The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-15
THE SALARIES OF JUDGES
An Increase Urged for Members Of
the District Bench.
The Local Bar Unanimously in Fa-
yor of 81 Change in the Lav-Futiic
Efforts ia the Past-The Dignity
and Honor of the Positions - In
adequate Compensation Allowed.

The question of the increase OF the sal
aries of the members of the Supreme Court
of the District and also the justices of the
Court of Appeals for the District, was
generally discussed among the practition-
ers before the local courts yesterday. There
was. however, but one opinion expressed
on the subject, and that is that the CON-
pensation received by the justices OF the
District courts is inadequate, and not in
keeping with the dignity of the positions.
A consensus OF opinion on this matter was
fully expressed a day or two ago by men,
hers of the District bar and prominent
citizens and business men who appeared
before the Judiciary Committee of the
House of Representatives, urging the pas
sage of a bill by Congress increasing the
compensation of the members of the two
courts named.
The bill now under consideration by the
Judiciary Committee of the House recon-
mends an increase of s., 600 a year in the
salary of each of the justices Of the Court
OF Appeals. and $500 year in the com
pensation of those of the Supreme Court OF
the District. This increase will, it is seen,
make an increase in the total salaries Of
$ei,00o.
At present the salary of the Chief jus
tice of the Court of Appeals is $4,000, and
of the two Associate Justices $1,000 each.
The salary OF the six members of the ST.
preme Court of the District, including the
Chief Justice. is $1,000 each, making a
total of $50, 000
In discussing the subject. leading MEM
Der of the local bar yesterday said TO
reporter:
The Pay Inadequate.
THE salaries of the justices and judges
of the courts OF the United States are no.
toriously inadequate. They are not only
less than those paid in England and other
foreign nations. but less, even. than the
compensation allowed to police justices in
some of the States OF our Union. For years
there has been an effort to place the COM
pensation OF the district and circuit judges
OF the courts of the United States on
more equitable basis than they now are.
but the Federal courts in the District of
Columbia stand apart and alone, and on a
very different plane from the circuit and
district courts and the Circuit Courts OF
Appeal. Their duties are very different in
their scope. and the cost of living in Wash
ington is larger than in most other places
where the Federal courts meet.
The Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia is probably the court OF largest
Jurisdiction in the United States, as II is
not only a Federal court for all Federal
purposes having all the jurisdiction of the
circuit and district courts of the United
States. but likewise vested for the Dis
-, - oil ha fetf nm
that State court can exercise. II has also
most important functions with respect to
the officers of the Federal Government.
and numerous causes are drawn to il by
reason of the fact that the seat OF the
Federal Government is here.
.-Ths Court of Appeals of the District
OF Columbia has an appellate Jurisdiction
co-eNtensiye with the original jurisdiction
of the Supreme Court of the District and
the Police Court: and has likewise a spe
cial appellate jurisdiction in patent cases
adjudicated by the Commissioner OF Pat
ents.
'.All these courts are in continuous ses-
sion for nine months in each year. Even
during the summer months one of the
Justices of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict is required to be in constant al
tendance and they divide that period be-
tween them. During the summer months
the Justices of the Court of Appeals are
frequently required to pass upon applica-
tons for special appeals. And the justices
of all the courts have occasion to carry
much of their business with them for the
summer months. The business of all these
courts. therefore. is exceedingly engross
ing: it practically precludes any and all
other business. And yet the salaries now
paid them as well as those proposed by
the bill are less than any professional
man with a fair active practice can real
iZe."
Extent of the Work.
A good idea of the work which the mem
bers of the Supreme Court Of the District
are called upon TO do may be learned from
what has been going on in the different
branches OF the court for the last two or
three weeks. Two weeks ago a recess was
decided upon in order that the justices
presiding in the different courts might
have had an opportunity OF meeting the
members Of the District bar in conference
TO discuss and advise concerning the new
code of laws proposed for the government
of the District. The result is known.
Every one of the justices during this time
has been SO busy in his respective court
that it was at great Inconvenience that
they gained time to participate in The con-
sideration of the new code.
Another prominent member OF the Dis
trict bar, who discussed the subject from
a financial point Of view. and also with
reference to the dignity of the bench. said:
The aggregate annual increase pro-
posed is only s21 900. and but onehslf OF
this sum. to wit. sl0,500. is to be paid by
the United States. the other one-half to be
paid by the District Prior to 1888 the
United States paid all the salaries of the
Justices OF the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict. which was f1Ten s., 600 per annum for
each justice. Since that time the District
has paid one-half OF these salaries. and
the present bill continues this. II the
salaries should be fixed at 81, 500 each, the
United States would still pay TO these JUS
tees less than they did prior TO 1893. The
District Commissioners. IL encuired of,
Will undoubtedly recommend the passage
Of the bill. The members of the bar OF the
District are largely probably unanimously,
in favor OF It.
THE judges of the State courts, or origi-
nal jurisdiction In New York city CORE
spending to the Supreme Court of this Dis
trict though OF much narrower jurisdic-
ton. receive from 81. 600 to sl7,500 per
snEiim. and those of similar courts in
Philadelphia receive $4,000. Even police
Judges in New York receive. some $4,000
and others $1,000 per annum. The United
States Attorney for this District receives
a salary Of $4,000 per year, and is not dis
qualified from engaging in private practice
as the justices are. The United States
Marshal for this District has s.. 500 per an
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