New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-28
OUR DISTRICT COURTS.

To the Editor Of The n. Y. Tribune
SIR; It's with dismay that observe the Legislature
propo,es 10 add yet another District Court by subdi-
vision of the Sixth Judicial District and thereby so
pend little item OF $4,000 year to the already
plethoric tax levy.
Probably few Of your realers of the large
.moluments Of these Judges Of the Ward Courts a.
compared with the tervices performed. the salary
AZ 600 YEAR and in addition the incunbents quietly
absorb sone $1,000 So 900 in the fees and per
ouises arising from dispoSsesson edings and
other sources.
The eeryces rendered consist in their sitting two
DAYS week for some three four hours. With 40
occasional hour in the mornings Of the remaining days,
the latter time being occupied with the hearing OF dis
possession csses.
They have also the privilege Of retaining their PM
vae professional practice and very easy to under
stand how frequently this mus. clash with a proper,
impartial exercise Of their judcs functions
Now Sir, compare this Safe of thirgs with, say,
the salaries and services OF the judges of our Court
Of Common Pleas. They receive 5000 year are
preouded from private practice; are occupied every
day from 10 a M TO p M, and constantly, on theu
return to their residences are compelled to psss their
event 20 in exam ibiog cases and preparing abstrue
and volumirous opinions. Why, the Office Of DIS
Iic Court JUDGE is perfect sinecuTe in comparison
with labors and services ike these.
The Wrd Court Justices generally Sc ected from
time serving politicians sad hungry Office hunters, and
only cure their election by the most eXrsysgant on
lay of rum std profuse profession of promises.
Ttey know they cannot fulhl them sl, but there are
other ways and means, essy of masin son VITA which
| they can and must serve their friends.
In the late case Of Levine sgt. Bngs-, 10 tas Com
mon Plea. on appeal from Ja'uoes Judgment, the
Cont severely sno Justly censIvd the practice OF one
Justice appearing o. counsel before smother Justice
ard ai.o TIE riqutous and unreasonable terms OF al
iourI mert imposed In tie c.se thus appealed.
Shortly sf.erward, card sppeNod in The ~ Y.
T,nss 10 the effect that ustice 1sres Smith who
wa. counsel in the CouIt beox, il Levine at. gg-
u.s not in TIE habit Of appearing counsel before
other Justices or OF allowing them to practice IN bis
own Court The author OF THIS eSTd was cow enienty
Obvious of The Tact that Justice Smith during the past
year ted as counsel some twelve 10 fifteen csse' DO
| fore his brother Justices, which certainly sivo'
strongly Of bis being in tina; bad habit, rather thar
| otherwise.
Aprcpos Of this would remark TIA. Mr. Z. c. Nc
( Cornell of Tamusny Hall AID Da,ne-street fame, II
the asprsnt 10 The clsrkshp OF Justice Smiths Court
| a, prese.t bed by Mr. L. S. Mcpherson; ami u Il
pretty well known TIA: the Justice and the exP:ctat
| Clerk are sworr fIiends and boon comp.nont
Instead OF Increasing the number OF thsse Coa'1'
the L.gis;ure would show IFS seLss BY Aoo--shiH.
them altogether. But if they are 70 be eouiinaed 70
Us have bill prohibiting the justices iron plVa'
practice, compelling them TO hold aeiT Courts a. ss'
Jour days week, and providing for the payment
The fees received n tspossesson csses into the nAnd
Of tee County Treasurer. II we ma, be sstdied VII
these oue-hoIse Cou'ts JET vs. Al Al events take car
| tia, they WORK up 20 colsI marx. OEsERyEE'
4 N,te- I.L Mach, isSa