The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-13
No ceremonies to Mark the
Changes on Railroad Com
mission or Supreme
Court.
IN RE PARKHILL
AND WHITFIELD
Two Opposite Types of Fine
Gentlemen Are These
Honored Citizens.
MATTER OF GENERAL REGRET
THAT AMENDMENT PROVIDING
FOR INCREASE OF SALARIES
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES WAS
LosT-DEPARTME AT THE
STATE CAPITOL BUSY.
BY Jefferson Bell.

Tallahassee, Jan. 12-There were
no ceremonies to mark the changes in
the Railroad Commission Tuesday.
Hon. Newton'A. Bitch, the new mem
Der and Hon R. Hudson Burr who
was reelected, made their oaths OF
Office as is required by law. Hon. R.
Hudson Burr was chosen chairman to
succeed Mr.. Jefferson B. Browne, who
retired from Office Tuesday.
Mr.. Royal Dunn, who served the
old commission as secretary was
chosen in the same capacity by the
new one. Mr. Charles PuIeston was
retained as stepographer. but has
since resigned 10 accept a more lu-
cTative position elsewhere
Supreme Court Justices.
In the Supreme Court, Justice James
p. Whitfield and Justice Charles B.
Parkhill whose new terms of Office
began Tuesday, were sworn in There
was nothing to mark the day as diff
ferent from any other in the court
there Is no change in the divisions.
Chief Justice Shackleford will con-
tinue as Chief Justice until the end
of hts term two years hence.
.IIstice Wai.ield and Justice Park
sbli are two opposite types of men.
Judge Whitfield is man who takes
life seriously--a man used to respon-
sibiiity. He has held positions Of
trust and responsibility ali his life.
( He began his career as public man
early 10 lie and bQthzas county and
state Official VAS assushed a large mart
OF the responsibilities attached to
such positions He is a man slow TO
form attachments but is faithful and
loyal to the highest degree to those
whom he calls his friends. as are all
men with high ideals Judge Whit
field is student of law and of pub
lie affairs and perhaps has a keener
insight into political causes and
effects in Florida then any man in the
state to-day.
Judge Parkhill sees the SUMMER side
OF life. Nature made him responsive
TO comraderie and good fellowship.
and endowed him with -graces of
mind and personality that have made
II easy for him to make friends of
the people he meets. Gifted with
fine mind and readiness of speech,
he Is a part Of the life in the circle
IN which he moves. Both Judge Whit
field and judge ParkhiIl are valuable
members of the court and will add dis
unCUOn 10 It's work.
Salaries of Justices.
II is matter OF very general re-
gret that the proDosed constitutional
amendment submitted to the people
last fail, providing for an increase in
the salaries of the justices of the su-
prpme court was rejected.
There Is not a man on the supreme
bench in Florida who could not at
hn - L.
town In the state. earn more than his
salary rs Justice Of the supreme court.
do not mean to saw that tho compen-
sation for this service should be based
upon mans earning capacity in his
profession. but do say that the sal
aries should be sufficiently large for
men Of standing and recoenized abil-
fty as lawyers to he induced to hold
them.
Although Tallahassee is small
place it costs as much to live here
as in civ Few of the officials are
sure enough Of their tenure of Office TO
own their homes and rents are exceed
siuGly high on account Of the fact that
the officials and attaches of the de-
phrtments are birds of passage. whose
Ftay al the raDital denands on the
INN of the wheel Of notifies.
The constitution of 1868 creating tho
supreme court. provides for chief
jnstice and two associate justice's.and
fixed the salary of the chief Justice
at 81 500. and the associate justices
et 81 GOO ner year. During the ranic
early in the seventies. the salaries
were reduced to $4,000 at which
amount they have since remained As
concerns the highest court in the
state we have gone backward instead
of forward In those days they we're
better paid held their offices by an
roIntment for life and had but little
70 DO TODAY they are paid less.
forced 10 50 into a primary for cleo
tion and their duties have grown m
I'll their entire time is given 10 the
state
Departments Busy.
At the Statehouse all the depart
ments are busy getting their reports
ready and incidentally we are getting