The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-03

The Commissioners 81 the District Cf Co
lumbia have asked Congress to increase
the appropriation for the salaries OF the
Judges OF the Police Court for the next ifs
cal year to $4,000 per annum each.
Judge l. G. Kimban and Judge Charles
r. Scott. Of The Police Court. in a com
munication upon the subject Of higher sal
sries. say:
NO other court in Jhe District OF Colum-
bia reaches into the everyday life OF tie
citizens and is so necessary for the proper
and orderly government Of the District as
the Police Court The judges Of that court.
either as trial or committing magistrates.
hear every case arising under the criminal
laws of the United States, except murder
I and violations Of the postal and pension
laws, in addition to shich they try All
/ cases arising under The laws known as
municipal laws and all laws relating to
I building, plumbing. health pure fooi, and
I Il multitude OF other subjects.
The questions Of law presented to them
I FOR decision are as difficult and require as
great legal knowledge as those arising in
I any other OF the courts Of the District. and
| in addition the judges must be men Of
I large experience 10 enable them 10 cor
/ reCtly determine the multitude of intri-
/ cate questions which are daily brought be-
! fore them for recision Not only do the
requirements o, tIe position fully sustain
I the justice o. the proposed increase. but
/ an examination OF the work done shows
4 how inadequate the salary now is.
The law providing for the Police Court
| requires the judges 70 sit on an legal holi-
I days, except Sundays. so that the court Is
/ held 3l3 days in each year. Congress ap-
! propriates $500 to each for an acting judge
I which. as they get SO per day. allows a
/ substitute for thirty days. including Sun
I days. in each year. The Judges of each
/ Of the other courts in the District receive
/ a vacation OF about three months in each
| year
/ The report of the business done by the
/ Police Court for the year 1899 shows that
! ~. 1913 cases we're heard. The statement
! continues
IF We average the number Of witnesses
/ as six for each case. or three for each
! side, which is a small average. IL would
make l07.35S Witnesses sworn, and their
| evidence carefully heard and considered by
I the judges judgement arrived at, and
final judgement taken. In addition IS
I 10 be taken into consideration the thou
sands Of legal arguments heard every
I } ear ana the hearings on nolOnS Tor ne a
! trials. besides the constant visits made
/ 10 the judges al their homes at all hours
I Of the night TO fix bonds for prisoners"
/ The statement. in conclusion, says.
I "Nill anyone contend that the amount
/ heretofore paid 20 the Judges Of the Pc
/ lice Court is on adequate salary for the
/ learning required and the work done. and
/ that &c should not be increased as re-
/ QuCsted by the Commits toner's In addi-
/ uoD 10 what has been said can be urged
I the fact that every year the Police Court
/ uurus into the Treasury many thousands
/ Of dollars iu excess or it's expenses APP
! pended IS 2 statement Of the salaries pIid
/ judges Of police courts Ga other cities.
/ New York city. $4,000 each; borough a
/ Queens. 5000 each, borough o. ri b.
I mend 5000 each, Buffalo. $1,000
/ Boston. chief justice, $500 ard
\ Eve associate justices. 1000 calh-
. Cincinnati, $4,000 each; Cleveland $4,000
#, each. san Francisco. Judges appointed
since January /. 1896. $4,000 each. Roche
/ -er. $500 each. Philadelphia. Chicago
! and PiJtsburg do not have police judges
! but instead have large number Of police
I magistrates