Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-17
Reform in the Judiciary.

Mr.. Editor As inlimated in nv last,
now proceed to point out SOME OF the reforms
and reirenchments, which, in my judgment,
may be made without detriment TO the public
service and with much relief to the taxpayer.
AS this refers TO special class, with which
have had considerable intercourse and to
whom, perhaps, am more indebted than any
other, you and your readers will please bear
with me while state with some detail the
reasons which urge me to recommend and
urge that early steps shall be taken ultimately
10 bring about this reform. | first made the
suggestion at a public meeting held in the
Court House at Rockville in the winter of
1876. ! allude TO the cumbersome and ex-
pensive judiciary system of our State. When
| state the fact that when reform in this
branch of the public service was first urged
and adopted with such men as Dorsey, Cham
bers, Archer and Buchanan at lis head, it cost
the Stale about $45, 900 per annun. 1t now
costs the State about 500, 900 per annum. You
will naturally ask wherein The superior efici
ency to call for this vast increase of expense?
do not propose TO enter upon any invidious
comparison Of the Honorable Bench of to-day
with that Of the past; am proud 10 recog-
nize among its members some Of the purest,
most intelligent and honorable men CT the
State. Nor do propose to rail at those who
brought about the large increase of cost to the
State; only state the fact, and the further
fact that an application was made to one of
the last two sessions Of the Legisasure for an
increase Of salaries 10 the eight judges of the
Court OF Appeals, which was, am informed,
not from them or any of them, only defeated
by the stand taken by two of them, namely,
the chiefs of the 9Th and 4th circuits against
the application upon the ground that they mad
been elected with the present salary and were
content and satisfied, and would not ask for
its increase pending the time for which they
had beer elected. II no reform is now made,
this application, doubtless, will be renewed
with success.
First, then, Of the Court of Appeals. II
now consists Of eight judges, four of whom
constitute quorum and the concurrence OF
three necessary to decision. II have upon
several occasions seen it stated in the public
papers that the Court adjourned for wont OF a
quorum. This is the natural result Of having
more than are necessary on the bench Human
nature is prone to self-indulgence, and judges
are uot unlike other men, and too easily some
times are disposed TO satisfy their sense of pub
lie duty by the reflection that nothing will
suffer from my absence, because brother So
ane-So will be at his post, and hence the ad-
journmeut without quorum. II but five
were upon the bench and the concurrence Of
three, as now, necessary to decision, law
yers and clients would urge and the necessity
of the cast demand promp, and punctual al
| tendance.
Secondly, of the associate Judges. Nv first
acquaintance when boy was with Judge
Richard Ridgely, aud he, In the absence OF
Chief Judge Chase who on account Of feeble
health but once attended at Rockville, always
| presided at our County Court. He was said
10 be an able judge, and was certainly Que
Of the most genial aud agreeable aud con-
siderate Of gentlemen. II was said OF
him that he would inquire how long the tav-
ern keeper had provided for at Court terms,
and that be thought IL wrong TO adjourn the
Court until this provision had been pretty well
exhausted. He was very popular with the
people Of the county aud with children as
well as men. ] remember TO have PLAYED
marbles with him on several occasions when a
visitor, as at almost every term he was, at my
fathers house. Judge Dorsey succeeded Judge
Chase as Chief OF the Circuit, and as all who
remember him well know that he was hs
Judge Of The Court when on the bench. Be-
ing demonstrated with for the dispatch with
which he hurried up the business of the Court,
his prompt reply was that the taxpayers Of the
county had an interest In the length Of time
the Court should be kept in session. The taxes
Of the comfy were then probably not more
than IS or 90 cents Ia the hunered dollars
now ihey are rs cents The Associate Judges.
Wilkinson aud Brewer, receiving a salary OF
81 400 per year, the Chief Judge 50 6669 -
Although these were very worthy aud excel
lent gentlemen, Il Is well remembered that
when Dorsey was on the bench they were
only ornamental appendages. just as our pres
ent associates, At double the salary OF the
former. are TO their Chief. A characteristic
anecdop vail illustrate. Riding with plain
but sensible and observant juror who was