New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-05
{ NEGLECTED FEDERAL COiRT.
rNDERpAID AND HARpWoRKED JUDGES
OF THE COTRT or CLAIMS

WASHINGTON Fob tSpccaJ.-Tlcr" exists I'D
tho Government service n rate OF compensation i'
high judicial officers so clarincN unjust as TO
hordDr ON the rrotosque and 90 Doc wholly unac-
coInfable When tho Court ~ Claims WIS 's'''-
ushed ln $50 tho salary Of the President was
So %. cf fho Justices Of tho supreme court ~
the United States $l5r' and 81 the Judge oi iN'
Supreme Court OF the District Of columbia. #-.''
. Congress realizing the importance of inc court
and tho novel and intricate questions with which
. f. would have 10 deal. fixed fhe COMPENSATION OF
rs Judges AZ &4ono only 81" less than The supreme
/ Court salary and q good deal more than douhi"
that then paid 10 Cougrcs~n'n At th' present
time the salary Of the Judges Of fho Court oi ''im-
g. $500 the salary Of Senators and Ecpic~'
:. ON the salary Of inc Justices ~ the supreme
Court $1,000 the salary o. the Judges of tho DIS
tric, Of Columbia Een the salary of OBJ" Judges "t
the District court Of Appeals $50" and tho salary
Of the President soon II the salary ~ the Judges
Of the Court Of Claims had been Increased lh inc
ratio of the Presidents compensation u W""l' no"
he sSon. i'm the ratio " Senators and Representa-
riyes S3 gr. in the ratio OF the Justices 81 the
SUPREME Court SssSi. in the ratio Of the District
/ ~ Columbia Judges $500 And II the salary 70
/ Gently attached 20 the District Court OF Appeals
be taken es a criterion. # would be FOR the Judges
81 Oot and for fhc chief Justice N.'' ne inter-
state Commerce Commissioners receive $50" These
oo,-,. 10 the candid reader Cell story OF per
..,ter,t neglect on the part OF Congress that can
/ find no psraIel IN any other department OF the
Government
4, the last session u Congress the Senate unani-
F ,nouslv passed bin raising the salaries or the
Judges - the Court Of Claims 20 500" The House
committee smothered 30. and still refuses 10 act
On II Tn. only reason given d. mat plenty ~ men
can boz found 20 do the work 40 ihc present pay.
The sarnc argument applies 10 congress II IS SAL"
10 saw hundreds can Doe found in every district WI"
viii agree 20 serve for half what members gel b't
. Coneressmen DO not propose 20 reduce their own
t.lfr n
lion of adequate and Just compensation FOR The
/ learning character and ability which the Govern
mont and the sutton ought 10 have 81 the second
highest court boo the country To emphasize iH'
+ treatment which Congress has meied ont 10 me
. .,,urt the House iu the now Navy Personnel hHl,
proyidcs that 10 an admiral shall bee paid nearly
double what the Judges receive. and 10 commodores
f ana captains much more. and even 10 COMMANDERS
4 higher salary. Eight thousand dollars year
m, salary they vote without demnr 10 pay one
admiral would pat me compensation Of these
Judges on o. level with that given 10 Judges ~ the
Federal circuit courts
Few uersons realize the importance and variety
~ The question: involving immense sums Wi. DO
the Court o. Claims - called upon 10 determine.
International and constitutional law treaties with
foreign Powers. Indian treaties involving vast
tracts intricate and difncu land grants and titles.
r-Te9t law must an bc travcrscd. and recently
there has been lcft 20 this court the settlement "i
the right 10 bounty Tor destruction OF an encmys
ships Of every officer and man 100 the Navy who
took part in the war with Spain.
II may be safely said that no court u hfsi M
stance I'm the world has passed upon more im-
port.nt and far-reaching issues determined itIe
10 such large values Not only MAJ tn', ,d.SIces,ed
numerous fraudulent claims which onsfets ia"
failed detect, and u stands alone IL ano,n,r H.
speci In that il has turned into the Ircasury ~.
covered for the Government on counter claims
more money than its entire cost since us fouhda-
III. country will come 10 be aware OF these facts.