The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-16

Mr.. Higgins. Will you state the av-
erage number of cases tried during the
year by your supreme court?
Mr. Mcclellan / will present those
figures at the next hearing
Mr.. Chairman and gentleman of the
committee, would like to put into the
Mr. Higgins in regard to the volume of
business that is transacted by the SUI
preme court in the Territory of Ha-
wall l have a report here made for
the biennial period. 1t shows that in
the supreme court 276 cases were dis
posed of. In the circuit court for the
same period there were disposed of
3O70 cases.
Mr.. Lloyd How many circuit judges
are there?
Nc. Mcclellan. There are seven cir
cult judges. AS to the volume of litiga-
ton in the supreme court, ! can say
that the court, for a considerable time,
was behind in its work, and was not
able to catch up on account of the large
volume of litigation. They have, how
ever, by holding almost continuous
sessions, been able to bring up the
business; and the supreme court is now
up to date. In regard to the courts OF
the first circuit on the island of Oahu,
the three circuit judges there have
/ held almost continuous sessions of
their courts. They have had only six
weeks vacation during the year, and
during that time one judge has always
! been on duty in chambers. Some of
the judges have held night sessions in
order to keep up to the work l sim
ply state this to show something of the
volume of the work.
with reference to the salaries of the
circuit judges, the bill asks that the
salary be increased to $4,000 Under
the Republic of Hawaii, the judges re-
ceived a salary of $4,000 so that we are
simply asking for what they formerly
received. Under the Federal Govern
ment, the volume of business has in
creased very greatly and we think that
these judges should receive the same
salaries as they received under the Ha-
waiian Government itself, and it seems
to me that it will be apparent to the
committee that for the class of men
that we want on the bench the salary
: ought not to be less than $4,000.
| wish to direct your attention to the
fact that the salaries of the judges in
Alaska are $4,000. My understanding
is that those judges performed the
same functions as our circuit courts
| viz, that of nisi prius court
, They received $4,000 in Alaska for
} the same services for which we are
: asking $4,000 for the judges in Hawaii
The courts of the same character in
the Philippines receive a salary of 49,
500 og$45OO.
The Chairman The Senate has rails
, ed the salary of the Federal judge in
, Porto Rico to SG00G
Mr. Mcclellan. Now, | will call your
attention to the fact that the judges
! of the supreme court of the District o.
S Columbia, which performs the SAINT
: functions as our circuit courts-the SUI
ipreme court of the District of Column
n bia is substantially a nisi prius court
@ receive a salary of $4,000. The court o
= appeals in the District of Columbia II
= the appellate court.
The judges of the supreme court il
the District of Columbia have no more
important jurisdiction than do the cir
cult court judges in Hawaii. We have
e in Hawaii cases involving 500 600, anC
sometimes $1,OOO,0OO in a single cas-,
Il before our circuit courts, and / thinl
= the committee should realize tina
judges handling that class of litigation
n should receive certainly the $400t
:, which they formerly received unde
, the government of Hawaii
. Mr. Capron. Their work is on tn,
e Island of Oahu?
? Mr. Mcclellan. There is one judg
It each on the islands of Maui and Kau
a al, two on Hawaii, and three on Oahu
= The Chairman. You have a polio
o. court in Honolulu. Have you any ide
. as to the amount of business that tina
~ court attends to?
Mr.. Mcclellan. | have the figures Q
II the total number of cases in all of tn
II district courts throughout the islands
g The total number of all run up to %
954 for the biennial period.
l. The Chairman. The limits of tn
is jurisdiction of the police court whic
~ is held in the city of Honolulu is CON
- mensurate with the limit of the island
! Mr.. Mcclellan. No; with the distriC
lie of Honolulu. There are other magis
Re trates in other districts, on Oahu an
ce the other islands.
n Mr. Lloyd. There is no city organ
n iZation?
r Mr. Mcclellan. Not at the preseT
,o time. There will be next year.
- The Chairman. There are no nun
ID cipal limits?
Mr. Mcclellan. The district include
ne some of the surrounding country an
all of Honolulu.
s. Mr.. Mcclellan. With reference
the supreme court, the bill provide
rt that the chief justice of the supren
court shall receive $500 and the tW
associate justices $1,000 each l wou
~ state, by way of comparison, that II
salary is the same as that paid in II
us court of appeals of the District of c.
On lumbia. The court of appeals of Il
% TnI,,rnh DaVfpVf,nC II