The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-14

practice of law, but are called upon
whenever necessary to assist the regu-
lar judges In the performance OF their
duties. to act as substitutes when tenn
porary vacancies occur and often have
cases referred to them for investigation
in chambers when the regular courts
are crowded with business. They also
exercise functions similar to those OF
masters In chancery, commissioners
and notaries public. In other words.
They are clean, noseless and
they are apprentices In the judiciary
system for the purpose of obtaining
practical experience before assuming
the responsibilities of regular judges.
Most of them have only a theoretical
education and are entirely without ex-
perience at the bar. When q vacancy
occurs on the bench 1t is filled by pro-
motion, after a severe examination OF
candidates, from the next lowest
grades, and vacancies In the very low
est grade are filled by competitive ex-
animation among the probationaries
In this examination a mans record Is
always carefully examined, and many
of the lower judges whose decisions
have been frequently overruled by the
higher courts do not dare appear as
candidates for promotion lest they be
rejected.
All judges are appointed for life or
good behavior, and are removable only
after trial by Impeachment before n
court of their superiors. Their salaries
are amazingly small. The chief JUS
| tice receives 5000 yen, which Is equiva-
lent to $4,000. His associates In the
| supreme court receive but $1,000 yen.
and the others proportionately less
down to the lowest grade, where the
salaries are only 200 yen or $3.50 year.
The probationaries do not receive a reg
ular salary, but are paid by the job,
usually yen day for the time they
are employed.
The judiciary does not rank as high
socially as members of the military and
naval service-nor in fact do any of the
civil functionaries. A sergeant of mar
ines outranks a school teacher and the
champion wrestler is regarded In public
opinion as a greater man than a sue
cessful poet, author or artist. Nor are
marks of distinction conferred upon
members of the bar. The sons of gen.
| tlemen look down upon professional
careers and prefer to seek positions in
the naval and military service or in the
executive department of the govern
ment.
The judiciary Is, however, absolutely
free from interference by the executive
| anu leS lSldllNt 'DTdHCHcS. ItIt w ds
rather interesting controversy not
long ago between the minister of JUS
tice and Judge of the court at Ma
gasaki, who was transferred to the
Loochoo islands without consultation
He refused to go on the ground that
| the law stipulates that judges shall
| se.ve for life in the districts to which
thay are originally assigned, except
uE,n application. whereupon the min.
user of justice suspended him. He ap-
pCaled to the prime minister and de-
manded an investigation, which was
granted. but before it took place he re-
lieved the government from a perplex-
ing controversy by dying of typhoid
fever.
AS have observed in previous let
ters, the Japanese people are easy to
rule. They are very obedient to au-
thorty. They have not only been in a
state of subsection for centuries, but
each child from the moment its intelli-
gence begins to develop is taught re-
spect for and submission to the head
of the family. This respect becomes
reverenced when applied to the EN-.
peror, who Is the head of all families
and Is shared by whoever represents
him.
The people are not litigious. They
ususally settle their affairs among
themselves. Nor are they quarrelsome
They seldom lose their tempers. You
never see fight upon the streets. They
are the most amiable nation on the
earth and there are no profane words
In their language. But at the same
time they are often eXasperating. and
an honest Yankee remarked the other
day that he would much prefer to live
| In country where people kiss and
cuss' rather than in Japan. where they
do neither. They are great thieves
and the most prevalent crimes are
burglary. larceny and obtaining money
under false pretenses. Very few Japan.
ese firms have regular solicitors, and
they will not go to law unless compelled
to do so bN INSCRIPTIONS opponents,