New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-15
0rR rRErcnED roLLch c0rRrS.

Is il not time FIR the people to consider
whe her they are not paying too much for the
kind of Justice they get in the Pore Counts
Some striking facts and figures bearing on this
polnt may be found in IN article on another
page or course the ci'iz,ns of this big,
unwlcdv, tax-burdcncd metropolis expect
TO pay high prices for everything. But * It
not going too far To reward such gentlemen
IA Maurice j. Power, Henry Murray and
Marcus OucrbOurg with s., 200 per year for the
exercise of their judicial talents And the
term ~ ten years SO that if these legal
summarizes are spared to complete the decade,
each of them get, $50, 900 from the city treas
ury for passing On DRINKS and di'orderlIcS,'
and Ike vcxipg Of their mighty intrcctS. II
is true that this il IN expensive city to live
in and no onc would wish to see such august
magistrates feel the pinch OF poverty.
But United States Circuit Judge Blllch
ford lives here, and he receives only
$4,000 salary The home of United States
District Judge ChOatc Is in this ely. and his
saary is JUST half The amount which
liberal community layiShcS upon such great
minds as those which adorn our lowest GRIM
inal courts. There is prevalent suspicion
tlat the questions which Federal Judges are
called on to decide arc nearly as wcighty as
those which keep Police Justices awake nights
TO settle Why then this disparity in cOmpcn-
sation 7
Possibly the training required for Judge
of the Federal Circuit is not so arduous
as that undergone by the occupants of
the Essex Market and Jefferson Market
bcnchcs 1t is certainly very different.
For one position profound leaning, acute
ness of intellect, moderation of temper,
an equal balance of mind, and spotlesS char
nctcr are indispensable. For the othcra diiigent
familiarity with ward politics. thorough
mastery of the tricks of the CaucuS and
strong hold on one or more Aldermen seem to be
the chief requisites. Are not these virtues a
little too costly at $4,000 per year, 1t is not
ncc( ssiry even to be a lawyer i'll order to be-
come Police Justice. and it is plain from tho
character of some of our magistrates that it
is not necessary to be much of man either
But the candidate must stand well with the
" Boss" of his faction. That is the first aim
OF the asprant for judicial honOrs. With that
attained, all these things shall be added unto
him.
We have eleven Of these expensive orna-
ments Of our judicial systcm-clevcn Police
Justices AT $4,000 per year. When pay day
comes around, each man in this distinguished
rs he draws his modest stipend.
must feel sustained and s0othed by an unfal-
tciimg trust that ho has earned it. The only
source of surprise to him must be that he
gets no more. We pay Mayor $4,000 and
n Controller rs much. And what are these to
a Police Justice
But eleven Justices at $4,000 per year do
not by any means exhaust the list of cxpen-
sivc luxuries i'll our Police Courts. There is
Mr.. Charles B.ackIc, clerk Of the Special SEES
sions, which meets three or four days Il week
Mr.. Blackio gets $4,000 per year, and Mr..
Joseph A. Monhllmcr Deputy Clerk.
assists him for the paltry sum of
So 900 annually. The duties of Mr.. Blackie
and Mr.. Monheimcr remind ono OF the
anecdote of the Yankee farmer with two idle
boys "What are you doing. Jack u he asked
one day when he wanted some help in getting
in tho hay. "DOin' nothn,' drawed Jack.
"And what are you doing, Toni" turning TO
the other. "Helpin' Jack" was the reply. Mr..
Monhelmer helps Mr.. Blackie.
Then there are SIX Clerks of the Police
Courts at $4,000 each, with sixteen assistants
at $4,000 EACH DR.. Crosby's experience az
head of the Society for the Prevention OF
Crime leads him to suspect that one duty of
some Of these clerks and assistants may DO to