New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
SALARIES OF FEDERAL JUDGES.


The bill introduced into the Senate by MIR.
Evarts to increase the salaries of the United
States Circuit and District Judges for this
State should not again be permitted to fail of
passage. 1t has only been because of the high
character of urbar, in which there are FORUM
ately many men Of considerable legal attain
ments and reputation who do not take purely
commercial view of their profession, that the
United States Court has been able to maintain
its present Standard of efficiency. There can
be no reason for requiring such sacrifice
longer. In fact, the very circumstance that
men who can easily earn in private practice
from three to ten times the sum they receive
in salaries as members of this court have been
willing to give up their superior financial OPP
portunities to enter the public service. renders
it all the more necessary that justice should
be speedily done them.
The business transacted before the United
States Courts is not inferior in importance to
that which engages the attention of the Supreme
Court of the State. 1t has been estimated that
about 40 per cent of the entire litigation be-
fore the Federal Courts throughout the country
is brought in New-York and Brooklyn. This
includes by far the most important cases, the
proper adjudication of which requires high
class of judicial ability. Nobody can pretend
that as a matter OF compensation 1t pays any
reputable lawyer to leave his practice for
seat upon this bench.
A United States Circuit Judge, after he sub
tracts his travelling expenses, which are not
reimbursed to him, receives less than $1,000
per year. The magistrates of the Newly ork
police courts are paid $4,000. The Judges of
the General Sessions receive $4,000. The
Surrogate of the county is also paid $4,000
The Superior Court Judges are paid Slo,O 900,
while the members of the Supreme Court for
this district, whose duties are neither higher
in character nor more onerous than those OF
the Federal Judges. receive S17,5OO. If New
York can afford to pay such salaries, certainly
The surplus burdened Nation can stand slight
increase in the compensation of the same
grade of officials.
1t is proposed by Mr.. Evarts to pay Circuit
Judges $4,000, the two District Judges outside
of New-York Sc ,OOO and the judge resident
here $1,000. This is well within the bounds
of moderation. The members of the Court OF
Appeals are paid $4,000 in salary and $1,000
for expenses, and their salaries arc considered
low. 1t scarcely seems fair to expect man
like Judge Iacombe, for instance, who is
rapidly justifying the largo expectations his
friends felt for him when be went upon the
bench. to be content with less than $1,000
when he sees his predecessor and his successor
in the Corporation CounsePS Office, Judges
Andrews and OBrien, both of them receiving
the handsome salaries of $1,000. The Bar
Association. in mcmorializing Congress to pass
Senator Evarts's bill, has made good point In
abiding to the case of Judge Lacombe. who
freely abandoned an Office paying him $1,000
when summoned upon the bench.s This is
| crcditablc to MIR. Lacombc, but the country has
no right to ask such sacrifices of its citizens.
1t can afford to pay properly for their services
! and it should do so.