws relating to the disposition and
that in this great central and trading metropolis that
they should be familiar with the laws of other States
and of the whole commercial world.
This requires not only natural ability but long train
ing, extensive study unwearied industry and great
perence requisites that applied to any other pursuit
by an ample pecuniary reward TO obtain men Of this
stamp to preside in our courts, the salary affixed to
manS the services Of the Kind Of men that should an
such Offices II is not to be expected that able will
either seek accept such Office when they make
tice of their profession and yes all viii admit that the
Judge who m to guide the jury and ruct them in the
experience to the lawyers that appear before him It is
to the public interest and to the interest Of every sutor
tits essential to the juror, who wishes to know what
the law is and most essential for the administration of
justice with despatch and certantyhat the services
of the most able should be secured for the bench
and to be So the public must pay what the value Of the
service is worth The idea is now nearly If not quite,
exploded in this country that the public should receive
fto NJ ~1oa.
their value 1t is relic of aristocratc age whom It
the interest Of particular class to keep the
public stations all but those whose inherited, Or &C.
quired wealth. enabled them to in those stations
without and !, yao 5epusnsns in
in the government admitted and where our theory ID
TO give full and adequate compensation to those who
gil public Offices and to hold them to strict responsi-
biity and even liability for their acts There is no
economy, therefore, especially In judicial Offices, in
having what 10 called lew salaries The effect is, that
inferior and incompetent men will alone be found to
offer themselves candidates for such Offices, and the
community at large who suffer BY their errors and mis-
In estimating the value Of those services It is to be
taken into consideration that their dntes have nearly
doubled within the last five years They are not s3w 3S
Court Of Common Pleas and the Surrogate are MOTTO
practice judges in many Of the States are at their
they derive from their salary and il they were
they could not avail themselves Of the privilege as their
whole time taken up with the increased duties Of the,
business hours Of the day and also In the evenings, ct
their residences and generally until very late hour,
in the examination of papers, the investigation Of cases,
and the many duties which employ them out Of court
The argument applies in measurable degree to the
Surrogate, Recorder and City Judge for they in like
manner compelled to give their whole time to the
faithful discharge Of the duties imposed upon them
In view therefore, Of the considerations above sug
gested Of the greatly increased business Of courts
Criminal a. well as civil, and Of the additional labor i'm
posed thereby the Judges Of the increased
Of living in the city, and above ALL Of the importance
Of securing the proper kind ofmen for Judges the
mittee would recommend for adoption the following reso-
Resolved That the annual salary Of each of the JUS
ces Of the Superior Court be increased to six thousand
dollars the same to take effect from and after the rst
day Of January, 1855.
Resolved That the annual salary ofeach Of the Judges
Of the Court Of Common Pleas be increased to six thou
sand dollars the to take effect from and after the
first day OF January, 1865.
creased to x thousand dollars the to take effect
from and after the Hrst day OF january, 1855.
Resolved That the salary OF the Recorder be increased
to six thousand dollars the to take effect from and
after the first day Of January, 1855.
Resolved, That the salary Of the City Judge be in
creased to six thousand dollars, the same to take effect
from and after the first day Of January, 1855.
Alderman ELY moved that the report be adopted and
that the subject be postponed and made special order
for the Arst Monday in July.
Alderman BARKER had no objection, as there was .
thin attendance Of the Board and he wished the matter
to be fully discussed Carried.
CoMMuSICA1oy FROM THE CITY CHAMBERLAIN.
To BOARD or SUPERVISORS OF THE Orr AND COUNTY or
entemenBys an act OF the Legislature Of this State,
passed April 10 1855, entitled An act for the appoint
ment Of Commissioners Of Records, Gc," the County
Tssuyer directed 10 pay the necessary expenses IN
eyzrsd by hs Csnuiasisnsu vsoA tasU esstaeases